Power Supply for CarPC

[ecow7]

I am attempting to build a pc for my car, to listen to music/watch movies/use gps, etc. I have collected most of the parts necessary, but the only thing that I am unsure of is the power supply. Since it is a carpc, it has to be small, run off 12v, and not produce much heat. I have seen a lot of power supplies out there, but I am not sure if they can be powered directly from my fuse panel, or if i need some additional controller. Let me know if anyone has experience with this.

-Eric

[dave-lew99]

Since Kustom don't sell these

http://www.mini-box.com/s.nl/sc.8/category.13/it.A/id.424/.f

It's what i plan to use..

I'm going to cheat though, my initial system is going to be an el-cheapo PII or somthing - bout £20 on ebay, 8" touchscreen and the PSU, then upgrade the PC later (it's just gonna be strapped into the boot

[Ashincar]

Hi
I work for an in car entertainment company called upland mobile media as a fitter / designer. I see your wanting to put a pc in your car. I have done many of them in different types of car. I would use a normal pc power supply and get a big power inverter. Depending on what pc power supply you go for depends on what size inverter to go for. If you let me know what car and what pc power supply you have got for it. Ill try and help you out if you like

[dave-lew99]

That isn't the best way to do it,

Firstly its stupidly inefficient DC > AC > Dc again,

Secondly, unless paying an absolute fortune it's going to be a modified Sine-wave type anyway

Thirdly, the one i pointed out above shuts your PC down when you turn the ignitiion off after a preset time, and after another preset time completely cuts the power to the machine to stop it drawing the 5v needed for it to detect if you've pressed the power button

[Cosmo_1847]

Just to let you guys know that KustomPCs are going to open an ICE (In Car Entertianment) computer section later in the year.

[dave-lew99]

Just so long as they stock the aformentioned power supply and an 8" touch screen i'll be happy....

[Slamdog]

That isn't the best way to do it,

Firstly its stupidly inefficient DC > AC > Dc again,

Secondly, unless paying an absolute fortune it's going to be a modified Sine-wave type anyway

Thirdly, the one i pointed out above shuts your PC down when you turn the ignitiion off after a preset time, and after another preset time completely cuts the power to the machine to stop it drawing the 5v needed for it to detect if you've pressed the power button


you are completely correct there...

I run my lappy in a truck with a 24v - 240vac inverter but if you put a scope on the output it is not clean at all. pure sine inverters would be better but they cost a fortune.

[dave-lew99]

Yeeesss....I am an electronics student after all....(well its Audio Technology but thats essentially electronics coupled with acoustics with an audio slant)

It's also worth pointing out that some devices (ie. my plug in energy monitor) don't like modified sine wave inverters and said energy monitor emitted rather a lot of smoke causing me throw it out of my car onto the grass next to my drive.

And im sure you wouldnt want several hundred quids worth of PC kit to go up in smoke....

[Slamdog]

there are a few of us here who have passed some formal training in electronics....

Mine was hnc electronics and also the c+g electronic servicing courses.....

mains inverters are not very efficient at all and should not be used for computers. the exception is with lappys with a psu designed for crap electricity supplies

[shifty.ricky]

www.digital-car.co.uk

[Fireblade]

It's been a week since you joined the forums to ask questions Eric, so have any these suggestions answered your questions/helped :confused:

If you're not gonna have the decency to respond to the answers you're getting... I don't see the point in these good folks continuing to offer advice :rolleyes: