Team-BHP - Hondaputer !! Carpc in my ANHC !

Quote:

Originally Posted by navin (Post 1427854)

The trick would be to isolate the PC's power supply from the car's battery for the first few seconds (when you crank the engine the car's abttery is severly taxed and voltage drops to under 10V) so the object here would be to start the PC once the key is in the ignition using a Li-on battery and then switch to the car's battery after ignition. Now if the same Li-on battery pack can be used to power the amps you can get a few minutes of power from this battery pack till the car is cranked and the alternator is generating 12V+. If the alternator is generating 12V+ it can charge teh Li-on battery.

Very nicely put Navin. This is the most important thing in Car PCs. If this can be done, it will solve many problems.

Quote:

Originally Posted by navin (Post 1428550)

Agreed reliability is essential, boot time is another. Currently boot times are in the order of 30 sec-1 minute with most car PCs needing about 45-50 secs.

A car PC might have many uses but I like to consdier what the user needs instead of what the car pC can do. If the user only needs a good stereo system maybe a car PC is too much hardware, If however bluetooth communication, GPS, etc.. are required then a car PC starts making sense.

Very true, a person who is content with music only does not need to look beyond the traditional in-dash music system.

But by using a carpc , a person can get additional features into a car which are found today in highend cars at a fraction of a cost, ofcourse not get the reliablity of the systems/features of those high end cars as of now.

I love gizmos, so it is a car pc for me right now:D

Quote:

Originally Posted by StarVegabond (Post 1428582)

Thanks netarchie for patiently answering all my questions
i just remembered couple of more..

Does this PC has wireless LAN / Wi-Fi, if no, do you plan to add it ?
how do you see Wimax or a 3G broadband modem getting integrated into such a PC ?
this will open up endless possibilities.

Have you tried the Text to Voice feature of windows ?, i had seen a windowns version (i do not remember which one), in which a blind person can also use the windows software using a a brail keyboard. the OS shouts back what he is typing and what is the status. such a voice implementation would be very beneficial in a car PC
what do you think ?

I have a wifi dongle which i use it in the car sometimes. I also use a reliance usb card for internet, again limited use as of now.

I have enabled speech recognition in windows, i can use it to type text using speech, an reply my mails if configured, but not using it right now.
With the speech recognition getting better day by day , it can many use in environments like this.

Quote:

Originally Posted by navin (Post 1427854)

I'd suggest that the dual battery scheme is not required at all if you are using ATX power supplies designed for Carputer use; for instance an M2ATX which is an Intelligent Automotive DC-DC Car PC Power Supply. The M2ATX can work from 6-24V, survives engine cranking and is also load dump protected.

M2-ATX (160w) Intelligent DC-DC Car PC Power Supply

As a step ahead, I configured M2 to trigger from my car security system (Unlock) rather than ACC line and that extra time (from my unlock button press to the time I settle inside the car and put the key in) ensured that I have a frontend ready as soon as I have the car keys in. The monitor is wired to the switch ON with the ACC line and the whole experience is like having an instant availability CarPC frontend rather than the usual wait for the OS to boot and then frontend to load if it were to be triggered from the ACC line.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Digital Vampire (Post 1428739)

Wow! See I knew these young guns will have a solution for this power supply stuff. Buss now it is finally time for me to the oldies to be retired.

Next gen car systems will require a degree in computer science to operate.

Quote:

Originally Posted by esteem_lover (Post 1428603)

Very nicely put Navin. This is the most important thing in Car PCs. If this can be done, it will solve many problems.

That was the way it used to be before i had a dc-dc power supply. i used a bike battery connected to ACC and the pc was powered through it. so while cranking the bike battery is isolated and connected to pc only. thats old tech. After having dc-dc automotive power supply all that headache is not there.
Till date there is no issue with cranking with pc on.

Quote:

Originally Posted by harry10 (Post 1428642)

Excellent job!
When it comes to car pc's am a noob but had been following few threads here on this to gain knowledge and must say this one takes the crown by a mile :)

Thank you !

Quote:

Originally Posted by 007 (Post 1428663)

What a creative job...!

10/10...........clap:

Thank you.

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Originally Posted by StarVegabond (Post 1428687)

I fully agree, i have marked 5 star rating to this thread

Thank you again !

Quote:

Originally Posted by Digital Vampire (Post 1428739)

Thats an innovative idea to start the carpc, hate the waiting time myself !!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Digital Vampire (Post 1428739)

As a step ahead, I configured M2 to trigger from my car security system (Unlock) rather than ACC line and that extra time (from my unlock button press to the time I settle inside the car and put the key in) ensured that I have a frontend ready as soon as I have the car keys in. The monitor is wired to the switch ON with the ACC line and the whole experience is like having an instant availability CarPC frontend rather than the usual wait for the OS to boot and then frontend to load if it were to be triggered from the ACC line.

which is this line you used for powering up? tapping from any of the door actuator?
what if you unlock and decide to lock back due some other reason? will the locking pulse shut it down?

Quote:

Originally Posted by srishiva (Post 1429451)

Do these PCs support dual display support? Should be good if rear screen can show videos while the front one continues with car specific information with centrafuse.

I am greedy.... for me 3 screens would be perfect. One child can watch a video, another can play a PC based game while you drive. :D

Ok ok I know I am dreaming. Here is a guy who does not have twitter or blackberry or any of that stuff. For me a PC in the car will most probably be a challenging concept unless they can "dumbify" the technology.

The kids can watch the scenery.

Quote:

Originally Posted by gigy (Post 1429356)

which is this line you used for powering up? tapping from any of the door actuator?
what if you unlock and decide to lock back due some other reason? will the locking pulse shut it down?

Quote:

Originally Posted by nisarg86 (Post 1429408)

Now that is interesting Digital Vampire. But want to know the same as Gigy.

I should have been more clear on this earlier but I was sure some of you will be interested in taking this direction and would revert back for more details.

It was a custom implementation which I did on my Subaru Forester while I was in Canada. In the forester, it was very simple because I could tap into the factory security system and identify a line which produces a 120 millisecond pulse when the remote unlock is activated and a 60 millisecond pulse on another line when the locked again. I cobbled up a simple combination circuit to control the SWITCH/ACC line going to M2 accordingly.

@Gigy: I'm not sure whether door actuator may be a right point to tap from because in my cars in India as well, the door actuator closes (door locks) after a few seconds after you start the car. You may have to investigate what works best for you based on the car security system. It may be sometimes more easier than what I did on the forester. I might be able to help on the combination circuit if you clearly detail your lock/unlock signal scenario