[Ben Moorhouse]

I'm interested in modding cars now... I know.. you should drive them as they come, yea yea!

But I was thinking, I know you can run a laptop from a battery (obviously!) but is it possible to create an inverter to run a full PC from its own car battery?

I just think it would look really cool to have a modded case in your boot, and a flat touch screen monitor bolted to the ceiling above the drivers seat... hmmm....

any suggestions?

[muckshifter]

You mean like this...

[Ian]

Yup - you can get invertors that fit in to the lighter socket and will power an EPIA Board (see http://www.via.com) or a Laptop no problem.

As it happens, I'm working on modding a laptop at the moment, its got a great screen and touchpad and pretty zippy, just no keyboard

[Ben Moorhouse]

Kinda like that, but I want it flat against the ceiling above the DRIVER. Thats where I got my idea from though. you can get them for the back of the headrests too!

Whats an EPIA board when its at home?

[Ian]

Its a mini-ITX motherboard

Its about £70, small and has a processor, graphics card, sound etc... all onboard!

Check http://www.pcpowerzone.co.uk for a review on one

[Ben Moorhouse]

Well, I have the first step complete!

I just bought (for £100!!)
a K-Reg 1.4 Ford Fiesta with alloy wheels, central locking, electric windows and a sunroof!
How jammy am I lol!

So... just for the computer now then... hmmm...

[eein]

beware how much stuff you connect to the car as you may end up with flat batteries!

[Benmoorhouse]

yea, I have a new car now, slightly older but with its benefits, a J-Reg 1.6S Ford Fiesta. I have a full sound system in it, with an ammeter to monitor how much it is charging. Think I need an uprated alternator soon though :s

[Ian]

Are you still planning to mod it in?

[eein]

You should not realy need to uprate the alternator unless you always do short journies.

Also, to connect a pc, you do nto really need to boost the 12v to mains and you can just put the 12v directly onto the mobo and use a small DC-DC converter to get the 5v and 3v3. I'm sure there will be things out there that would do it for you, if nto , it is easly enough to make up yourself.