Should I Bother? A/V ?
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 7,855
Likes: 517
From: Behind a workbench, repairing FC Electronics.
Originally Posted by alien_rx7
Heh, I'm in the same boat. 2 extra 12a's, 3 extra 5spd trannies, 2 extra gsl axles and I believe 3 full sets of wheels plus two extra. I just can't justify going to a 13b or an GSL-SE suspension yet until I wear out all those parts 
If you put a PC in there, make it wireless so you can upload and download your music/video without stringing cable to the house.
If you put a PC in there, make it wireless so you can upload and download your music/video without stringing cable to the house.
Anyhow... How're you gonna power the computer? I'm curious... I'd like a computer in the truck for navigation and maybe parts fiches and PDF service manuals for all the cars I work on for other people...
I'm lookin for a good DC/DC converter... 12 volts inverter up to 120 AC and back down just seems inefficient to me.
Interstate Chop Shop CEO
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,110
Likes: 1
From: Running an Interstate Chop Shop
Originally Posted by Pele
The 5 speed trannies bolt up to a 13B, and a 13B won't hurt a GSL axle either...
Anyhow... How're you gonna power the computer? I'm curious... I'd like a computer in the truck for navigation and maybe parts fiches and PDF service manuals for all the cars I work on for other people...
I'm lookin for a good DC/DC converter... 12 volts inverter up to 120 AC and back down just seems inefficient to me.
Anyhow... How're you gonna power the computer? I'm curious... I'd like a computer in the truck for navigation and maybe parts fiches and PDF service manuals for all the cars I work on for other people...
I'm lookin for a good DC/DC converter... 12 volts inverter up to 120 AC and back down just seems inefficient to me.
There are a few good groups out there. Check out DashPC. I think they have a yahoo group (yuck, hate yahoo, oh well). If you can afford it, your best bet is the DC/DC converter. There is a very good reason for it too. Most inverters die before the battery even dips below 12v, with a good DC/DC converter you should be able to run the PC after the car shuts off until the battery drains down to 9vdc if not lower! Giving you plenty of time to have it safely shutdown if you're using a that doesn't like to be shut off unexpectedly coughwindowscough
Rotary Freak
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 2,815
Likes: 0
From: SF BayArea
Buy a OTA HDTV rig for your house. I got a couple Samsung SIR-T351 units running S-video to Hyundai 19" TFT screens, and they are beautiful. Gets rid of the cable cost, too. Of course, you gotta love the ETV channels: here in the SF bay area I get 5 subchannels off KQED, which is a very good PBS station.
Who the hell wants to watch re-runs of "Who's the Boss"?
B
Who the hell wants to watch re-runs of "Who's the Boss"?
B
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 7,855
Likes: 517
From: Behind a workbench, repairing FC Electronics.
Originally Posted by alien_rx7
There are a few good groups out there. Check out DashPC. I think they have a yahoo group (yuck, hate yahoo, oh well). If you can afford it, your best bet is the DC/DC converter. There is a very good reason for it too. Most inverters die before the battery even dips below 12v, with a good DC/DC converter you should be able to run the PC after the car shuts off until the battery drains down to 9vdc if not lower! Giving you plenty of time to have it safely shutdown if you're using a that doesn't like to be shut off unexpectedly coughwindowscough
Additionally, the PC won't be running windows if I can help it. It'll be dedicated purpose, probably running FreeBSD. Probably will also include a Suspend To RAM and Suspend to Disk features...
Rotary Enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,119
Likes: 4
From: Virginia
Just use a ruggedized laptop. Mount it somewhere in back out of sight, with a "docking station" cable harness (cables for power, video, rs232, usb, etc.) Use a dash mounted touchscreen hooked to the vga. It solves all the problems and can be easily removed for upgrades, maintenance, or use as a regular laptop outside the car. I am seriously considering doing this since I frequently use a laptop or palm pilot while driving, often with GPS and/or cellular Internet connection.
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