In vehicle PC

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kiwipete
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In vehicle PC

Post by kiwipete »

As most know I have a Mini ITX PC in my truck, used mostly for GPS logging an displaying other data on a screen mounted on the dashboard.

Image

This failed a WOF on the weekend, I was told I had to either get it certed or remove it.

So off to a local cert guy I goes.
To keep the origonal case in place, I would need to heavily pad it out to prevent any passengers injuring themselves if they were to make contact with it.
This is out of the question, padding would look stupid and ugly.

I thought, hmmm, what if I just replace it with one of the smaller cases dsigned for this type of PC, attaching it to the grey vynal area on the roof, beside the interior light, between the rear and front passengers?;

Image
Image

But it is not so easy says the certification guy. There is still a chance a rear passenger will injure themselves on it should they be learched forward in an accident. :!: :shock: Yes he agreed the laws are crap here.

I am at a loss where to mount the unit now, under the seats are out obviousy.
There is the glove box or boot area, but I woud like it within arms reach.
The ony other area I can think of at the present is on the roof in the boot area.

What are your suggestions, thoughts or ideas?
Last edited by kiwipete on Tue Jan 22, 2008 6:35 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Sadam_Husain
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Re: In vehicle PC

Post by Sadam_Husain »

Shit I think I'd be looking for a new wof guy pete?

Theres thousands and thousands of taxis and service type vehicles out there with radios and GPS's all over their dashes..... are they getting that picky now?
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Jezza
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Re: In vehicle PC

Post by Jezza »

I have seen guys on the car mp3 forums put them in a double din slot with the help of a dremel. How big is your dash?
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kiwipete
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Re: In vehicle PC

Post by kiwipete »

Sadam_Husain wrote:Shit I think I'd be looking for a new wof guy pete?

Theres thousands and thousands of taxis and service type vehicles out there with radios and GPS's all over their dashes..... are they getting that picky now?

Its not that simple, the powers that be have decided to hammer 4x4 vehicles now.

The other point is, its not so much the dash area in question, anything mounted there is designed to break away should contact be made. However on the hood lining is a differnt kettle of fish.
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kiwipete
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Re: In vehicle PC

Post by kiwipete »

Jezza wrote:I have seen guys on the car mp3 forums put them in a double din slot with the help of a dremel. How big is your dash?


Yes I have thought of there, it would fit with little effort, but and there is always going to be a but, where would I mount my PRS radio?

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KiwiBacon
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Re: In vehicle PC

Post by KiwiBacon »

So if it's "mounted" then it's a problem. But if it's stuffed in a pocket it's not a fixture and not a problem?
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kiwipete
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Re: In vehicle PC

Post by kiwipete »

KiwiBacon wrote:So if it's "mounted" then it's a problem. But if it's stuffed in a pocket it's not a fixture and not a problem?


Yup, so long as it will not cause injury (head) as is the case in my situation.

I have however found this case in th USA for $133USD Image
but the freight might be a killer.

I supose I could always get the slimmer case pictured in a post above and mount on the hood lining, just behind the front passenger and have it detachble with 4 thumb screws. Then just remove it every time I go for a WOF. 8)
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KiwiBacon
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Re: In vehicle PC

Post by KiwiBacon »

Is it possible to mount it right in the back and just run wires as needed?
I realise that USB and many other cables have length limits. But for a permanent mounting place that's well protected I can't think of anywhere better.
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Jerry
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Re: In vehicle PC

Post by Jerry »

USB has a 5m limit, DSE etc sell repeater extender cables no idea if they work
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rowinz
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Re: In vehicle PC

Post by rowinz »

Have a read through the LVV docs (Interior Impact relates to this).
http://www.lvvta.org.nz/ under Documents, Standards
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KiwiBacon
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Re: In vehicle PC

Post by KiwiBacon »

Jerry wrote:USB has a 5m limit, DSE etc sell repeater extender cables no idea if they work


Yeah they work well, I've used them for work where I needed a serial cable about 4 metres up in the air. But they drop the 500mA from a normal USB down to about 100mA. Suitable for low power devices only, you won't run a USB HDD on the end of one.
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KiwiBacon
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Re: In vehicle PC

Post by KiwiBacon »

Tell me more about this PC.
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Re: In vehicle PC

Post by wjw »

KiwiBacon wrote:
Jerry wrote:USB has a 5m limit, DSE etc sell repeater extender cables no idea if they work


Yeah they work well, I've used them for work where I needed a serial cable about 4 metres up in the air. But they drop the 500mA from a normal USB down to about 100mA. Suitable for low power devices only, you won't run a USB HDD on the end of one.


We had a cannon camera working (without power) at 70m on one of those ethernet USB extender kits... dse dont sell them anymore as if you put too much length on and use the power, they had a tendancy to blow usb ports.
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kiwipete
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Re: In vehicle PC

Post by kiwipete »

rowinz wrote:Have a read through the LVV docs (Interior Impact relates to this).
http://www.lvvta.org.nz/ under Documents, Standards



What a mammoth read, need to print it out sometime to digest slowly.
Thanks for the link.
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Swaney
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Re: In vehicle PC

Post by Swaney »

couldnt you unplug it... unscrew it... take car for wof... screw and plug back in 10 minutes later?
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kiwipete
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Re: In vehicle PC

Post by kiwipete »

Swaney wrote:couldnt you unplug it... unscrew it... take car for wof... screw and plug back in 10 minutes later?


Thats what ive suggested in a post above, but with a smaller case. The existing case is way too awkard to be removing all the time for WOF times as it is held in place undr the hood lining. I made it almost bullet proof. :oops:
The new case i am thinking of wil be so much easier to remove, simply unplugging the cables and removing 4 security type screws.

There are however some areas of the roof area that are outside the so called "A" area in the LVV paperwork that I will explore so I may be able to have something permenantly mounted afterall. 8)

Thanks to everyone for your ideas. Many heads make light work of difficult solutions. :wink:
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UBZ
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Re: In vehicle PC

Post by UBZ »

Jerry wrote:USB has a 5m limit, DSE etc sell repeater extender cables no idea if they work


Be very careful using this type of extender / booster cable. Most manufactures will only guarantee USB 1.1 connectivity.
Every join in the cable is considered effectively a hub and causes volt drop in the cable. As we have discovered painfully at work some devices will work and some won't.(Even worse is when some devices work only sometimes :evil: :evil: )

Whenever we are asked to extend USB ,we always set up a test bench and ensure that all the components of what we plan to do are actually going to work. Sometimes it is just a matter of trying a few different brands of components and slightly different length cables etc. :roll: :roll:
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pagar
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Re: In vehicle PC

Post by pagar »

You will need to be mind full how you mount the case if you use one that is cooled via cooling fins (as pictured at the top) these I have been told not to mount them up side down as the fins do not cool properly and they can overheat, same goes for amplifiers, inverters and 24-12v drop down power supplies. One in a vented box is more likely to have an internal fan. Don't now how acurate that is for any one unit, but I was told that was why I cooked my amp in my boat I put it where I thought would get plenty of air and not be hit but ended up slowly cooking it instead. Think your WOF guy is being picky and am now worrying about my next wof as I have a few things mounted there. PRS, GPS, Fire ext, two power supplies on the trans tunnel. :roll:
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