Motors Focus car PC

Discussion in 'General' started by liratheal, 2 Nov 2010.

  1. liratheal

    liratheal Sharing is Caring

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    Right.

    The good news: I want to carpc it up, and I have the Haynes manual

    More bad news: I don't speak car.

    So! With that in mind - and I have seen behind the radio of my vehicle, a 2003 Ford focus - how in the hell do I connect a pc up to that tangled mess?

    I've been looking through mp3car.com, stevieg.org (He's installed one in a similarly dimensioned ford), and yet I'm getting nowhere in terms of working out how to do.. Well, anything.

    Ideally, I'd like a pc in the boot, a touch screen in the dashboard, and the ability to read the OBD-II info from the ECU. Ideally I'd like a 500gb drive for a selection of music, some method of using a GPS system (Driving for work, I'm likely to get hopelessly lost in and around Birmingham), I have no need for a radio, nor mobile internet - Although the provision for it might be nice - and I'd quite like a USB socket somewhere in the dash so I can plug my phone in to charge it.

    Ideally I don't want to spend money on an amp, because the standard level of noise is perfectly adequate, and I don't feel the need to spend money to make it any better.

    With that in mind, I ask the motoring eggheads of Bit-Tech how the devil I proceed, any advice would be greatly appreciated!
     
  2. samkiller42

    samkiller42 For i AM Cheesecake!!

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    I don't know much about cars either, but i guess the obvious question to hand is, Have you decided what CarPC you want?
    Theres a few different PC's available. Take a gander here: http://www.kustompcs.co.uk/acatalog/CarPC_Shop.html

    Sorry i'm not much help, but it's food for thought.

    Sam
     
  3. liratheal

    liratheal Sharing is Caring

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    I did take a look at what's in KustomPC's, and all I could decide was: I don't want that £700 JKM/Infill thing - I researched that and it seems to have issues.

    That's about all I could work out.
     
  4. mars-bar-man

    mars-bar-man Side bewb.

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    I remember a few years ago someone did this to an Astra, but I can't remember which mag I read it in, PC Format, CPC or PC Zone.. probably teh first 2, but I can't remember. All I know is that he put the PC in the glovebox. It looked pretty slick!
     
  5. shigllgetcha

    shigllgetcha Come at me bro

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    do you just want a normal pc in your boot or a special car one?
     
  6. bulldogjeff

    bulldogjeff The modding head is firmly back on.

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    The easiest way to set it up would be to take a direct feed from the battery to where ever you want the PC, then take all the wiring form the PC back into the car to where ever you want to have the monitor. The main thing to remember is to have a fuse before the PC. If that sounds simple, it's because it is:D
     
  7. Nedsbeds

    Nedsbeds Badger, Slime, Weasel!!

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    I think I've still got an aux input for the standard ford radio from my old focus. It pretends to be a cd changer but lets you plug any audio source in to it (the box has two phono connectors on it). In your case it would be the pc :)

    I'll dig out the details if you are interested
     
  8. liratheal

    liratheal Sharing is Caring

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    Yeah, I've seen some slick installs - My problem is, how the devil does it all connect together. I'm fairly new to this driving malarkey (In terms of having my own four wheels), so I've not yet got myself acquainted with the Haynes manual in terms of deciphering what exactly means what.

    Whether I want a regular pc or a specific car pc, I don't know, to be honest. I'd like to be able to see information about the car (Presumably read from the OBD-II/ECU), but the primary objective would be to have something to deal with music, and something to do GPS/maps/satnav type stuff. Ideally I'd like to retain the functionality of the volume/seek control stalk I have behind the wheel, but I think I can work that out based on what I saw on stevieg.org.

    Powering it, I actually have two power sockets - One facing the rear seats and one under the ex-ashtray. I've seen some power supplies (Mostly at KustomPCs) that utilise those, but I'd prefer something more permanent if it could at all be helped - Although my uncle happens to be far better with this electronics thing than I, so I may well see about enlisting his help on the powering it front.

    Yeah, I've seen those Neds, I was looking at the best way to add that in - My radio supports AUX in, but doesn't have the input cable, optional extra from what I've read - But some people on AVForums said the quality was a bit craptastic. I'd prefer to cut the radio out as the middleman, so to speak, and tap directly into the speakers where possible. I have a nasty suspicion that I'll need some amplifier or something to do that, as much as I'd rather avoid it.
     
  9. bulldogjeff

    bulldogjeff The modding head is firmly back on.

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    For about £500 you could buy an in dash radio/satnav unit thats plays mp3's and DVD's. Unless you had a specific need for a PC in the car you would be much better off going thats way.
     
  10. Xen0phobiak

    Xen0phobiak SMEGHEADS!

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    I'd start with a DIN or double DIN ( I think the mk1 focus is double DIN) touchscreen unit, and a suitable car PC. If you're prepared to get busy with the soldering iron to sort out the obvious power switch issue, then an Acer Revo would get my vote.

    Examples so far: http://caraudiosecurity.com/shop/product/products_id/12122.html
    http://www.ebuyer.com/product/225754

    Add to that a GPS receiver, and an ODBII interface cable.

    http://www.scan.co.uk/products/bluenext-bn-903s-bluetooth-gps-dongle-(65ch)
    http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/AUTO-scan-too...iagnostic_Tools_Equipment&hash=item43a2740398

    You would need an amp with that sort of setup. I'd run a few spare USB cables up to the front aswell to allow for your phone charging and anything else you might like to run at a later date.

    I'm not up on what software to use, but I'd add mobile internet in an effort to get some software that supports traffic info like google maps does on some WinMo and Android phone handsets. On the same note I'd add a bluetooth adapter to enable handsfree phone functionality

    EDIT: I took a long time writing this, so others posted in the meantime.

    Unless you wanted to delve deep into the ODBII stuff an all in one touchscreen/satnav/USB head unit would be the best option, plus you can get ODBII code readers on ebay for around £25
     
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  11. liratheal

    liratheal Sharing is Caring

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    To be honest, Bulldogjeff, I want a project to work on, something that the prebuild wouldn't offer :p

    I know it's simpler, but simpler is always less fun :D

    Aye, Xen0, it is a double DIN affair. That much I do know!

    Thanks for the pointers, I shall continue my musings!
     
  12. bulldogjeff

    bulldogjeff The modding head is firmly back on.

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    Lol you're like me, why take the easy route when a much more intricate and problematic one will do.:D:D.

    I've built and installed dozens of big hifi systems in to various cars down the years. If you need a bit of advice give me a shout. Once the main wiring is in place it'll be easy. If you're going for an independent system you'll have to think about an Amp to power all the speakers.
     
  13. shigllgetcha

    shigllgetcha Come at me bro

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    aw right just a normal pc in a car. id run your own power line straight from the battery to the boot and use a power inverter to go form the 12v to 240v in the boot and add a fuse. I wouldnt use the ones that are running to the cig lighters myself personally as youll be drawing alot of power through something that was intended for light equipment and its fairly easy to run a cable from the battery to the boot, just find under the dashboard on the passanger side where the other cables run through the bulk head and bring your power cable through there, your wire can go under the "carpet" in the car or run it along side the inside of the door between the plastic or the carpet

    for sound there are 8 wires (4 speakers, one +and- for each) in the "wiring loom" for the radio(your haynes manual will tell you which colours go to the speaker). however youll most likely need an amp of some description. you can just join to them behind the radio and leave your radio in place or just wire straight to the speakers
     
  14. Flibblebot

    Flibblebot Smile with me

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    Don't use an inverter, use something like an M2-ATX or M3-ATX . As well as handling power spikes on car start, it also monitors the car battery and will automatically power down the PC to prevent car battery discharge.

    I'd plump for something like an Atom board in a Voom enclosure, although you'll have troubles with Atom if your chosen frontend is based around Flash.

    For sound, I'd investigate something like something like Nedsbeds suggested above - easier than messing around with amps and the possibility of ground loop problems, although you might want to run the audio lead through a ferrite ring just to be sure.
     
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  15. shigllgetcha

    shigllgetcha Come at me bro

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    something like that would be alot better than an inverter, was just the simplest thing i could think of

    youll have to decide whether your going to use the aux in or avoid the radio alltogether
     
  16. liratheal

    liratheal Sharing is Caring

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    Well, all my research about using the AUX in on the radio itself has come back to the "sound quality being naff".

    As such, I don't see there being any point keeping it in the loop - Especially if I can use the double din spot to mount a screen.
     
  17. Flibblebot

    Flibblebot Smile with me

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    In that case, you'll definitely need an amp, but as long as you're not wanting to drive any massive subs or anything like that, a fairly cheap one should suffice.
     
  18. profqwerty

    profqwerty What's a Dremel?

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    What about mashing the radio apart and using it's amps? In mine there were 2 nice distinct circuits, one driving the fancy stuff, and one purely for amplifying (I couldn't find the code so oh well).

    For the behind steering wheel stalk, there'd normally be 1 wire (white?) coming into the head unit in a separate plug, I have no idea how data is formatted in that though. There might also be another wire in that plug if your radio drives other stuff (eg remote display).

    Speakers will be the large rectangular plug with 8 wires in, power will be the other large rectangular plug with 3 (?) wires: +12V, 0V, ignition switched 12V. The biggest pain I find is running wires around a car, there's always one point juuuust too tight to get it through.

    my 2 cents lol.
     
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  19. Nedsbeds

    Nedsbeds Badger, Slime, Weasel!!

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    If you use an FM transmitter then yes. If you use the aux in, then it is the same as playing a cd.
     
  20. Matticus

    Matticus ...

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    Just a heads up. I assume as yours is 2003 its a mk1(facelift) the din size isn't actually double din, its something like 1.75.

    You can fit a double din adapter/unit into it if you are willing to slightly modify the dash slightly to allow for the extra size of a true double din unit.
     
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