Many LCD displays run on 12VDC already (at least Viewsonics do) and you
can get a super small format P4 ITX computer with a 12VDC power supply
for about $1200. The problem is they may not be able to handle the
13,8V+ that your alternator is going to feed to your batteries. I know
most of the ITX supplies need +-5% of 12V or about 12.6V max. My son
mounted the ITX machine that I built him in his Acura and it seems to be
surviving pretty well but I would not want to have it tied it to my 250
amp alternator when the Maxcharge really starts cranking out he amps at
14V.

You have two basic options, either stick with 120V and buy a good 300
watt inverter or buy a 12V-12V converter to stabalize the voltage.
Either way you are adding $120 or so.

There are also high end stand alone DC-DC converters that you can wire
up a completely separate stabalized ciorcuit with to drive all the
sensitive electronics. mastervolt makes one that will handle 240 watts
but you are getting into some serious bucks. These were originally
intended for marine use to protect sensitive electronics and halogen
navigation lights from overvoltage

There are also a lot of aftermarket DC-DC power supplies for standard
ATX computers that can handle 8 to 30VDC input but they only go to about
170 watts at 12V nominal input. All in the $175 range but you still have
to worry about frying the display unless you can tap off teh 12V+ line
of the PC's power supply.

Personally I have decided to stick with the inverter solution until the
P4 mini format machines drop below a grand.


Skip Gundlach wrote:
Here's hoping someone in these groups has already done this...

I know that the typical computer power is 12v to most drives - but much less
to other components.

I'm thinking about a flatscreen monitor and a desktop for onboard
computing/DVD watching, vs a laptop, but wouldn't do it if I had to do the
inverter route.

Anyone modified flatscreen and desktops to take 12V - and actually get
*that* much vs full charged voltage?

Thanks.

L8R

Skip




--
Glenn Ashmore

I'm building a 45' cutter in strip/composite. Watch my progress (or lack
there of) at: http://www.rutuonline.com
Shameless Commercial Division: http://www.spade-anchor-us.com