I am hoping those who have done this before can help.

I am going to install a carpc in the very near future with a ton of goodies. The issue I am hitting, and everyone else has, is space to put the pc itself. I have scoped numerous locations (including the little cubby behind the spare tire... if it was large enough it would be perfect) to fit this thing and have almost settled on the trunk; I am open to more suggestion on that. The carpc size will probably be 10 x 9.25 x 3.125.

Anyway, if I do mount it in the trunk i have the issue of running the following back to the trunk: power cable for touchscreen (18 awg), usb cable x 2, headphone adapter for aux-in, vga and component cables for touchscreen (include the size of the 15pin d connector as i will have to place an extension on it), and power cable. Where would be a good spot to run all of this? Of course, the power cable can be run seperate but the other cables almost must be together. Thanks for any help!

My plan is to run 2 zero guage wires to the trunk (+ and -) and relocat ethe battery as well under car in the underside of my body kit and side skirts with breakers before and after. i plan on runign the wires in a plastic guard to help prevent outside corrosion.

this way makes it easy to do .. just take a while to make it pretty.

That is quite a move... I do not know if I am willing to go that drastic just to install a computer. I have no intention of installing any type of system beyond the carpc. So for me that type of solution is quite the overkill.

there is enough space to run a 4 gauge wire underneath the drivers side kick panel thing all the way to the trunk.

Alternately you could pull up your center console and run your wires through it.

Tearing up the console sounds very involved. How long of a process would that be? Has anyone done it before?

I did it just the other week. Once you know were all the clips and screws are, It's a lot like taking apart legos. I took this photo as i was running speaker and remote lines for my LC7 and amplifier. as you can see, there is a fair amount of room. You're going to want to find the factory service manual on this website and use it as a guide, it will walk you though taking it apart so you don't break anything.
http://isomerica.net/~fluffy/Ren/console4.jpg

+1^ - just ran wire for SAT radio thru the center console to the trunk, not as hard to take apart as I thought it may be, followed directions from this board, everything went back together fine and everything works great.

Where did you find the directions at? I have been all over searching for them knowing that someone has done it before....

http://smrmicro.com/rx8servicemanual/

Factory service manual here. Check out section 11, page 141 and 142.

The upper panel comes out first. I found it was easiest to get it off working from front to back, with a large screwdriver wrapped in electrical tape to prevent scratches. it also helps to remove the little plug in the cup holder next to the parking brake.

Hi AvatarQAZ,

If you plan on running power cable to the trunk I'd suggest you do it down the side kick pannel some info here http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?t=16217


Also if you are just adding a CarPC you dont have to go from the Battery you can use and add-a-fuse and tap from one of the fuses close to the drivers footwell. Some info here http://www.rx8club.com/showpost.php?p=2096735&postcount=29

I've have my CarPC in my glovebox but ran power cable to distribution block in trunk as I also have after market amps.

Also keep in mind a CarPC can be very robust but it is definitely NOT like most after market head units where after the initial install your are pretty much done. After the CarPC install you will have a steep learning curve.

I'm not trying to turn you off from installing a CarPC just trying to let you know what you will be getting into. If your the kind of person that enjoys tinkering with a PC go for it but if your looking at CarPC like an aftermarket head unit install you will be VERY disappointed.

why are you running VGA and component video cables to your monitor? you should just need the VGA for display and a USB for the touchscreen capability.

you can find some of the cabling you are looking for on this site (http://store.mp3car.com/category_s/30.htm).

one place that has a lot of room to run cables is along the passenger side door sill. there is not really any wires along that side, but the drivers side contains the main harness which doesn't have much room. another thing to note is if you run anything through the center console to make sure your wires are protected. there are a lot of sharp edges in there.

another thing to note is if you run anything through the center console to make sure your wires are protected. there are a lot of sharp edges in there.

Agreed - the one cable I ran was well protected and we were careful on the routing of it.

Where did you find the directions at? I have been all over searching for them knowing that someone has done it before....

http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?t=85073&highlight=center+console+removal


This might help as well.

another thing to note is if you run anything through the center console to make sure your wires are protected. there are a lot of sharp edges in there.

+2

It shouldn't be a problem once you get your wires in place, but if you're not careful you can easily strip the insulation off a wire. I ruined one of my wires during my install by giving it a yank to get more slack rather then carefully feeding it through.

why are you running VGA and component video cables to your monitor? you should just need the VGA for display and a USB for the touchscreen capability.

you can find some of the cabling you are looking for on this site (http://store.mp3car.com/category_s/30.htm).

one place that has a lot of room to run cables is along the passenger side door sill. there is not really any wires along that side, but the drivers side contains the main harness which doesn't have much room. another thing to note is if you run anything through the center console to make sure your wires are protected. there are a lot of sharp edges in there.

My touchscreen has multiple inputs.... if I ever wanted to use them. Rather than leave them halfway up the console and come across a venture that I would say 'damn, i wish i would have run the wires all the way through' I am going to 'terminate' every end in the trunk and hide the unnecessaries.

Thanks for the heads up on the sharp ends. I will make sure I bring the necessary supplies to deal with them.


Also keep in mind a CarPC can be very robust but it is definitely NOT like most after market head units where after the initial install your are pretty much done. After the CarPC install you will have a steep learning curve.

I'm not trying to turn you off from installing a CarPC just trying to let you know what you will be getting into. If your the kind of person that enjoys tinkering with a PC go for it but if your looking at CarPC like an aftermarket head unit install you will be VERY disappointed.

I have done a lot of research and actually work in the field of technology. I run linux and will probably use linuxICE as my FE. Yeah, I love tinkering.

Thanks to everyone for the help. I hope to have the install complete by the end of the month. I have been taking pictures of progress along the way and will post them and some videos when time comes.

I cant wait to see it Avatar. I used to have a carputer setup in my old accord. Fun stuff, but it's buggy nature got tiresome after a while. I began using it as my head unit after my stereo got stolen a second time. It was great for parking in Oakland because even though I had a respectably deafening sound system in it, the center console was a gaping hole with wires hanging out. Everyone thought my car had already been ripped off.

Eventually I'm going to think about moving my carPC into the 8. Not until the stereo upgrade is done, and everything else is the way i want it.