-
Read the WELCOME ALL BMWFANATICS post.
E46 Carputer project
- Thread starter Pho3niX90
- Start date
BillyBob
Active member
I don't think the problem lies with Windows 7 - check the wattage being supplied by whatever converter / PSU you're using to power the PC - if the wattage isn't up to par, the PC will experience stability issues similar to what you're seeing.
That being said, there are Linux distro's developed specifically for carputer applications - so that might be a better bet.
Me, I'd have just used a Raspberry Pi, a touch-screen with USB and HDMI, and called it a day... might not be the fastest thing around, but certainly beats the whole shebang of building a dedicated PC.
Either way - kudo's to you for the effort sourcing all the bits. Should be nice once it's done.
That being said, there are Linux distro's developed specifically for carputer applications - so that might be a better bet.
Me, I'd have just used a Raspberry Pi, a touch-screen with USB and HDMI, and called it a day... might not be the fastest thing around, but certainly beats the whole shebang of building a dedicated PC.
Either way - kudo's to you for the effort sourcing all the bits. Should be nice once it's done.
Pho3niX90
///Member
It is actually supposed to turn it of, its windows 7 that's being a itch..
What happens is that after 30 secs the computer hibernates and then after 2 hours it shuts the computer down so it doesn't drain the battery, this is a function of the power supply (Can be changed to any times you need).
The thing about windows 7 is that after a couple of shutdowns that's not done by clicking on shutdown from the OS, it goes into start-up recovery.
I have now Installed windows 8 (super fast boot up, and touch friendly) and will be installing the computer into the 330 instead of the 318 (never drive it anymore).
I am also planning to install the computer in-front instead of the back.
I have also now ordered ibus interface cables to control the windows from the computer.
What happens is that after 30 secs the computer hibernates and then after 2 hours it shuts the computer down so it doesn't drain the battery, this is a function of the power supply (Can be changed to any times you need).
The thing about windows 7 is that after a couple of shutdowns that's not done by clicking on shutdown from the OS, it goes into start-up recovery.
I have now Installed windows 8 (super fast boot up, and touch friendly) and will be installing the computer into the 330 instead of the 318 (never drive it anymore).
I am also planning to install the computer in-front instead of the back.
I have also now ordered ibus interface cables to control the windows from the computer.
Pho3niX90
///Member
So the new case arrived today, the pic attached shows the old case on the left, new case in middle, and a normal dvd writer for size comparison.
The pic of the cable is the ibus cable which I will control the windows with and make the steering controls work.
Will pickup the GPS unit on saterday, and tv card / radio on Tuesday.
The last pic is the dstv unit
And here is the professional designed bezel
Sent from my GT-N7105 using Tapatalk 2
The pic of the cable is the ibus cable which I will control the windows with and make the steering controls work.
Will pickup the GPS unit on saterday, and tv card / radio on Tuesday.
The last pic is the dstv unit
And here is the professional designed bezel
Sent from my GT-N7105 using Tapatalk 2
rodsfromday
Member
What program u gonna use with the ibus cable?
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2
Pho3niX90
///Member
rodsfromday said:
The frontend software does hav3 plugins for the ibus interface.
But I was thinking to dev a small program that works on sequence remove clicks, for example if I unlock 3 times real fast that the driver window rolls down auto without holding in any button ect. And 4 for all and so forth
The frontend will be ride runner, and new os is win8
Sent from my GT-N7105 using Tapatalk 2
rodsfromday
Member
I have same ibus interface adapter that I use navcoder with. Handy little tool. Great what u doing with it but!!
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2
Pho3niX90
///Member
So I have loads of time on my hands lately, so will finish the project in the next week or 2.
I manage to test fit the new casing in the dash but was still little bit too big for my liking, so I modified the casing to fit properly which it does now, I have all the stuff I want to fit now, will just go out and by the cam on the weekend and just waiting for the new relocation unit to fit the 16mm buttons, will buy the 4x45w amp chip tomorrow and begin the custom DIY amp, the big ass amp I bought originally worked, but too big too fit the dash.
All that I still need is the following:
I manage to test fit the new casing in the dash but was still little bit too big for my liking, so I modified the casing to fit properly which it does now, I have all the stuff I want to fit now, will just go out and by the cam on the weekend and just waiting for the new relocation unit to fit the 16mm buttons, will buy the 4x45w amp chip tomorrow and begin the custom DIY amp, the big ass amp I bought originally worked, but too big too fit the dash.
All that I still need is the following:
- Card reader that's small enough to fit ashtray, will fabricate this in there
- Rear view camera
- Custom amp
cOlDFuSiOn
New member
Will love to see the end result of your hard work being a custom-build computer nutter myself :thumbs:
Pho3niX90
///Member
So the previous amps I posted yesterday aren't going to work, turns out they need dual x2 power supplying 12vac @50watts each. So a no go, because I do not want to add transformers and making it bigger than it should be.
I have sent my minions to get me some new ic's today, I will be using 2x tda 7297 chips.
Will post the progress tonight.
Thus far the harness is completed, will post pics tonight, so once the amps are done it's just fitting the computer to the car, which will take no more than 1.5 hours, Total wiring is not even more than 1 meter, previous version of this used over 60m cabling.
All that's left is the ashtray mod, but I will fit the computer if that's done or not, and will just add it later on, but ifI am lucky I will find all the parts the weekend and do it then.
I have sent my minions to get me some new ic's today, I will be using 2x tda 7297 chips.
Will post the progress tonight.
Thus far the harness is completed, will post pics tonight, so once the amps are done it's just fitting the computer to the car, which will take no more than 1.5 hours, Total wiring is not even more than 1 meter, previous version of this used over 60m cabling.
All that's left is the ashtray mod, but I will fit the computer if that's done or not, and will just add it later on, but ifI am lucky I will find all the parts the weekend and do it then.
Pho3niX90
///Member
so I scarped the idea of building the amp myself, the sound just wasn't what I wanted.
I test fitted the "new" design yesterday and must say I am impressed by myself to have managed to fit the whole computer with 2 hdd to the dash.
I had a small problem where there wasn't any sound to the carputer, it turned out that the blue remote wire isn't for sending signal from the car to amps, but it is actually to send a signal to the OEM amp :flyfun:
Here are the pics of the carputer in test fitting the mobo, psu and LCD bord. Will upload some more tonight when everything is nicely tightened, sorry for the bad quality, forgot to turn the flash on.
PS: It's upside down.
And this is the amp I ended up using,
Alphine KTP-445 45x4: R1700
I test fitted the "new" design yesterday and must say I am impressed by myself to have managed to fit the whole computer with 2 hdd to the dash.
I had a small problem where there wasn't any sound to the carputer, it turned out that the blue remote wire isn't for sending signal from the car to amps, but it is actually to send a signal to the OEM amp :flyfun:
Here are the pics of the carputer in test fitting the mobo, psu and LCD bord. Will upload some more tonight when everything is nicely tightened, sorry for the bad quality, forgot to turn the flash on.
PS: It's upside down.
And this is the amp I ended up using,
Alphine KTP-445 45x4: R1700
Pho3niX90
///Member
Zack said:
Only while it was in the boot, but I am aiming to get it done tonight or tomorrow night, I will then check and decide what to do from there if it doesn't handle the heat well. I mostly drive with my aircon on in summer so I guess the vents right above it should keep it cool enought.
rodsfromday
Member
Great work. By the way where did you get ur bezel from?
Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk
Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk
Pho3niX90
///Member
rodsfromday said:
It was from http://www.janus-design.net/english/
Cost around R2000, I know, insane for a piece of bezel, but good sturdy quality though. I guess you would pay less if you had a body shop make you one.
rodsfromday
Member
Damn. I bought mine from him 2yrs ago for about R1200 shipped. Yes its great quality.
Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk
Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk