Hey I was thinking about hooking my XBOX and/or computer into my TL. Everything would be in the trunk. Ok here goes the question, Should I have a direct line from my battery to an inverter and hook everything there? Or is it possible to hook the Inverter to an empty location in the fuse box? I know theres 2 open but anybody know if this would work? Im thinking about a nice 400W inverter. I need to convert from 12V DC to 120V AC (for my XBOX). My AV Switcher is currently powered via tapping into some current power source right now I think. Havent checked because its under all this fabrication that makes it look stock. Anywho Im short of money so I am trying this installation myself. i know how to install amps and Subs etc so this should be similar. I just dont know if this is too much power etc. I was thinkin about another way and didnt know if it was feasible, but someone tell me if this would work: hooking up power from the battery via through the firewall, into a distribution block in my trunk and hooking up things via DC connection (No XBOX this mothod because XBOX only accepts AC)? No idea if this will work. I know if I do the computer it wil have an OPUS 150W DC-DC power supply. Also, If I get the invertor, I want this to be permanent in the form of not hooked up to a cigarette outlet. I want it to be directly ready to go once the ignition is on or in the II position. Any electronic/electric gurus out there, please help! Please tell me what I need. So far I got: an invertor, power cables, terminal rings, electric tape, and some tools. Maybe fuses/fuseholders? What else will/do I need? thanks!

 

also need Extensions on the wiring for the invertor because theres no way in hell the stock wires will reach from my batery to my trunk

 

Man, I thought w/ all the high income jobs you people have to afford the TL. Maybe just one of yall would have some sort of electric background? Come on! theres gotta be someone

 

Its late, wait till tommorow.

 

EX61 - I would recommend that you don't used the XBOX or a standard computer for your installation.

That is, unless you have a lot of money to spend on replacement games, hard drives, and DVD drives.

Most of these "standard" hard drive & DVD based systems aren't designed for the sort of abuse that a car environment will cause.

Heck, I've already gone through 2 DVD drives in my 2 year-old XBOX (one drive went dead 2 months ago), and it sits still on my stereo rack all day with decent air ventilation.

With the almost constant shaking and temperature extremes that you will face in a car environment, I would recommend that you might want to think about using a laptop computer instead.

Two reasons off the top of my head:

(1) Laptops tend to be better designed for ruggedness. They are constantly being bumped/shaken/stirrred during normal daily transportation.

(2) Power supply to the laptop is DC, so your power connection will probably be tons easier and less expensive. You can spend under $100 and buy an iGO Juice. Hack up the car plug, and Presto! - You're done with your power wiring.

(3) Lots easier to remove when desired, possibly every time you arrive at your destination.

(4) Weighs less than your other options.

(5) Takes up less trunk space than your other options.

(6) Will be easier to mount than your other options.

(7) If you buy a new laptop to do this, be sure to purchase the longest Extended Warranty available from Best Buy / Circuit City / CompUSA - you'll probably use it.

OK, so maybe I had more on the top of my head than I thought. :baldgrin:

 

GotJazz- logical assumption, but I disagree...here's why

Eggroll, along with GotJazz, check out this forum...mp3car.com

This forum is EXTREMELY informative and you will see that people aren't having issues with drives and such like you would think. Some people have tried suspending drives with rubber or some kind of shock absorber, but it does more harm than good. These guys say to simply mount the drive vertical rather than horizontal and you will be fine. I can vouch for mounting the drive this way: I have recovered data off of 5 desktop hard drives by turning them on their sides so that the read/write head didn't hit the platters. Though they were going bad, I kept them alive long enough to extract what I needed.

Also, if you research in this forum, the cleanest way to get power to a carPC is by using a DC-DC power supply, not an inverter to get AC. Many people have modded the XBOX and I know there is info out there. If this is going to be a permanent setup, I would suggest looking into replacing your PSU (power supply) with a DC-DC one. You can get info from mp3car.com. I also remember a guy with an XBOX site. He was very knowledgable and could probably answer some of your questions, too. Here is his site, maybe you can find an email address or something: Llama XBOX

 

I have to agree with ITL, mp3car.com is an awesome site for info. I have been researching this site for about 2 years now. I am actually in the process of adding a new touchscreen display in the rear just below the 2 air vents and also adding PC and ps2. I already have begun to build this and will definately post pics when it is completed. So far I have the AVElectronic switch, a touch screen display and the ps2. I have to start building the PC soon. Look at mini-itx.com for lots of other info on small hardware for building. I have lots of research done, so if you have any ?'s feel free to ask.

 

Yea, Im a daily viewer of that site, lol

 

Make sure to post pics when installation is completed.

 

No problem, but nobody has told me the things I need~! All my parts are coming in today so im preping estelle for the surgery.

 

If I got the DC-DC power supply for the XBOX and/or PC (thinking about the OPUS PSU, its sooo expensive but U get what U pay for) would It be able to turn on with the key in the I or II position? like I want to make it so it definitely will not consume any power whilst my key is not in. I was looking at the fuse diagrams and was looking at which one is wired to ignition but I have no idea. Anybody wanna try? Also, If I got the invertor, it also has benefits such as being able to make the XBOX portable. the PC I could care less about if it was portable. I have computers everywhere and seriously doubt I will depend on that single computer except to tgake it out to upload new MP3s etc. (I do, however have the solution of burining MP3s onto DVDs and then pulling them into the HD which could work as well). btw what parts Do I need? Im going to this wholesale electronics place my mom does business with today to pick up parts so i need answers . Thanks guys You guys are


WOOHOO! My MOMO F16 Evo Carbon Fiber/Titanium Shift knob has JUST arrived! OMG! Its sooo beautiful! My.........precious...........

 

Sorry, but I can vouch that vertical mounting does not solve this problem. It may reduce the failure rates, but it won't eliminate them. My CD drive in my Ford is mounted vertically, and skips almost any time I make a turn.

A company that I interviewed extensively with (now defunct, partly because of this very problem) mounted hard drives vertically in aircraft for in-flight entertainment systems. Their failure rate on hard drives was an unsolvable problem for them - they were replacing drives on airplanes during almost every flight. When you have a few hundred drives per aircraft (one for each passenger), the replacement rate was huge.

Regardless of if the drive is vertical or horizontal, the car's motions are in all 3 planes - which a home computer/XBOX is not normally subjected to. You are only reducing the problem because a car doesn't go through as much lateral motion as it does vertical/longitudinal.

 

I thought you were getting an LS430 or something... what happened...

 

ughhhh dont remind me.......... Someone Crap Bag in an LS430 threw a screwdriver and scratched my car. and i was thinking about getting an M3 but my parents convinced me to save up for something the appreciates instead of depreciates in vallue.

 

You mean like a collectible roadster? Or antique car? Or custom build? No mass-produced new car is going to appreciate.

 

like investing in the stock market at good times or investing into real estate

 

Why mess with all the hardware? Add a Wi-Fi card and then you don't even have to touch the computer (except the screen). Pull up in your driveway and sync your files over a wireless network...that's my plan

 

Gotcha. I thought you were talking about investing in a car.