Thread: 12v Car Computer

Originally Posted by p38arover

This is what I'm gunna copy - made by JSP on this forum: http://rangerovers.net/forum/viewtopic.php't=5069

I saw it in Adelaide last month - really very nicely done.

I've bought the new dash centre section to carve up, I have the PC and the GPS mouse - now to get the touch screen.


Ron

Ron - in my freelander I have a 8" touchscreen but having installed it would go another route. I find the touchscreen difficult to use when driving - the pen stylis is hard to get to touch the right spot and my piggy fingers are too fat to touch the right spot. The other thing, being right handed the screen is hard to use with my left hand.

I have a wireless USB optical mouse and I found that I can have the mouse in my right hand and use my right thigh as the mouse pad - easy to use when driving. I am going to put in a usb port on the right side of the dash with the mouse dongle in it (reception for the mouse) and use a mobile phone holder to store the mouse - when driving and need to use the computer u can just lift the mouse, put it on your knee (which is attached to the car throttle) so is not bouncing around everywhere - you have much more control over the mouse and more importantly much more control of the car - the screen would be cheaper too.

Just a suggestion based on my own experience.

Gazzz

Gazz, get a gyro mouse they're great!

http://www.gyration.com/en-US/Produc...6105&accshow=3

Originally Posted by garrycol

Ron - in my freelander I have a 8" touchscreen but having installed it would go another route. I find the touchscreen difficult to use when driving - the pen stylis is hard to get to touch the right spot and my piggy fingers are too fat to touch the right spot. The other thing, being right handed the screen is hard to use with my left hand.

I have a wireless USB optical mouse and I found that I can have the mouse in my right hand and use my right thigh as the mouse pad - easy to use when driving. I am going to put in a usb port on the right side of the dash with the mouse dongle in it (reception for the mouse) and use a mobile phone holder to store the mouse - when driving and need to use the computer u can just lift the mouse, put it on your knee (which is attached to the car throttle) so is not bouncing around everywhere - you have much more control over the mouse and more importantly much more control of the car - the screen would be cheaper too.

Just a suggestion based on my own experience.

Gazzz

Ok I don't go in for flaming people around here but I think playing with a mouse and computer while driving is pushing the bounds of sensibility. Is that really a good idea Garry?

Originally Posted by walker

Where you instructed to you a DC-DC power supply? I was going to use one but was told that the computer will work on anything from 10-14v approx and that I did not need one.

I wasn't taking any chances. Can't remember what I ran it off before I got the DC-DC PSU. It was either stright off 12V or through the supplied 240VAC to 12VDC adapter plugged into an inverter.

Adding the DC-DC converter also included other features such as startup/shutdown contoller and power monitor.

Only problem I had was taking power from a cigarette lighter socket. This caused random dropouts and start failures. Changed these to small Anderson connectors and never had a problem since.

Originally Posted by oldzook

Ok I don't go in for flaming people around here but I think playing with a mouse and computer while driving is pushing the bounds of sensibility. Is that really a good idea Garry?

So people with Tom Toms etc stop the car to change scales or whatever - I don't think so - my car radio is more complex to use than the computer - the touch screen is in the line of vision when driving - to operate the radio you have to look down. In the picture you will see the radio is much lower than the screen.

Here in Canberra the taxis have a similar touch screen to take all their jobs while mobile - if there was a problem I don't think the authorities would allow it.

To answer the question - yes in my circumstance.

Garry

Hello,
Anyone mounted an Lcd screen to a Defender dash ?
I bought a 10'' screen, fitting it is not simple, the dash
is very nerrow. any ideas ?

Nachum

Check out this range of products

http://www.opentec.com.au/products/index.shtml

they are built to mil-spec and offer a range of rugged pdas and laptops, very cool stuff.

I have put one in my Defender. I used an old (new) cooking rack that is basically mesh thick wire. Was one of those camping cooking racks that you could put fish, steak etc in. Pulled out one side and cut to fit. Took a bit of buggerising around to force it in, then with a bit of fiddling attaced to monitor bolt with a nut and long spacer plate from the back. Does not move at all. I have laptop and rear facing camera hooked up to it. Pics below.

Originally Posted by ISR110

Hello,
Anyone mounted an Lcd screen to a Defender dash ?
I bought a 10'' screen, fitting it is not simple, the dash
is very nerrow. any ideas ?

Nachum