carPC: Planning Thread

[chaksq]

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p67/chaksq/sigs%20and%20avatars/Bottom-Banner.gif (http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2310140)
I have been debating on building a PC for my car for some time now. I've decided now that I will be doing this. I have signed up on MP3car.com so I can get specific advice ideas and troubleshoot help from people who do this a lot. I will be posting be posting a worklog on here, MP3car, and ERDTonline a forum specific to my car.

This here is an planning and idea thread for this project. I want everyone to post their ideas for a carPC type build.

I will be doing this in my 1996 Ford Escort. I will edit later with my current plan for the build.
The Escort's CarDomain profile. (http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2310140)

[jdbnsn]

Dude, I freakin love car PC's. I was so close to doing this myself once and have tons of ideas for you, just need to get time to put them in here. To start with, rip out your dash and put a 17" touch-screen monitor where the stereo and AC/heat controls were. A friend of mine in KC did this and it was insanely cool, he moved all of the controls to small switches that he later built a PIC or something to run from the computer. Then he modified his dash board by fiberglassing it around the new monitor. By the time he was done, he could remote-start his car by wifi timer on his home computer network and set the temps (including seat temp), upload TV programs/music/podcasts/email/etc... to the car by auto-syncing the drives every night, and could even run engine diagnostics from his desktop. It was absolutely awesome. Oh yeah, he also had bluetooth in the truck and could use his laptop, phone, and pda in the car and got wireless internet.

[Bopher]

I would love to do a car pc. But the Jeep is technically the wifes and she won't even let me replace the stock stereo. Can you imagine someone like me whos first work on a new car was always replacing the stereo running for 2 years now on stock? My Basslink is in the corner crying.:redface:

[Okele]

Ive been waiting for this thread for a few days since we talked over the weekend. But alas, Ive forgotten the ideas I came up with for you. /shrug

[Drum Thumper]

Chaksq--if you need a screen, PM me--I've got a spare.

[b4i7]

DT if he doesnt take it....id love it :D

[chaksq]

Dude, I freakin love car PC's. I was so close to doing this myself once and have tons of ideas for you, just need to get time to put them in here. To start with, rip out your dash and put a 17" touch-screen monitor where the stereo and AC/heat controls were. A friend of mine in KC did this and it was insanely cool, he moved all of the controls to small switches that he later built a PIC or something to run from the computer. Then he modified his dash board by fiberglassing it around the new monitor. By the time he was done, he could remote-start his car by wifi timer on his home computer network and set the temps (including seat temp), upload TV programs/music/podcasts/email/etc... to the car by auto-syncing the drives every night, and could even run engine diagnostics from his desktop. It was absolutely awesome. Oh yeah, he also had bluetooth in the truck and could use his laptop, phone, and pda in the car and got wireless internet.Definitely some sweet ideas man, thanks. A lot of this I was planning or at least contemplating. I'll post some pics of my dashboard and a list of features I might like to include. Probably keep adding to this for a while, start with a basic music player then add things like navigation and internet, probably even more crazy stuff.


Ive been waiting for this thread for a few days since we talked over the weekend. But alas, Ive forgotten the ideas I came up with for you. /shrugSorry about that. Updates might be sporadic. Might get a few quickly then none for a while. I've been real busy with schoolwork lately. I won't really start any work on this until my summer break. If I pick up some of the components I might start playing with the software, but that is really all I can do.


Chaksq--if you need a screen, PM me--I've got a spare.
You've got a PM on your way.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ok figured I'd add some pictures of the car and my plans for now.
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/6/web/2310000-2310999/2310140_157_full.jpg
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/6/web/2310000-2310999/2310140_105_full.jpg
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/6/web/2310000-2310999/2310140_170_full.jpg


Here is a view of the interior where most of where the PC will be going is pictured.
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/6/web/2310000-2310999/2310140_60_full.jpg^ Note I no longer use the tacky wheel cover, seat covers, or floor mats (they were gifts from family so I kinda had to use them for a little while, this pic was taken when the car was still fairly new to me. Also if you look beyond the windshield my previous car a '91 Protege is in the backyard.
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/6/web/2310000-2310999/2310140_116_full.jpg

Right now for audio I have a cheap Pioneer headunit and cheap JBL 5" speakers, all of which the last owner installed. I have added 2x 10" subs to the system. The plan is to upgrade all of this with possibly Alpine speakers and amps (subject to change). The head unit will be ultimately by completely replaced with the carPC.

A list of features/components I would like to incorportate:
The main system would consist of a miniITX mainboard. I'll use a special PSU designed for in car applications which can do auto shutdown. Hoping to be able to mount the bulk of this setup in dash behind the monitor.

Some kind of touch screen, although for the first build might get a cheaper non touchscreen and configure a custom controller (ATM style). I plan on molding this along with a few main controls into a custom dash panel.

For an OS I'll probably use Windows XP with a separate front panel app designed for use in cars. I have a copy of MCE to start with, could have it controlled by a remote. Eventually I plan on streamlining a copy of XP Pro.

I might relocate the HVAC controls, it would give me a lot more space for a bigger screen and so I can fit the entire computer in the dash board without going into the glovebox or under the seats. May eventually control them with the computer in the future using a PIC controller and servos.

Features I plan on incorporating will include Navigation, bluetooth cell phone control, possibly internet via a mobile phone internet with a cheap phone connected to USB, slow but I can pull weather/traffic data from pretty much any where that way, wifi antenna to connect to more powerful networks for syncing data (like my home).

[jdbnsn]

I don't think I would be able to find that guy if I tried but if I can think of that software he used to monitor engine sensors I'll pass it on. You'll definitely want that if we can find it, was awesome. It sounds like you've already read up on the power supply issues which are covered in depth on MP3car regarding voltage spikes and such, if not, be sure you do. And just for reference, he mounted all of the computer hardware behind the glove box area and replaced the glove box with a flip-down keyboard. He also mounted a trackball on the console between the seats for easy controls and built hotkeys into the steering wheel.

[Drum Thumper]

The screen I have is a Sharp LM6Q401. Oddly enough, if I try to google the model, the only result that shows up is my server thread here. Thankfully, though, I was smart enough to get the pinouts from MP3Car.com a while back, and something tells me you could ask there and probably have someone tell you what does what.

It's nothing too fancy, just a regular screen out of a PS2 adaptor thing that I bought last year for $20.00. Chaksq gets first dibs, if it's not what he needs, then b4i7 gets dibs. PM me, I'll sell it through Ebay with a buyitnow on it.

Edit--figured out why I wasn't getting data sheets--O instead of 0(zero) in the product name. I've found all the datasheets now, along with the page from MP3car.

[chaksq]

Jon: I assume you are talking about something to monitor from the OBDII port of the car. I was thinking of looking into this, if you can think of anything that would be great. My car is actually the only year of the second generation US Escorts to have the OBDII option, which is normally a pain because of the tighter emissions control. Although in this case it means more things to play with the computer. I have read over the power supply issues, I'll probably read through them again a little more in depth when it comes time for me to buy the PSU. I need to work on a method of getting power to the entire A/V system, I plan on discussing this with car audio pros as I am planning a show quality audio system for the car.

I do realize a lot of people mount PCs in their glove boxes but I'd like to try something different and not touch my glovebox. I know I can come up with something more creative, plus I want it to seem like it could be an OEM setup. I have disassembled the dashboards in these cars far more than most people who build car PCs have or want to try. I am planning on also attempting to mod a set of switches from the cruise control option for my car, which would match my steering wheel perfectly, probably just have these control audio. This might take a few tricks up the sleeve but I'm down for it.

DrumThumper: I am definitely interested in that screen. I looked up the thread you mentioned and you actually have the pinouts listed there. I sent you a PM earlier so check your inbox.

[Drum Thumper]

Chaksq--check your pm's.

Edit: Lemme know if you're considering building an Ir receiver for this--I've got schematics and parts lists if you do.

[OvRiDe]

for software you might Checkout http://www.fluxmedia.net/

It appears to have quite a few features that have been discussed.

Previously I used frodoplayer and it was a very nice option several years ago, but it appears there has been no development on it in quite a while.. but its still available in the mp3car.com (http://store.mp3car.com/category_s/136.htm) forums.

Hoping you go for it!

Also if you want to replace your heating and air controls, maybe Phidgets (http://www.phidgets.com/) would have some stuff to assist in that..

http://www.phidgets.com/