I have been for a while thinking of redesigning my carpc, the location of the mobo and related components and where the screen sits.

When I put my car on gas the sub box suddenly took up the space left in the boot that wasn’t occupied by the gas tank.

I have been working at redesigning the boot so that i still have some space to chuck some tools, put in a backpack, some shopping, just some space so the boot is not completely useless.

I would like to have some switches e.g. turn off the amp powering the sub, turn off the amp powering the back speakers, If I am to make a quick stop for 30 seconds an over-ride switch to be able to stop the carpc going into hibernation, with this I would like voltage gauges for both the front and back batteries and to relocate the gauge for the LPG as where it is currently located it is blocked by the handbrake when the handbrake is down (which is normal while driving ) and I have already run the LPG tank empty once.

With the screen for the carpc in where the head unit used to be there does not seem to be much room for the switches, gauges etc.

http://i1154.photobucket.com/albums/p531/RaNGA1993/IMG_1108.jpg

The idea was to get the climate control out of a magna elite install it remove the face of it and via a microcontroller control the climate control via the carpc with that I could move the screen up to where the climate control used to be and have the switches and gauges below.
However the purchase/ gutting of the parts the removal of the heater box and possible re-gas of my A/C made the idea seem not necessarily worth it.

The current idea is to keep the manual heater/ cooling controls and electronically control it via servos / stepper motors.

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THE QUESTION CAN THE HEATER/ COOLING CONTROLS BE MOVED BACKWARDS INTO THE DASH
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so that I can still control it via microcontroller and have the screen in front of it with the switches and gauges below.

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Where do others put all their switches? Gauges? LPG Gauge?
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All ideas welcome.
P.S. the voltage gauges are digital gauges that are designed to be put in the 12v socket not the analog type that will fit in a gauge pod

Hey there,

There is a bit of room behind it as it needs the movement to open and close the vents. I would think there was enough room, but no guarantees. Not so fun to get there, I can tell you that much!
As for your gauges and switches... I drilled out the coin holder and put my switch in as pictured below. The two tabs that hold it in lost some support and wouldnt hold it in properly... So I put some rubber piping to hold it in and all is well :)
The gauge I put in the empty slot on the left of the demister control also pictured. I connected it directly to the battery (my amp wire) as elsewhere was giving bad readouts. I connected it to a relay which is activated by my stereo acc power.

As for the other gauges and switches... how about around the gear stick panel? At the top or the bottom... whatever you prefer.

Hey there,

There is a bit of room behind it as it needs the movement to open and close the vents. I would think there was enough room, but no guarantees. Not so fun to get there, I can tell you that much!
As for your gauges and switches... I drilled out the coin holder and put my switch in as pictured below. The two tabs that hold it in lost some support and wouldnt hold it in properly... So I put some rubber piping to hold it in and all is well :)
The gauge I put in the empty slot on the left of the demister control also pictured. I connected it directly to the battery (my amp wire) as elsewhere was giving bad readouts. I connected it to a relay which is activated by my stereo acc power.

As for the other gauges and switches... how about around the gear stick panel? At the top or the bottom... whatever you prefer.


I cannot see the pictures, could you please link I am interested to see how you have put your switches etc

I just realised I forgot to post them haha! I lot of drilling and a bit of filing...
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y45/shezza84/20120809_171514.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y45/shezza84/20120809_171428.jpg

Thanks for the pics,
do you have a pic of the coin holder?

The missile switch is in the coin holder. The one between the cigarette lighter and the mirror control...

Oh, I thought u meant the coin box, under the driver's air vent

Never mind....

Install some small switches between the heater controls and the steering wheel, that curved area, not missile switches, those flat flick up/down ones.

GOOD NEWS !
After spending a few hours on the net looking at other people's designs "will this work, will that work," "is there space here, is there space there"
I decided to just go sit in the car and see what space I could find.
To no avail, I thought **** it and went to grab a screwdriver.

After getting to the heater controls I diagnosed the simplicity of their operation, I believe that I may be able to do away with the face of the heater controls and connect to the mechanical cables directly.

I also learnt that the further I pull my car apart, it becomes more apparent that the last person to pull the car apart decided that the screws didn't need to be there anymore, moron.

Never mind....

Why Sparky? All input is welcome

I was referring to location, not switch type if you paid more attention dragon.
As far as switch type, black rocking switches are clean and subtle http://images.drillspot.com/pimages/1510/151011_300.jpg
Cant you fit switches around your screen surround?

Here is how my gas switch/gauge is positioned, the guy who installed the gas originally had drilled a hole in the trim under the steering wheel, had to get on my knees to read the gauge.
http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/2928/switchin.jpg

I just cut a suitable hole in the coin holder and it fits really flush.
http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg225/scaled.php?server=225&filename=switchout.jpg&res=landing

I have also put a cabin light switch over near the dash brightness dial (so I didn't have to keep opening the door while driving), did that by drilling out the bit that already filled the space and putting a button thru.
http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg703/scaled.php?server=703&filename=lightswitch.jpg&res=landing

Thanks for the idea 'pretzil'

My gas guage is located here, the installer said that this was a really good place, I guess the never put down the handbrake to see if it blocks it
http://i1154.photobucket.com/albums/p531/RaNGA1993/Untitled.png

I was thinking of moving my guage to the same location as yours,

As far as your interior light switch, that is where the switch for my boot release is located

I was referring to location, not switch type if you paid more attention dragon.
As far as switch type, black rocking switches are clean and subtle http://images.drillspot.com/pimages/1510/151011_300.jpg
Cant you fit switches around your screen surround?

If I paid more attention? Did you even pay attention to my post properly?! I said a location of suggestion where to locate some stuff, the button design was just an added suggestion so they don't stick out massivly to get easily knocked and look less suttle/ricey.

I was referring to location, not switch type if you paid more attention dragon.
As far as switch type, black rocking switches are clean and subtle http://images.drillspot.com/pimages/1510/151011_300.jpg
Cant you fit switches around your screen surround?

There is very minimal room around the screen, however if I was to put switches down both sides of the screen I believe it would look tacky

My comment was to make a panle go where the din pocket is. But I look at your car thread boff and you use that space for the car PC. If I was to install switch I would put nextvto the cluster dimmer switch. Make a nice alloy panel and install switches. I like things to flow and to have an factory look or race car look if factory look can't be done lol

For the gas gauage a little gauage pod on the A pillar look good as well.

Here is a quick knock up, similar to what I want
http://i1154.photobucket.com/albums/p531/RaNGA1993/Knockup.jpg

There is very minimal room around the screen, however if I was to put switches down both sides of the screen I believe it would look tacky
Well switches come in all shapes and sizes. Though I didnt realise you were looking at installing so many switches! So I now see why you want to do it the way you are doing it :)


If I paid more attention? Did you even pay attention to my post properly?! I said a location of suggestion where to locate some stuff, the button design was just an added suggestion so they don't stick out massivly to get easily knocked and look less suttle/ricey.
Technically my post was suggesting nothing about the switch type though, thats all Im saying... Seemed to be an irrelevant comment. Lookws likw you were throwing an insult out for the sake of it. Anyway, all good! I do agree with it not being a switch of choice though. I thought it was cool 8 years ago :P

Well switches come in all shapes and sizes. Though I didnt realise you were looking at installing so many switches! So I now see why you want to do it the way you are doing it :)


Technically my post was suggesting nothing about the switch type though, thats all Im saying... Seemed to be an irrelevant comment. Lookws likw you were throwing an insult out for the sake of it. Anyway, all good! I do agree with it not being a switch of choice though. I thought it was cool 8 years ago :P

aye something we all go through, do say there was a time I loved the missile switches myself as well, everyone use to ask if it was for nos or seat ejection or something crazy :-P

Ive always had a bit of a lean towards riceyness! A ledholic for as long as I can remember... grown a bit of taste though thank goodness :)
For kicks, this was the car I had the switch in :P

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y45/shezza84/Lights2.jpg

interesting front shot shezza

Interesting hey? :P
I was into that kind of led work when I was younger. Now Im more into practicalISH led lighting. Installed several 20SMD panels. Under the entry on the left side of the car as an exit light and another under the drivers door! Also made double led panel panels for my front parkers. All warm white...