My new RoverPC

[RETROFIT]

How about cold ...

My only worries about this setup would be the very low temperature, like -20 C. Having a cold soaked truck, would the screen work the same, hard drive and all ???

I was thinking of doing something similar but with a Mac Mini but that is what made me think again.

But I like your setup, good work and thanks for sharing with the rest of us.

Pat

 

[Andrew Walcker]

Actually, I can't perceive any heat from it. The fans, as quiet as they are, keep it pretty cool. I also have closed cell insulation on top of the seat box below the tuffy. the amp and the tuffy are mounted on top of it. heat is a non-issue from this.

If you are referring to managing the heat from the engine exhaust, same response with the closed cell.

Sorry, I was refering to the heat generated by the exhaust system and how it could potentially generate temperatures higher than the computer could handle. Glad the heat is a non-issue for you and great set-up! :beer:

 

[overlander]

My only worries about this setup would be the very low temperature, like -20 C. Having a cold soaked truck, would the screen work the same, hard drive and all ???

I was thinking of doing something similar but with a Mac Mini but that is what made me think again.

But I like your setup, good work and thanks for sharing with the rest of us.

Pat

I did a lot of research on this during my build (given that it's going into an expo Rover!) The most impacted components to extreme cold are the hard drives and the LCD's. desktop hard drive (3.5 inch) use a liquid gell shock bushings in their motors, that start to freeze up below 0 deg c (that's bad for expo rigs). That's bad when the computer starts up and the hard drive motor tries to turn the disks that are frozen. laptop hard drives tend to be more rugged, from temp extremes, as well as shock restance. You can also get automotive grade laptop hard drives, which use oil instead of gel, that can tolerate even lower temps. I got a Seagate EE25 40GB laptop hard drive, which is rated at -35c to 85c, which is plenty for me. Lot's of other things will fail before that does. The most rugged option is a solid state hard drive, which has no moving parts, but they are more expensive as well. if you are taking an expo vehicle on an OJ style arctic trip, just buy a solid state drive to replace your main hard drive, and you're good to go.

the rest of the computer is solid state, with minimal impact from low temps. even if temps drop so low that the computer will have boot issues, my solution is to take the computers automotive power supply, that sense ignition power, and put a single override switch on it. that way, you can disrupt the ignition source, so the power supply doesn't boot the computer. then you just get the rig running and warmed up, and when the cab interior is warmed up enough for the computer to safely boot, trip the switch and the computer starts.

Here's a good thread in the forum I did all my research in, discussing ruggedizing carpc's. http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/general-hardware-discussion/111927-low-operating-temperature-hardware-20c-even-30c.html

 

[mattarm]

Mark,
I really like the your setup. I would love to have something similar for my 110. As I give this setup more thought, I often wonder about the idea of a "self-contained" unit. Did you ever give any thought to using something along the lines of an UMPC like the Samsung Q1U - with models offering both standard drives as well as SSD.

http://www.samsung.com/us/consumer/...ramobilepc&model_cd=NP-Q1U/SD1/SEA&fullspec=F

It would seem that something like this with the use of a cradle/docking station (pic attached) would allow you to meet many on-board needs as well as be able to eject it and take it along.

I am curious if you examined this route and disqualified it for one reason or another.

Thanks,
Matt

 

[overlander]

Matt,
I did, and that/those are a really good alternative. Anyone going down this track needs to determine their own personall specifications and requirement for the system. What I ultimately decided for myself was a fixed installation, as I wanted a large integrated 7" touchscreen, ruggedized critical components, and the merits of an automotive intelligent power supply, all at a reasonable cost. With a system like mine, it behaves much like a car stereo does, with the startup/shutdown/low voltage all tied into the vehicle. I also really like that I can use common parts using the mini-itx format, so that if my wireless card, or ram, or hard drive dies on me during my travels, I could pull into a Walmart or Curcuit City, etc and get a replacement part, and be back up and running same day. I reached a point where I'm done with proprietary components that cost 5x standard industry parts, particulary for a day to day system.

I also really like the security of my system. with all my important information, and the bulk of the components in the tuffy box, the only thing exposed at all is the touchscreen. And it is modified and integrated well enough to look OEM, and I dont' think there are many thefts of OEM touchscreen systems going on these days. If I have any personal information, it is on the hard drive within the Tuffy as well, so for international expo travel to questionable places, my information is secure. I can keep scanned copies of all my personal documents, contacts, maintenance manuals in PDF, parts books, the list goes on, and it can't be taken.

If you need the ability to remove the computer with you when you are mobile, I'm sure there are quite a few options out there for you as you have seen. just be honest with yourself how you are going to use it and consider the tradeoffs you will make (like security). I know I'm not going to take a laptop if I leave the rig to go hiking, that's what personal gps's or pda's are for. I also have a laptop and desktop at home. And UMPC's can be expensive as well to match specs on. My system was under $1k combined.

 

[SafariPacific]

Thats very cool! I have something similar planned for my rig. How does the computer and connections handle on rough roads? I would think over time the USB connections would pop out. Also, I noticed on the screen shot there's a "weather" button. What kind of info do you plan to have?

 

[craig]

I had one in my truck for 2 years that was *extensively* field tested. Nothing ever failed in the core hardware. Not the hard drive, the mini-itx board, the FM tuner, and the USB connections stayed in place. The plug that went into my monitor had trouble at first but I used a rubbery glue made to secure these type of connections and it held after that. It also took 2-3 tries to get the monitor secured enough that it wouldn't vibrate when going over washboard.

Mini-itx based systems are inherently robust due to the fact that the chips are soldered to the motherboard rather than being socketed. This includes the CPU. Only the RAM has the potential to wriggle free but that seemed to do fine on its own.

Craig

 

[overlander]

My system is still a little too new for me to comment on off road durability of the connections, but it is in fact a simple solution to implement. I actually mounted my motherboard, hard drive and power supply on a kitchen cutting board, which was more durable than plexiglass, while still insulating all the circuits from the bottom of the tuffy box. The usb's have proven so far to be solid connections. The only connection that needs improving is the 3.5mm audio jacks that run into audio jacks of the motherboard, that connect the board to the amplifier. Those 3.5 jacks pull out easily, and will need to be secured. I'm going to put some kind of clamp on the cutting board just after the audio jack inputs on the motherboard, that I can secure the input jack lines to. Other than that, durability should be a non-issue.

As for the weather page, it is dependent on an internet connection for the current update (there's plenty of those around wirelessly), and it will display current, 1 day forecast, 5 day forecast by day for any preprogrammed 5 cities you choose, as well as your gps location as a 6th. It uses online sources for the feed. It will also display national weather radar, with ability to zoom down to local. I don't have any photos of the many other screens, but here's a link you can review: http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/rr-skins/117143-digitalfx-4-0-released-07-25-08-a.html

 

[Funrover]

Very Cool!

 

[revor]

Geeks......
OMG... ******?
I've not ever seen something that IIRC....

Okay... So Here I sit trying to confuse an Itronix IX260 with all this Garmin stuff and in the end they're both getting the better (not the best!) of me...

To think! Me a Facilities mgr. That deals with crazy IT guys all day... I shoudl remember more. But it has no Lubrication system!!!!

Very Cool!

I think I'll go weld up a mount for said PC