Sub box-mounted carputer vibration

[J_Eatwell]

Hello all, I do have a couple carputer questions for the forum , which are in bold, but for those of you with the time to read: an explanation.

In my search for a Double Din head unit for my 97 Sport with DVD and GPS capability, I came to the realization that for half the cost of a budget priced HU, I can turn my laptop into a touch screen carputer. This is timed well since im planning on a new laptop in the near future.

Ive seen some really sleek bezel mounted screens mainly on this site that inspired my interest in a touch screen carputer. (that, and my recent layoff meaning lots of free time until new job in April) Installation of everything will be documented for you all to see, in time, however i am waiting on some transmission work, and i cant even measure the bezel or sub box without driving 3 hrs over icy mountainous terrain to my stepfather's shop.

After pricing a touch screen monitor, im halfway decided on two monitors, one an 8 inch and one a 7 inch, for a very small price difference. I do not know if an 8 inch will fit (tee hee) until i measure the center console bezel, which i cant do until the trans work is done. This is sort of a separate issue but has anyone seen an 8 inch monitor fit in the bezel between the heater controls and the cupholders?

And finally my vibration question: If i, scoot the sub box over for more room on the side, and mount the laptop inside a (fan cooled) enclosure, concept is the red box on the right. Am i going to end up vibrating my carputer to death with the subs? Or should i just mount it somewhere else?

 

[elcapitanmas]

I would say, death by vibration over time. Its amazing how sensitive a HD is with even the slightest vibration, Id go under a seat. Interested to see what monitor you come up with.

 

[J_Eatwell]

yeah i do know that HDs are sensitive to vibrations as well as magnetism, both are very present when attached to a sub box. Being that the explorer is a sport, i do not believe i have room under any of the seats for such an installation.

I could be wrong, because its not as if i could walk to the garage and look. Either way, do you think the components would be safe if i lined the computer enclosure with dynamat? if necessary i could mount the HD itself on brackets with foam inbetween the brackets and the wood as a shock absorber. would dynamat maybe cause heat issues?

what about if i screwed everything to a board and mounted it all on the back of the back seat behind the box? (this would be again right next to the subs but mounted on the seats instead of the box itself, i would think that would reduce alot of vibration, however air flow might not be as simple to acheive.

 

[n2epv]

I agree with elcapitanmas - computers are sensitive to vibration and magnetic fields, especially when the computer is turned on. And the HD is the first computer part to die - I service computers for a living, and fix a lot of crashed/scrambled hard drives.

Also, wherever you end up mounting the laptop, try to keep the computer power and video cables away from the subwoofer power cables. There will be magnetic fields from the sub power cables that the laptop will not like.

 

[elcapitanmas]

I don't think anywhere near the subs is a good idea, you may be able to somewhat protect them from the magnetism, but the vibration is a doomsayer. I was shooting some video for a metal band with my new HD camcorder, and at first was setup 15 ft away from the stack with a tripod. I moved a few feet closer and when a song came on that had a heavier bass line, the safety trip engaged on the cameras hard drive. Were not talking your run of the mill camera here either. So is your plan to mount the laptop somewhere and not have to access it at all? Meaning you don't need to access it?

 

[J_Eatwell]

I do plan on mounting a cd/dvd drive into my dash, so i dont need easy access to the computer.

That being said i can think of a few possible locations:

Under the passenger seat: impossible, i dont even know why i typed it. a 2 dr car meaning the seat is constantly being moved back/forward whenever a back passenger gets in.

Under the rear seats: i would think would be perfect, i just have no idea what kind of room i have to work with. I drive a 97 sport so..

Glovebox: probably run into heat issues, as well as a loss of a handy storage compartment. Again, it is NOT important that i have access to the hardware of the PC, so the obvious advantage for this location is negated.

And either Mounted on back of back seat (between sub box and seats) or the original concept, red box in the picture. In using either of these locations the components would have to be protected (dynamat?)

Has anyone had experience with a dynamat-protected carputer enclosure? I know the foam is designed to absorb vibrations (for that price it better anyway) and the one with the "aluminum-y" layer would help with magnetism (i think). Is this still too risky of a mount?

Another idea i had while writing this, is to mount everything in either of the locations near the sub, but mount the HD itself somewhere else, like under the rear seat. ( would need longer runs of data cables, or just a USB drive)

I want your opinions, based on the experience of the forum, which location would be less of a hassle and easier to upgrade in the long run?

 

[elcapitanmas]

under one of the seats, you should have plenty of room. Easy to keep the vibrations and electromagnetic interference away by dynomating some king of blocker that would go in between the bottom of the seat to the floor, essentially blocking off the whole underneath of the rear seats. build a "box" out of heavy foam that the laptop can sit in, and if you mount it, just make sure that the usb, ethernet, and power are all accessible from the open door.
That being said, depending on what unit your looking at, you can just get an external hard drive that could go in your console or glove box that you can take out, and will serve the same purpose, except will be easier to upgrade and add software etc etc.
Most of the HUs on the market today that have cd dvd are pretty extensive as far as upgrading, and the amount of inputs and outputs.

 

[BrianDye]

You won't have ANY room under the rear seats, I have a 95 sport and wanted to put a 4 channel amp down there and there's not even enough room for a can of pop trust me...
I say glovebox and mount a fan in either side of it, that way it's always got fresh air flowing through and you can keepthe glovebox locked

 

[J_Eatwell]

Glovebox with fans, great ideas people. i cant wait to get my explorer back for a tape measuring party.

I was thinking what about the rear compartment with the netting? (on the opposite side of the tire iron-compartment, where a stock sub wouold sit)

Has anyone seen a successful carputer inside this compartment?

 

[BrianDye]

Still too much vibration back there.

Plus that would be pretty rough over bumps and whatnot

 

[J_Eatwell]

ok, good point. i also thought of the fact the only barrier between it and the elements is the aluminum (whatever) the panel is made of, it might get reallly hot in direct sunlight.

so scratch that one

what about mounted on the back of the back seats, protected by dynamat.

also a layer of dynamat on the inner rear of the box inside the box behind the sub

I know i have a lot of blind faith in this dynamat, i have never used it or even seen a good application of it before.

Would this set up work? theoretically any vibrations and/or magnetism would be negated by the total 1 layer of dynamat(inside the box), 3/4" MDF (rear panel of sub box), and another layer of dynamat.(on the carpc hardware itself)