That Would be a Cool Mod - Thread

[TheGreatSatan]

That Would be a Cool Mod - Thread

I like going on eBay and visiting Home Depot and Lowe's and seeing things that I think would be cool if turned into a computer. Here's your chance.

Share your ideas. You never know it might actually get built.

My first one is this cool 1950's radio (http://cgi.ebay.com/Mid-Century-Modern-Philco-Ford-radio-space-age-shere-/230510914986?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35ab856daa) that looks like a space helmet!

http://galleryplus.ebayimg.com/ws/web/230510914986_1_0_1.jpg

[d_stilgar]

I've always wanted to do a mod using the shaker hood bubble from this model as an air intake.

http://pics.towerhobbies.com/imagel/r/lrmxs1442.jpg

http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/7xhq5K_XEf_RJRavSUATiZjCxus9MRdry_C_FKLPYekt-Lzd4ffA3i5ZlLFa_S5xQPfzndhJsKwQ8fbtzOPo_Todag6UyUQ ZJm1nFpnlURdSDuY3BJh5FW9ceSkJQZ4FYq4Mgmx3kxGw9jo52 j_L4J3RkGX9rfhG8XU

[TheGreatSatan]

Yeah those are cool

[TheGreatSatan]

Look what I just had to buy! This (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=360292950550&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT) will be a cool mod!

[Drum Thumper]

Look what I just had to buy! This (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=360292950550&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT) will be a cool mod!

That would look cool coupled with the breadbox twins we had posted here a while back...

[Konrad]

How about one of these (http://bigbellysolar.com/)?

Of course they do cost about $3000 each, I think.

[TheGreatSatan]

That's kind of HUGE

[Konrad]

The rechargable 12V/30A battery and 12V solar panel should power a PC for a long time, especially when it's sunny:D

[mDust]

The rechargable 12V/30A battery and 12V solar panel should power a PC for a long time, especially when it's sunny:D

Entire solar panels typically 'trickle charge' batteries with only a handful of amps when it's sunny and do little at all if it's anything but sunny. I don't think a single panel would run anything other than a laptop or a very low powered desktop. It would greatly extend the life of the battery with every day use, or be self-sustaining if allowed to recharge for a sunny day between uses. Forget about a gaming-rig mod though!:)

This would be an interesting project. Would the solar-array/battery supplement a PSU or replace it altogether?

[Konrad]

This would be an interesting project.
Well, actually it wasn't meant to be serious. I've just been seeing these crazy things all over the place, nice to see City Hall cares enough to spend $3000 each for shiny new trash cans. I jokingly thought "who would use a bloody big high-tech trash can for a PC mod?" - now I know.

I've been eyeing those juicy big solar panels for a while now ... entertaining evil thoughts about ambushing one while they're all asleep ...

I agree, they'd be insufficient for powering anything bigger than a notebook. I've found some technical data (service manuals) for the BB3, they use a common float charger circuit I've actually built before.

Lots of room inside that chassis, though, no problems with cable routing and heatsink placement. But I'm not so sure that a 20-ton hydraulic press really belongs inside a PC.

[mDust]

I jokingly thought "who would use a bloody big high-tech trash can for a PC mod?" - now I know.

Ah, I was thinking more along the lines of a scratch build utilizing the solar powered concept. But yeah, I'd mod a solar powered trashcan! Wanna fight about it?:D

[Konrad]

Now that I think about it - you might be able to rig one of these up as a server rack. WxDxH Dimensions are 26.1"x25.9"x50.4" ... you could fit about 30Us in there with space to spare. 20-ton hydraulic press has to go, maybe keep it for another mod project. I haven't got a clue what to do with the solar panel.

[mDust]

Now that I think about it - you might be able to rig one of these up as a server rack. WxDxH Dimensions are 26.1"x25.9"x50.4" ... you could fit about 30Us in there with space to spare. 20-ton hydraulic press has to go, maybe keep it for another mod project. I haven't got a clue what to do with the solar panel.

There you go!
The body becomes a server rack, the solar panels go to a scratch-build low-power PC and the 20-ton hydraulic press can be used to open and close the 20-ton door to your nuclear-bunker mod.