Van Computer
My apologies as I've not posted for a long time and I thought it was about time I did some work to the T4. I finally got around to fitting my PC system properly the other day.My PC system consists of the following items:
- VoomPC automotive enclosure
- Via EPIA VB6002 Mini ITX Pentium M motherboard with Socket 479
- ITuner M2-ATX Intelligent Car Power Supply
- 1.5 Ghz Pentium M 715 CPU
- 1 GB DDR2 Ram
- 160GB Sata 2.5" Harddrive
- Keysonic 2.4GHZ Wireless Keyboard with Integrated Touchpad
- Windows XP Professional
- Compaq 1520 15" TFT Monitor
I drilled an 18mm hole in the back of the drivers seat base so I could fit a power switch. Since my PC is only for use when I'm in the back of the van mainly for watching films and surfing this is ideal. It is however easy to wire up using the ignition switch if you are planning to use the PC in motion. The M2-ATX power supply I use has loads of different modes to start from the ignition safely and put the PC into standby for a set amount of time when you switch off the engine, it then does a full shutdown if you don't restart the car in a preset time. I just have it set to switch boot up and shutdown instantly using the switch in the seat base.
The M2-ATX power supply has a maximum output of 150 Watts which is more than enough to power my PC, it will use around 35 Watts maximum. It also has regulated 12 output which can be used to power pc related items such as a monitor. I'm using it to power my Compaq monitor which requires a 12 volt regulated supply.
The computer case was fitted underneath the drivers seat and screwed onto a piece of 18mm ply which had been glued onto the seat base with Sikaflex. (I have a battery tray on my seat base as its out of a multivan so had something to glue to) When cabling the van I had already introduced the necessary power cables and a vga cable which goes under the cab mat up the windscreen pillar and under the roof lining to the monitor in the back of the van. I've also ran a 3.5mm jack cable from my head unit under the floor so I can get the sound through the stereo system.
After everything was fitted and plugged in I fired up the PC and checked how much power it was using. As the processor I use has a thermal design power of only 21Watts and it is pretty frugal when its not being taxed. I checked the power consumption whilst watching a film and the PC and Monitor only used around 2 Amps, this will be its main use. This does not include the head unit though as this is still running from the van battery, its my intention to rewire this to take power from the leisure batteries.
posted by Clive at 8:52 PM
7 Comments:
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Hows it going mate,
My names vinny, im 20 and live in Wales. I brought a Syncro about a year ago now and have used it to drive to morocco and back and france and back twice, and the only thing iv had to do to it is change the backbox once. Its the love of my live at the mo, ( besides my lady if shes reading this :D).. I am totally envyous of you interior mate. where did you ge the bed seats from and how much did you pay if you dnt mind me asking? cheers vinny
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I have just been looking at the roof rails you fitted. I think I'm going to follow that route too on my T4 Kombi.
Can I ask for what vehicle the aero bars you chose were for? Also would the square bars have been better for fitting the awning rather that the aero style? The tow bar mounted back box intrigues me too as I've been looking at something similar is that home made also?
Thanks Gav.
Vinny, the Atlantis style multivan beds are only available in Germany. Check out ebay.de as they are normally some available.
Gav, the roof rails are from a VW Sharan. The back box is made from a bakrak and Fiamma ultrabox 500. Did the job fine over my 6000 mile Euro trip. cheers Clive
This blog is so helpful! We've just bought our first T4 - we've wanted one for ages, but were pretty daunted at the conversion process - but then we read your blog, got the conversion fever, believed we could do anything and bought a T4 panel Van! Thanks for inspiring us - hope we can do the same to other camper lovers out there - so we're writing about our conversion on vwt4conversion.wordpress.com If you've got a min Clive, take a look! Any advice would be much appreciated! Cheers!
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