CarPC and Centrafuse Install

[guruerror]

If your technically (IT) inclined you could go the DIY route. I got tired of the limitations of the off-the-shelf nav/entertainment units so I researched alternatives and landed on Centrafuse: http://centrafuse.com/

I shoved a mini PC in the dash and connected two 8" touchscreen LCDs. Centrafuse has a pretty solid forum community and group of plug-in/skin developers. It'll do NAV, AM/FM/HD radio, DVD/Bluray playback, games, OBDC, multi-zone support, and more.



It's a project in and of itself...but once you get it up and running it blows any other currently available NAV/entertainment system out of the water.

NOTE: Even if you go with a boxed product, be careful which interface product you choose to connect to the wiring harness. I tried a couple different ones ('cause I wanted to keep my chimes too) and every one either failed after a few months or exhibited a hi-pitched whine when the motor revved...most are junk. I got a straight up GM harness connector (just wires...no box or pre-amp) and linked directly into the harness. I lost the chimes...but 'oh well'..it's worked great for the last three years...no whine...no problems and it's actually louder than the pre-amped units.

I can get you more info if you on any of this if you need it...just let me know.

[Hellz]

could you PM me some info on this please..

[adamw89_2000]

just put all info on here if you can.. what adapters will i nedd? my steaeo shop is the only one in town and they r not a huge huge store but yes.. technology scares them! lol i know it can be done but i need some direction in which adapters to buy and where to get them from.. i like the idea of the computer... elborate on this please.... hows it working for you

[OrangeCrush]

I love the idea of the PC setup but the only reason I haven't even gone aftermarket like my old H2 is because I figure no one would steal the stock crap.

I just installed about 5k worth of stereo crap in my mini cooper and still used the stock head unit. (for theft and simplicity... Minis are stupid electrical wise.)

Post pics of your setup, I'd love to see it.

Mark

[guruerror]

I'll pull more details on my setup together and post with some more pics tomorrow when I get to the office...I'm up to my neck in DIY drywall work today.

NOTE: this really is a DIY setup...any radio shop would really have to be 'adventerous' (to say the least) to want to tackle this. It's too bad you don't live closer...I'd love to do another setup on an H2!

[adamw89_2000]

please post! im down for trying it out as well as long as i can get some tech help from you..

[glennf1]

Wow! Very nice! Question though.. isn't that in front of the passenger airbag? I'm assuming you just leave it off judging by the pic so you don't have a monitor flying at you at 200mph in the event of a crash!

[adamw89_2000]

yes you leave the airbags out so in the event "god forbid it happens" you wreck. theres not objects being thrown into u..

[adamw89_2000]

guruerror, one question.... if i want to be able to use these devices along side my tablet lets say dvd, wifi, etc.. how am i hooking all these up to the tablet? theres not nearly enough ports or usb on them things to support multiple devices

[guruerror]

Originally Posted by glennf1

Wow! Very nice! Question though.. isn't that in front of the passenger airbag? I'm assuming you just leave it off judging by the pic so you don't have a monitor flying at you at 200mph in the event of a crash!

For my install I took the airbag module completely out. It's in a cabinet in my garage.

I bought a blown airbag module and stripped it down to the metal housing (the part that holds the air canister inside the dash) and used the housing as a mounting bracket to hold the the PC. The airbag switch is still on my dash as a 'place holder.' Eventually I will fabricate a plate with a on/off switch for the second display and a headphone jack for passenger audio.

...and before anyone chimes in about how 'dangerous' it is to not have airbags, blah, blah, blah...don't. I MIGHT agree if this was a some sporty, little, convertible number...but it's not...its a big, fat truck. And I don't wear seat belts or helmets either! LOL!

Originally Posted by adamw89_2000

guruerror, one question.... if i want to be able to use these devices along side my tablet lets say dvd, wifi, etc.. how am i hooking all these up to the tablet? theres not nearly enough ports or usb on them things to support multiple devices

Well, your wifi and bluetooth should be built-in to a tablet; but for everything else you'll need to shove those USB hubs in your dash...make all the ports you need. And I would recommend going with smaller hubs...I actually needed about 6 extra ports, but I went with two 4 port hubs instead of the single 8 port unit. Why? Because the 4 port hubs were shorter and I could easily stack two in the space where OnStar was, but the 8 would have been too long to fit.

The Moxa hubs I bought are kinda pricy...but StarTech makes and industrial hub that is WAY cheaper and offers 7 ports in a very small size. http://www.amazon.com/StarTech-com-M.../dp/B003AVPUZG I used one of these before buying the Moxas, but it gave me a problem one winter when the temperature consistently dropped below the 'recommended operating temperature' of the hub. It wouldn't turn on until it warmed up a bit...so I eventually went with the pricier Moxas and haven't had a problem since.