My DIY car mount and dock

Hey!

So, some odd hundreds of dollars seems a bit too muh for a car mount for an astro van that is basically a big square box, especially when I already have the dock itself ($47 off ebay)(power supply was $10, have to fab my own cords).

SO, in celebration of my adopted redneck heritage, I went to the scrap yard and bough some scrap aluminum... uh... I don't know, but it had some hardware, swivel handles, etc.... for $10.

and then stripped it all apart, cleaned it up a little, cut this, screwed that, and turned this, and viola, a car mount for $10, that drops out of the way and is accessible by the driver, passenger, or from the cargo area! And, I still have some more parts and hardware left!

Just need to get my PS in the mail, and hook it up.... take a look.

Although, I'm concerned with my 12" sub woofer vibrating the unit(s) too much; the mount is bolted directly to the front of the box. I'm going to see about having a different mount come out of the dash Oem console instead.....

 

nice work ( 10 char )

 

Did you fabricate a system to strap it down so the computer doesn't go through your window if you have to slam on your brakes?

God forbid you destroy the window and pick the toughbook up and still use it...

 

You look like you done good! How much does it move while driving?

 

oops, double post.

 

Actually, I have a web273 toughbook dock mounted to it and the whole unit flexes or moves very little (1/8 inch?) before you end up overpowering the dog /pivot point and moving something, which takes a lot of force (I would estimate 65+ft lbs). There is also ptfe between all the metal contact points to stop it from rubbing and what not.

BTW: a "dog" as I describe it is one of those levers you can turn (left, let's say), pull up and turn back(to the right), reseat, and turn (left) more.

 

Sweet,

 

Good looking home-built installation.

One thing though:

The power supply you have (Lind 1540) is a 60-watt unit. The CF-29 needs the 1555 Lind PS; an 85-watt unit.

The 1540 will likely have a problem pulling both the CF-29 and the Panasonic dock.

You may want to take this into consideration before spending time/money making the 1540 usable for your installation.

 

Well dern it topcop, bringer of rain on a parade. I was soo proud of my cheapness. UH... We'll see how it goes. I don't plan on using the dock for much more than a pass through for sound and power (and maybe wifi), but primarily as a lock (yes, I know, a lock only keeps out an honest person, but it still makes it harder on dishonest ones).

And BLAH! I just found out my Touch Screen may have crapped out on me! It's doing the same thing as this guy. I'm checking the connections right now, but I can't figure out how to get the kb off?

 

Take off the keyboard retainer at the front and then VERY CAREFULLY pry it up. Don't pry in just one spot, move around and distribute the pressure and DO NOT pull too hard, it will bend! Once you have it pulled away, pull the cover over the cables (very small screws) and then (EVEN MORE CAREFULLY!!) release the connectors that hold in the ribbon cables. If nothing else sinks in (and this applied to all of us at one time), take your time and do not force anything! You are now entering an area where there are parts that will break if you look at them the wrong way!

PS. MAKE SURE you pull the power cord and the battery before you start any disassembly!

 

Very nice, did you find that nice uni-strut type aluminum at the scrap yard with the dogs, t-nuts and all? You hang around a high class of scrap yard. Don't worry about the Lind adapter, 3.75amps will keep your CF-29 running fine, it will just take a while to charge up if you let the batteries run too far down. I see no reason the dock should consume any significant amperage. According to the service manual the CF-29 consumes a maximum of 60 watts "when turned on in the charging mode", 35 watts when not charging.
CAP

 

Got it! I used a butter knife (no serations) to pry a little from iether side and the middle, a little at a time. Man, that tape is just sick! I found the connector for the TS, but I don't think it'll help... we'll see. Thanks for the info!


I also called Hearland.... I almost crapped my pants when they said $585 not including shipping (just for the TS panel). They must sleep really well on thier California King size mattresses with their Egyptian 4000 thread count sheets....

Capt Dogfish
Thanks, I was hoping someone would say something like that. I don't really see the dock as a charger, more of a power supply... I don't think I'll be undocking the unit unless it's to go inside to show a client something, or go in my own house to do work.

The metal came off of a paper cutter sorter type thing. I don't know. It was all fubar the first time I saw it. Actually, the first time I saw it, I saw the makings of a home brew CNC. And the yard is quite redneck, but they have common sense enough to sort out usefull stuff to the front, and sell it off for next to nothin ($1.40/lb for aluminum, $0.30/lb for steel, .55 for stainless).

It's extruded aluminum x channel with some extra fins at the tips of the X, and yes, I got the bolts and dogs, and a few joining plates, which I used appropriately, but also the wrong way in order to accommodate my needs.

Any comment on the speaker vibrating the dock/laptop? I was thinking about a different underside for the WEB273, and using some tire rubber as "bracket" to hold the base plate to the dock. Or, like I said, not having it mounted to the speaker box.

 

You are a mad genius! that is a great DIY mount

 

What's great, is that I still have 8 or so handles, and smore AL left. If I get the chance, I'm going to go get some more before it's all gone.... I can find 45 other uses for this off the top of my head.

 

One thing to remember, I have heard that you are not supposed to hot dock/undock the computer. I believe it was discussed here a while back and I might be wrong, but I think you can release the magic smoke if you don't power down the computer first.
CAP

 

Cap, I'll look into that, I didn't even think about that...

 

That aluminum is made by a company called 80/20. Their site is www.8020.net.

Think "industrial erector set."

Ive made a few projects using their products... the latest was a rack over my truck bed.



They also have an Ebay store http://stores.ebay.com/8020-Inc-Garage-Sale

 

Sho nuf is! I just remembered it's printed on the endcaps... duh.

 

Sounds like a great way to start a day.

Kudos for the excellent home fab!

 

It's true,
you are not suposed to hot or warm dock your TB. It doesn't make absolute sense. From one aspect, I can understand the physical connection possibly shorting out, but the power to your dock is on anyway, even if the TB is cold off. From the other apsect, the dock or maybe the TB can't handle the hot dock/plug'n play (which would be just rediculous in these days and times).

In whatever case, you are only supposed to dock the tb when it is completely off.

 

The Hot Docking issue was brought up by me around a year ago. I was not too happy to hear about it. Yes, this might upset or make some shake there heads but, I have been hot docking mine since new. I have had no issues to date. Now, that's not to say I won't see smoke next time!

I honestly think that Panny is stating this as a safety net. If it was that important I believe they would make more of an issue about it.

 

I'm gonna have to agree. If they don't say this, and someone bakes a t book, it's their loss.

Also, I got my $9.99 lind pa1540 a couple days ago. The connectors I need were about $5 delivered. I also got a mic, for the internal mic mod. We'll see if the plugs will work (as opposed to lind's proprietary locking connector(s)).
They were 2.1mm plugs (the 15v output of the pa1540) and mp205 (6.5mm, 4.3mm, 1.4 mm) (12v input on the pa1540, and the input on the web273 dock).

 

We hot dock all day long never a problem.

 

Now now... enough with that talk, you pervy little ToughBook fancier you. :wink: You know this is a PG-rated forum...

mnem
preverted.

 

I do the police style anyway. Cold dock in the morning, and a warm undock in the afternoon.

Although, my wife claims to like hot dock first thing in the morning.

 

Excellent post! And excellent work! Rep to you!

 

TB, thanks!

I'm touched (just not in the bathing suit area).