Console accessory width

Topic: Console accessory width (Read 3160 times) previous topic - next topic

Console accessory width

September 13, 2009, 10:26:29 PM

Does anyone have the width of the console where the radio and such mount, mounting tab to mounting tab under the bezel? I'm curious as I figure I should start looking for a good deal on a LCD+touchscreen of the proper size for use after I have a garage to store the car in. The cheap 8.9" LCD's that do 1024x600 are 7.7" wide for the lcd/8.4" wide with the frame, and 1/5" thick with backlight.

Also, is the system sentry just a pcb that directs the current to the bulbs? Does any current feed back out towards anything else?

Console accessory width

Reply #1 – September 14, 2009, 11:53:02 AM

Behind the facia, it's about 8.5" between the mounting holes, maybe 9" between the sides. Not sure what exactly what you're wanting to do with it. There are plenty of single din flip-out units to replace standard-sized receivers. There are double dins as well, if you're planning on hacking up the facia.

Console accessory width

Reply #2 – September 14, 2009, 09:12:50 PM

I'm curious how much width I can get without hacking up the dash itself in any way, including the mounting holes. I assume it's be just slightly wider than the width of a stereo (if I can find one yo measure). I know there is only about a 7" opening in the bezel itself but unsure how much room there is other than that.

I'm looking to install an 8" 4:3 XGA touchscreen but I have yet to find one that is transflective. If I can figure this one step out, the rest of a decent carpc is simple, including writing custom software to interface with everything like I want. It'd be nice if the climate controls were electronic but I may add things such as automatic window control, memory power seats, etc to the software using a microcontroller, along with finally adding four security/driving cameras to the vehicle. Of course, decent gps, radio/music control, etc would be a must, along with bringing up monitoring of the EEC, TCS, and other car parameters using a DataQ for input.

It's all easy, I just can't do the majority of the install until the vehicle may be garaged. I'd like to find decent parts in the mean time while starting some software development to get the GUI going, along with work with some spare car parts for the integration.

I may just customize the dash completely but want a spare one to work on first. There is so much that can be improved on, without looking like a nightmare pulled out of a car show. Once you're done with everything else, one must move onto another project. If you don't, you'll just want more from the current hardware like a stroked 351 with twin turbos that can spin to 8k.

Console accessory width

Reply #3 – September 14, 2009, 09:36:10 PM

Quote

There is so much that can be improved on, without looking like a nightmare pulled out of a car show.

Ain't that the truth.

Okay, the measurement I gave you earlier is good to start. Of course, there are a couple of other options. You can always pull the facia (remove the shifter then the instrument panel facia) and see what's what. Or you could go to a car stereo place and look at (or buy) the radio install kit for the car.

If you're looking for a touchscreen monitors, you might try looking at retail displays. They might have what you need. Two drawbacks: they're more expensive than the automotive apps, and they're not typically 12V. For automotive apps, check Pyle, or search 'flip out video' on evilbay.

Have you considered getting the harness from a Mk8? I read somewhere there's a common bus for the whole harness, could make things easier (after installing the harness, of course).

I thought long and hard about a touchscreen and decided to go with a separate wireless input device.

Console accessory width

Reply #4 – September 14, 2009, 09:51:43 PM

I've got a umpc right now but it's annoying with the power cable, usb hub, and so on. There's transflective screens but not 1024x600/768, except ones without a controller which is over my head to program, along with most people. There's always the 8.9" from Fujitsu netbooks that do 1280×768 and are LVDS capable but the width is a bit much and the transflective capabilities aren't perfect but decent.

Console accessory width

Reply #5 – October 17, 2009, 05:45:07 PM

Okay, I am going with a Xenarc 700TSV for now until better screens come out (got it for cheaper than anything else). Specs here: http://xenarc.com/product/700tsv.html. It has a great contrast ratio and brightness for screens this size, along with decent 1024x600 scaling. I will be purchasing an ITX Core2 setup here soon to power it. I'm undecided on whether I want to mount the pc in dash or further back in the car. USB is the limiting factor, especially the noise on my EEC tuner's cable which only goes from the kick panel to the passenger seat.

I have a for-now system decided based on parts/software I currently have and what is the best price/performance. SSD will improve everything greatly when it isn't $2+/GB for a decent drive.

Likely specs:
Xenarc 700TSV 7" widescreen touchscreen LCD
Zotac GF9300-D-E motherboard using onboard video/sound
Core2Duo E7200 processor
4GB DDR2
WD Scorpio Black 320GB 7200RPM hdd
8x Slot-load DVDRW drive
160w DC-DC power supply
Bluetooth dongle with keyboard for external input source
Undecided GPS using both iNAV iGuidance and MS Streets & Trips
Windows 7 with custom application GUI and system settings
Circuit to force computer off if it does not hibernate fast enough with ignition off

Console accessory width

Reply #6 – October 18, 2009, 06:00:03 AM

Your going to the m2-atx motherboard right? If it were me, I would look at a dvd player, cd burner combo. You used to be able to get them for less then $50 back in the day. Alot of full sized hard drives use water based berring lubricants. In the winter, your hard drive can freeze up. Laptops for what ever reason, do not usually use this, which is why there read time is slower. Laptop hard drives are also more durable and built to withstand shock. Full sized ones aren't. I have a 3.5 to 2.5" adapter if your interested in going that way. And if you are going SD later on, there is no reason to buy a new 320 gig. I would get a used 100 gig or so. Crazy how big hard drives are now.

Console accessory width

Reply #7 – October 18, 2009, 12:41:20 PM

Power has already changed to an OPUS 180w. The Scorpio series is 2.5", not 3.5, and 7200 rpm so decent access times. $50 so it's better than people wanting $40 for a used 80GB. DVDRW drives can play/burn both dvd's and cd's.

I have had three of the 1.5TB drives in my PC for over a year. Lots of storage (RAID1 a pair) with great file transfer speeds but poorer access times than most drives.

I am still undecided on indash pc or trunk mounted pc to a plate that will pull up and lock under the rear deck. Both installs have their pros and cons, mainly ease of access/install for wireless parts such as gps/radio vs cable lengths.

Console accessory width

Reply #8 – October 19, 2009, 01:46:27 AM

So, just how much room do you HAVE behind that dash of yours? Mine is pretty packed, and if was going to do it, unless there was a problem getting the feed wire to the screen, I would mount it in the trunk, unless you wanted access to the rom drive, in which case you might consider mounting it under the Pass seat?(My pass seat is manual, so there might be enough room.)

Console accessory width

Reply #9 – October 19, 2009, 11:13:50 AM

The screen will replace the stock EQ/Radio location (currently cubby/radio). I will be getting rid of the slider climate controls and the system sentry is think (I may remove or modify/move it all). I don't remember exact depths but there is a lot of room back there once the climate controls are out of the way. The M-ITX setup is only 6.7"/170mm squared so it can be packed in to just about anywhere. With heatsink and using onboard video, it is a couple inches tall. USB drives take care of optical media access, front or trunk. I will not be using a headunit.

Besides the upper ducting, our center console can basically fit 5-DIN of equipment (DIN is 7" x 2", double din is 7" x 4"). There is no standard on depth.

Console accessory width

Reply #10 – October 19, 2009, 08:42:53 PM

I just saw this and it made me think of this thread. I WILL NOT be installing it like this

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l274/camarossguy2/for%20sale/DSC_3782Large.jpg

Console accessory width

Reply #11 – October 20, 2009, 03:39:56 AM

I would hack up a standard radio plate(the right name escapes me), Modify it for a double din setup in the top two spaces, and the little bit of slot that may be left over above the HVAC would make a good spot for a cd rom drive. You could also make a bracket easily to mount the motherboard/power supply and all wires.

Console accessory width

Reply #12 – October 20, 2009, 11:33:12 PM

That's the initial plan. I would still prefer to have in-dash as everything wired up will be new and easily removable (no spliced wires everywhere or excess wire runs).

Console accessory width

Reply #13 – November 01, 2009, 11:51:43 AM

Small changes - choice of sound output and tuning control has been decided upon (mostly). The motherboard does not have firewire output so I am deciding on what to do about that. 6 Channels can get me a 3-way system but I may prefer to go 3 way up front with the subs making it 4 way total. I cannot find this answer - does anyone know is ASIO drivers function independently of the device they're running on? Can I run two or more USB audio devices and work with them similarly in a VST environment, at the same time? I assume so...

Xenarc 700TSV 7" widescreen touchscreen LCD (own)
Zotac GF9300-D-E motherboard using onboard video (own)
Core2Duo E8400 processor (own)
M-Audio Firewire 410 audio interface (own)
4GB DDR2-800 RAM (own)
OCZ Agility 60GB SSD (looking)
8x Slot-load DVDRW drive (own)
180w OPUS DC-DC power supply (own)

Bluetooth dongle with keyboard for external input source (own)
Undecided GPS hardware (on hold)

Windows 7 with custom application GUI (own)
AudioMulch VST audio tuning environment (own)

Console accessory width

Reply #14 – November 01, 2009, 05:05:15 PM

I did some rough measurements earlier and I'm not sure an mini itx board would even fit up front without ditching the slider climate controls - the hvac ducting is really a pain for us. There appears to be 12" of depth just below the top two DIN slots but it quickly decreases to 8" up in the stock radio location, down to 4" at the very top of the EQ/holder spot.