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Frequently Asked Questions are usually answered here. If your question
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FAQ
2. What else will I need?
3. Where can I get this Lilliput LCD that I need to put into the bezel?
4. Will it work with other LCDs like the Xenarc?
5. How do I pay you for the Bezel and Chassis?
6. Will you ship to Timbuktu?
7. Does the kit include all the mounting hardware?
8. I have an STI, where do I get the brackets?
9. Can I buy just the Bezel?
10. Where did you mount the Opus 90W Power supply?
11. Will this work in my other car that is not a Subaru that has a 2Din Opening?
12. Can you give me the CAD files for our final design?
13. Does it get hot?
14. Where do you mount everything?
15. Will it be hard to mount the Epia-M on to the chassis?
16. Can you do the wiring for me?
17. I'm not that good at soldering, I don't want to solder to my motherboard, what should I do?
18. What do I send you for Kit 3?
19. Can you make my power cable 6 ft long?
20. Can you remote mount my IR Receiver?
21. Do I need to hack my dashboard?
22. I want to install a single DIN head unit, where do I put it?
1. What do I actually get from you ?
The bezel (CNC from an aluminum 6061-T651 Billet, natural finish) and a sheet metal chassis (CNC punched from 0.080 Aluminum 5052-H32 sheet metal), VGA Controller PCB mounting brackets (CNC machined from black acetal) and all the screws and hardware to assemble it. Instructions are available online.
If you just want to mount the LCD screen so that you can plug it into a laptop or X-Box, then you will need the following:
- Lilliput 7" VGA LCD
- 12V regulated power supply (such as Opus 90W)
If you want to mount the LCD screen and install the computer in your dash you will need the following:
3. Where can I get this Lilliput LCD that I need to put into the bezel?
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From MP3Car.com at http://www.mp3car.com/store/
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From Digital World Wide at http://www.digitalww.com/VGA_TM_710VG.htm
From a few guys on E-Bay:
4. Will it work with other LCDs like the Xenarc?
Not likely, I designed this thing trying to fit the largest LCD in the the 2DIN opening with the least modification to the dash as possible. The Xenarc dimensions are slightly larger, so it won't fit.
I am considering a XENARC model, but it won't be available until Summer.
5. How do I pay you for a kit?
PayPal only. See Ordering Page
I will ship anywhere the US Postal service will let me. Choose the International Kit.
7. Does the kit include all the mounting hardware?
As much as possible, I will include all the screws and bits to put this together. If you don't have a stock radio (STI), you will need to get the brackets from Subaru that hold the radio in the dash.
8. I have an STI, where do I get the brackets?
Without the stock radio, you don't have the right Subaru brackets to mount the chassis.
From http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=755354, you need 1 of each of the 2 parts below
66201FC000
66201FC010
Features of the sheet metal chassis:
With my design, the bezel is bolted to the chassis which is bolted to the dash. There is no gluing involved and assembly is very easy, just bolt it in. Having the LCD bolted to the dash makes for a secure mounting method and makes it real easy to wire up since its not attached to the Dash Radio Bezel - which is flimsy plastic.
One of the cost cutting methods I did was to including the brackets into the chassis, so when you get the chassis, these brackets need to be taken out. They are held in by tiny spars and will break out easy and with a little sanding, they are ready to go. The purpose of these brackets are 2 fold
- These brackets are used to hold the VGA controller board to the bezel
- These brackets are used to contain the LCD panel in the bezel.
Again, the LCD panel is held in and not glued in. This makes it easy to assemble and disassemble
The bezel is only one part of the setup and is the most expensive part because it has 4 different machining setups. But, the chassis is sheet metal and will be laser cut, then tapped and formed.
So, I'm not really interested in offering just the bezel, since I would like to order everything in the same quantities to keep the cost down. Also, by offering a complete and tested setup, I know you will have the least amount of problems in the install.
10. Where did you mount the Opus 90W Power supply?
I actually mounted it behind the glove box, tucked it away into the dash. I formed up a sheet metal cover to protect the guts of it from shorting out and eventually I may be offering this for sale also.
11. Will this work in my other car that is not a Subaru that has a 2Din Opening?
I imagine this will work in almost any Subaru with a 2DIN, but really can't tell you how it will do in any other car. You are welcome to try it, and if it doesn't work, I would buy back the parts assuming they are still in saleable condition (no scratches, dings, etc).
Here is a drawing with dimensions.
12. Can you give me the CAD files for our final design?
I'm not interested in sharing this, this is not an Open Source project.
I've had the same LCD installed in my car since Nov 2003. I've made many 5-6 hour runs from LA to San Francisco without any failures. The bezel does get quite warm. Everything is aluminum, it transfers the heat better than regular steel sheet metal.
14. Where do you mount everything?
Behind the performance gauge pack, I put the USB WiFi Card, the GPS receiver and my wireless keyboard receiver. The USB 7.1 sound card is under my passeneger seat on top of my 4 channel AMP. The PC is in a small case under the passenger's seat.
15. Will it be hard to mount the Epia-M on to the chassis?
Due to the limited space in the depth of the Subaru dash, the back of the Epia-M will be right up against the air-box - well, it will have about 3/8" gap. The only connector I connected to the back of the motherboard is the VGA connector, which I used without a shell on it. All other connectors mounted to the motherboard or in the case of the connectors sticking out the back, I soldered directly to the pins on the motherboard.
This is only recommended if you are very good with a soldering iron. You will void your board's warrantee. Otherwise, I recommend you put the EPIA in a enclosure under the driver's or passenger's seat and run cables to the LCD. See the Casetronic 2699R
UPDATE: After moving my motherboard into a case and putting it under the seat, I've experienced almost no lock-ups, something I used to have on a random basis. Perhaps the LCD backlight inverter was causing enough RFI to cause problems. In any case, I do not recommend putting the LCD and motherboard too close, without RFI and EMI shielding.
16. Can you do the wiring for me?
Yes, I can. Just order Kit 3 or 4.
17. I'm not that good at
soldering, I don't want to solder to my motherboard, what should I do?
I recommend getting a small PC case such as
Morex 3677 and putting
it under the passenger or driver's seat. In the end, this will be an easier
install and be easier to pull the system out to work on it. Do I have regrets
putting everything in the dash? Ah sort of, it takes me about 30 min to pull the
mobo out of the dash and another 30 to put it back in. But its damn cool to say,
yeah, I stuff the mobo in there!
18 What do I send you for Kit 3
19. Can you make my power cable 6 ft long?
You can now order a 6ft long extension power cable.
20.
Can you remote mount my IR Receiver?
See ordering options
21. Do I need to hack my dashboard?
NO - you do not need to make any permanent modifications to your dash.