Car Computer Install

[Guest MATT jr]

Hi all, well this weekend, iv been beavering away on my new toy (toys?)

 

So,, the plan is... fix a laptop under one seat, have a touch screen up front,, a amp under another seat, powering a small sub woofer.

 

All interconnected with everything.

 

1st thing i did (as you have to start somewhere!) is install the GPS antenna, in between the roof lining, and the metal roof.

 

i did this, by gluing (epoxy) a small steal plate, on top of the roof lining, and then using the magnetic base on the antenna, "stick it" to the steal plate. i then run the cable down the B pillar, and under the drivers seat, making sure it doesn't fowl the drivers seat belt!

 

 

 

 

 

I then installed the FM modulator.

 

this neat box, basically adds a phono input to a radio which hasn't got any!

it connect between the cars antenna, and the aerial input on the radio, note - u will need aerial adapters to connect them up. i have currently wired it up, so the unit can only be operated when the key is in the ignition - but i am going to change this.

 

radio removed

 

box and wiring to be fitted.

 

box fitted!

 

 

-- to connect any wires to the cars wiring loom, iv gone for the splicing route -- ie, you remove some insulation from the wire your connecting to, i used a Stanley blade, but you don't cut the copper wire itself. then, u bare off the wire your attaching to it, rap round the bare copper, solder it, then insulate it with insulating tape or whatever takes your fancy.

(this method was used through out the whole install)

 

a quick test with my old CD player, confirms all is working!

 

 

i then set about the horrible task, of getting a feed from the battery, through the bulkhead, and under the drivers seat.

Thanks to previous posts on here, i knew about a "tear drop" shaped grommet, that lives near the drivers left foot.

 

so starting at the battery end, i fitted the Fuse holder (rated up to 60Amp, but will hold a 40Amp fuse). i simply drilled two holes in the plastic battery cover/box, and using a cable tie, tied it in place -- impressively sturdy and quick way to do it.

 

 

then with engine cover and sound proofing removed, i pulled down some more sound proofing, that sits under the wiper area - to do this i removed 5 metal clips.

 

 

i then run the wire down this, to the rear left of the engine, and cliped it all back into place.

 

 

back inside the car,, i fed the wire through the grommet, and into the drivers foot well.

 

 

i then re-assembled the engine bay!

 

by this time, it was dark, so i moved in doors, and did the necessary modifications to the laptop - basically, "hot wiring" the on/off switch.

 

 

i also but the sub woofer in its box, and wired that up - and plenty of solder!

 

 

 

i then removed both front seats (Damn it there heavy!!), i also removed both "scuff plate thingys", and pulled the carpet up.

 

i then run a whole host of wires under the floor, starting with the power feed,

 

notice various USB leads - 1 for the GPS antenna, 1 for the Disk Drive, 1 for the Touch screen. theres also 3 Voltage adapters.

1X 12V to 19V for the laptop

1X 12V to 12V for the Disk Drive

1X 12V to unknown voltage for the display

 

theres also a 3.5 jack to phono lead in there for connection from the computers head phone socket - to the head unit.

 

& a monitor cable, for the monitor lol

(i think thats all of them, for the computer!)

 

 

Once them leads were in, i set about getting a feed off the B pillar speaker wires, to feed a Hi to Low converter - which will then give the amp, a phono input.

so, removed the B pillar trims again (slight boo boo in my schedule lol!)

and spliced into them, heres a close up, the camera was in macro mode, but still not very clear.

 

 

this was done on both sides, so to have a stereo output in the form of phonos.

 

 

i then fitted the Amp, with all its wires.

thats, power feed, on/off trigger, phono input, and speaker output - which was bridged, as its connecting to a sub woofer.

 

the hi to low converter was put in the same location as the amp.

 

(sorry about the picture quality - my camera had given up at this point, so was left with my camera phone)

 

the amp fits very snugly in that well lol. also note that USB lead,, i was originally going to have the PC under the drivers seat, but plans changed, and i needed to extend the lead (TUT!)

 

the speaker cable that leads to the sub (which sits snugly between the middle and third rows) was concealed along them "scuff plate things" - dont know what their real name is lol.

 

i give the sound system a test - to make sure all was working before putting the seat back - worked 1st time! BOO YA!!!!

 

i then set about fixing in the laptop! (what a joy that was!)

 

heres a pic of the foot well before all the wires were put in...

 

the laptop fits perfectly in that hole, so, my plan is to suspend the laptop, using rubber bands (simple hey?), and shove the associated electrics under it. "whatabout the pool of water" i hear u cry, its all elevated, just in case :)

 

Laptop, ready to go in.

 

a long time later...

 

all is in,,, i did quickly plug the monitor in, and powered everything up to check it was working. it all worked fine,, but i didnt get a picture of this fantabulous moment lol (probably to excited! or too exhausted?)

 

the light was fading way to fast, so out came the lanterns, while i put the car back in one piece!

 

so, at this point in time,,,

 

the power feed is done

the audio part of the deal is completely finished

the computer and wires are in

 

just a few last steps to do, before its complete....

 

1) mount the disk drive under the glove box, to the right (shouldn't take too long - wires are there waiting for it)

2) route the monitor cable up behind the dash (im dreading that)

3) fabricate a mounting bracket for the monitor (dreading that too)

4) make a small control panel, to all control over the FM modulator/computer/amp/and power supplies.

 

then, its all finished!

 

WHOOP!

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~UPDATE 23/12/2006~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

ok, so today iv done a bit more (despite the cold weather, and the ear infection!)

 

so my 1st worry, was getting the monitor cable, up to that top centre box, as so far i have not been able to find a route, but, today i removed the lower glove box, and a route became damn obvious!

 

(sorry about the picture quality - had to take them all on my camera phone, as it seems my kodak camera has broken :) )

 

(the large black cable seen to the bottom left of the picture is the cable im routing.)

 

with the top two boxes removed (6 screws) and the glove box removed (was surprisingly easy!), if you look, where the top left storage box was, and look down through the dash, a route for the cable becomes clear.

 

i got a bit of string and a small hex socket, and dropped it down,, then attached the string to the cable, and pulled it up.

 

(this photo was taken after i had put the glove box back into place (almost as easy as removing it))

 

i then routed the cable along the top of that dash, like so...

 

 

and re-fitted the top left storage box,

 

 

 

I then set about mounting the external disk drive (i bought this bran new for some reason lol - its an LG super drive or something,, reads and writes to most disks, and is very fast)

 

as the spaces under the seats are taken, iv mounted it to the bottom right, of the lower glove box. if you look under that area, you will see a small black screw, holding insulation in place.

 

to mount the drive, i measured and cut, a strip of aluminum, like so..

 

 

i then fitted it in the car, like so...

 

 

one end of the aluminum goes into a 1inch wide slot i made, in the grayish material (which is approx 10mm thick) - its very sturdy, then, that screw, is placed through the aluminum, and back in, where it was before. the front end of the aluminum, is sort of "wedged" in the lower plastic, of the glove box. its the plastic that normally holds the foot well lights, but ours doesn't have them!

 

 

that aluminum beam, is very sturdy, i then looped two large cable ties over that beam, i then got the disk drive, and placed a 1inch thick piece of foam on top of the drive....then comes the bit where you need 4 eyes, and 5 arms and hands.

 

while holding the disk drive in place, with its foam on top, bring the cable ties underneath it, and zip them up tight - and halfway through, plug in the usb and power leads.

 

once tied up, re-position the drive, so its "level", then do the cable ties as tight as possible (i used pliers),, cut off the excess, and there you go...

 

(it looks dark on the picture, but its just my camera phone)

 

i then tided up the cables, and thats the passenger foot well finished!

 

so now, iv just got mount the screen in the box, and make my control panel...stay tuned!

 

 

MJR :lol:

[Guest gooner52]

very good job mjr

 

great write up with pics

 

very nice m8

 

look forward to the next update

[Guest MATT jr]

thanks gooner...im just gonna keep updating the 1st post, as it could get "fragmented" otherwise.

 

watch this space!

 

MJR :)

[Guest Cepheus]

Phook me Matt ... that's some serious install! You students obviously have too much time on your hands lol

 

Be good to see the updates and the finished set up at the next meet!

 

Keep up the good work! :D

[Guest MATT jr]

lol thanks paul!

 

its taken ages and ages to get to this point,, and it still isnt finished!

 

Just give you some figures on the computer...

 

Its a Intel Celeron mobile processor - running windows XP home.

40Gig hard drive

512MB RAM

1.5Ghz clock speed

3USB ports, and PCI expansion solt.

 

it boots up quickly aswel :D

 

MJR

[mumof4]

Blimey!! :16: ..A way lot of work done there!!..looking good!!..Not just a pretty face eh :D :16:

I'm well impressed.. :16:

[Guest MATT jr]

Not just a pretty face eh :D :16:

 

I'm well impressed.. :16:

 

 

haha :D

 

thank you :16:

 

should be ace when its done!

 

the audio is up and running now,, the sub adds a lovely depth to the sound (i havnt got it set on boy racer mode! - just a small amount from it)

 

MJR

[justme]

Fantastic Matt, can't wait to see end product. :D

[Guest wolfie]

interesting set up and good write up, cant wait to see the finished product!

I would how ever make sure that the lap top is protected from the water that appears to be situated around the drivers seat area! if it's deep enough to support wild life I would start worrying :D

 

and under the drivers seat, making sure it doesn't fowl the drivers seat belt!

:D :D

[Guest MATT jr]

thank u all. seriously though, i dont want do another one of these installs anytime soon, takes so much effort!

 

I would how ever make sure that the lap top is protected from the water that appears to be situated around the drivers seat area!

 

the laptop is lifted out the well, so should be ok.

 

MJR

[Guest gooner52]

wow

 

top work mj

 

looking the bees wax dude

 

very good job,loads of great pics also :o

[gregers]

cockey git :o

superb looks the dogs dangleys

[Guest MATT jr]

lol thanks dudes.

 

next up date will be on sat (most likely - weather dependant)

 

im hoping it will be all finished by then :)

 

MJR

[Guest MATT jr]

...well, the weather isnt looking very promising, its been raining for the last few days, and shows no signs of letting off.

 

...all i will say, is the sub woofer really does improve the sound - theater like!

 

MJR

[big_kev]

...well, the weather isnt looking very promising, its been raining for the last few days, and shows no signs of letting off.

 

...all i will say, is the sub woofer really does improve the sound - theater like!

 

MJR

 

Matt is that avatar a picture of you ?

[Guest gooner52]

yes it is mjr in all his glory :lol:

[NikpV]

...well, the weather isnt looking very promising, its been raining for the last few days, and shows no signs of letting off.

 

...all i will say, is the sub woofer really does improve the sound - theater like!

 

MJR

 

Matt is that avatar a picture of you ?

 

 

I bet as a student now he doesn't dress like that very often :lol:

[Guest MATT jr]

Matt is that avatar a picture of you ?

 

it is indeedy :ph34r:

 

I bet as a student now he doesn't dress like that very often

 

You would be surprised! lol - uni seem to make opportunity to dress up :lol::lol:

 

 

My dad says its gonna snow tomorrow! - hope i can get something done!

 

MJR :ph34r:

[El Dingo]

We need to organise a meet just so we can all see this. Bl**dy impressive!

[Guest MATT jr]

We need to organise a meet just so we can all see this. Bl**dy impressive!

 

 

awww shucks :ph34r:

 

we do attend meets where we can, so there's a good possibility i will be able demonstrate all this for you, cos like they say, nothing beats the "real" thing lol

 

i should be able do something on it today, as there should be a "weather window" a bit later :ph34r:

 

MJR :lol:

[Guest MATT jr]

...done a bit more today, check the first post for the update :)

 

MJR :)

[Guest gooner52]

as before mjr

 

looking very good indeed m8e

 

the pictures are great,and all looks neat and tidy also

 

given me loads of ideas 4 next year

 

when i get going again :)

 

keep up the great work

[Guest MATT jr]

thanks dude :)

 

glad to hear im inspiring!

 

hehe

 

MJR :)

[steve67car]

fair play but just a quick note to try save you some time. but if read properly you will have problems with the gps as they can not read through metal or carbon fibre. and you mounted yours under the head lining

and just you know been fitting sat navs for about 10 years now and also thats why renault driver need a ext aerial cause of the metal in their wind screens

other than that looking good

[Guest MATT jr]

ok steve, will have to sort out any bugs later.

 

atm i need get the screen finished and control panel, then will worry about repositioning the antenna, and building a new sub-box.

 

MJR