[l008com]

Other than buying a separate Power Inverter, what is the best/easiest/only way to run an iMac off the 12V power of a car? I have seen 12V ATX power supplies before.

[v8q]

Originally posted by l008com:
<STRONG>Other than buying a separate Power Inverter, what is the best/easiest/only way to run an iMac off the 12V power of a car? I have seen 12V ATX power supplies before.</STRONG>

You will need to go inside your mac and make some big modifications and design/build your own power supplies. It would be way easier and cheaper to just use an inverter. Cost will be under $100.
The ATX power supply does not take into account the monitors power requirements, and even though the car has a "12 volt" system, it actually varies from 10 to 15 pretty easy. Way out of spec for a computer, and it is very dirty power too.
One thing you may want to do is install a seperate power plug (cig lighter?) with its own fuse and heavy wiring. The standard factory socket does not like to run hi-current inverters for a long time.

I need to run a hi-current air pump (actually a nebulizer) that draws about 20 amps from the battery. I mounted a cig lighter socket under the seat and connected it to the power seat wiring and it works great.

If this is a permenant installation I would skip the cig lighter socket all together and use a better connector too.

[l008com]

I've seen 12V ATX power supplies. I am assuming my current best bet is to use one of those and modify it to power an iMac (know how to do this)

[TNproud2b]

You can't run the iMac CRT display with an ATX power supply. It needs 120v AC.

Suck up and buy an inverter - I'd guess something like 350watt continuous/500watt peak could be bought for well under $100...and it might have enough power for an iMac. Buy it from somewhere with a liberal return policy.

An inverter will give a very clean supply of 120v power - almost regardless of how badly the automobile's 12v supply is fluctuating. A much smoother result than using a 12v input ATX powersupply would provide.

[ 03-29-2002: Message edited by: TNproud2b ]

[l008com]

I'm not using the iMacs CRT!? I have a small LCD I'm goona use. All I need to power is the motherboard, hard drive, and DVD drive.

[vmarks]

which model iMac is this? If you're intent on using the ATX 12v supply, and want to make it connect to the iMac motherboard, I make an adapter from ATX to early iMac (233mhz-333mhz) motherboards.

I'm working on the slotloading adapter, but need someone with a working slot loading to take measurements for me.

[l008com]

I want something that has AirPort, can watch DVD's, and can play CVGS. So I assume that even a base model 350 will work. I don't actually have one yet, if anyone knows where I can get one that will also help. It can't be the 233-333 ones though becuase I NEED airport.

[TNproud2b]

Since you failed to mention the fact you weren't going to use the *whole* iMac - and I don't read minds - I'll update my advice.

A 350watt inverter will provide enough power to run the iMac + a backlit LCD...and it costs about $60.

It's still what you need, even though you seem mesmerized by a 12v input ATX power supply that costs more than an inverter.

[ValVashon]

Another thing about an inverter is that you can power other things besides the computer (unlike the ATX supply) and you can still use the computer at other locations with AC power since it will still have the 120v cord on it.

Val

[x user]

If you do decide to use a ATX powersupply, you should find and install a zenier diode inline with it, to prevent power spikes. Sounds like a awesome idea.

[l008com]

Yeah, i think its a great idea, but as usually happens when I post my problems on this forum, most people would rather tell me how they would do things instead of helping me get things going my way.

[x user]

Another thing, for all you inverter fans out there. That is a bad idea, because your converting DC into AC then back into DC. At most you'd want to put your own filter in. If your somewhat electrically incline you'll know the inefficiency of an inverter, and that making your own powersupply wouldn't be *THAT* hard if you've had electronic experience, So you could probably make one, or find someone who could. There ain't that much to it, you need 12vdc 5vdc at least, I think it'll have a couple of trigger leads for 'soft' power. I don't know what else, but wouldn't be too hard.

[awaspaas]

If I'm not mistaken, the iMac DV 400 was the lowest model to have a dvd drive... right?

Originally posted by l008com:
<STRONG>I want something that has AirPort, can watch DVD's, and can play CVGS. So I assume that even a base model 350 will work. I don't actually have one yet, if anyone knows where I can get one that will also help. It can't be the 233-333 ones though becuase I NEED airport.</STRONG>

[x user]

Originally posted by awaspaas:
<STRONG>If I'm not mistaken, the iMac DV 400 was the lowest model to have a dvd drive... right?

</STRONG>

That is correct. I'd go with a iMacDV 400mhz or even a DVSE 400 (bigger HD).

[l008com]

Well I can add a DVD drive and a bigger hard drive, those parts aren't as important as an airport slot, which i cannot add.

[awaspaas]

Somebody should develop a full-screen touch-screen-savvy iPod-like interface for iTunes for a situation like this. If there was something like that, I would probably get into a project like this!

[x user]

Originally posted by awaspaas:
<STRONG>Somebody should develop a full-screen touch-screen-savvy iPod-like interface for iTunes for a situation like this. If there was something like that, I would probably get into a project like this!</STRONG>

Then why not just buy an iPod and make a bigger touchscreen for it. I'm sure it could be modified to work. Also you could make the Firewire work over Bluetooth

[l008com]

You know the PDA market is pretty saturated, another Newton would have to fight to get popular, but a Macintosh auto entertainment system/PDA/computer would pe great. I think its a niche apple would fill nicely. And all the other car stereo makers are selling theirs for upwards of $2000. Which is good cause we know Apple likes to charge alot! I think an apple computer in a car would be perfect. I'm going to be running mine off a REALbasic program in classic, imagine a Darwin based OS!

[awaspaas]

tell me more about this RealBasic program... has it been discussed elsewhere?

[l008com]

Its something I'm going to make once I get A screen picked out.