Carputer Wiring

[Ste]

Well im a PC geek so ive got loadsa PCs and now im having a bit of a clear out, and instead of selling up im putting my Mini-ITX pc in the car.

As it stands id need to get an inverter to plug in the Powersupply which in turn changes the voltage again from 240v AC to 12v DC iirc. Which is pretty much the way the car would feed it in the first place.

So i need a PSU that is 12v, but can cope with the shit power from a car battery but i can't remeber the name of em. Its 60w btw. Can anyone? If not;

then it would be setup like this;

Inverter wired to battery with switch between, which goes 12v DC to 240v AC.

The PC plugged into the inverter, which goes 240v AC to 12v DC.


Would that be ok?

[SNewham]

Why can't you just isolate and remove the inbuilt converter that goes from 240v to 12v in the pc?

[Alex]

If the ITX is 12v cant it be run direct, seems a bit cumbersome to have an inverter.

If you have to use an inverter it should be ok, when i was on the Scotland camping trip with mike he had his laptop running on an inverter most of the time w/o problems, also pluged a phone charger in at the same time :)

[Ste]

I could in theory but the chances of the components blowing with the fluctuating voltage are pretty high, without an inverter. But with an inverter it regulates the voltage.

Also i dont fancy getting shocked by a PSU tbh.


There is a specific PSU out there for car PCs that can take the voltage and is like a 'turbo timer' and gives the PC a few minutes to shutdown before cutting the power. Just can't find it.

[Ste]

FOUND EM WOOOP

http://www.opussolutions.com/index.php?p=product&id=26

[Alex]

http://www.mini-box.com/M3-ATX-DC-DC-ATX-Automotive-Computer-car-PC-Power-Supply;jsessionid=ac112b791f43188bf644cf8445b68fce 992d2ae6fb76.e3eTaxeKbh0Te34Pa38Ta38PbNr0?sc=8&category=13

[Hewhocannotbenamed]

I've used these in two different car pc installs, there is a higher output version as well. This is a great site for car pc related stuff.

http://linitx.com/viewproduct.php?prodid=10598