Building a computer box - For a model boat!!

[nick_75au]

I guess I dont really need help with this more a question of has anyone else done anything similar.
Im going to put a computer in the Nexus tide. Ive obtained a small form business machine and a laptop for the purpose of logging and displaying data.

I want to get/make a box/housing suitable for housing the motherboard and hard disk. Any Ideas ?, that may be better than my thoughts of a simple plywood box?
Nick

[seaphoto]

You can get a nice commercial case from a place that sells computer components. In the US, NewEgg.com is where I got mine, and I am sure there are similar outlets in Australia.

Or you can do something more creative, called Case Modding. Here is the Wikipedia page on it, with lots of links to sites that can give you all kinds of ideas. Have fun!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Case_modding

Kurt

[nick_75au]

Hi Kurt,
Thanks for your reply, there's some super fancy stuff there :eek: It already has a case but I was sort of thinking along the lines of a ruggedised box and optimising the space taken up by the drive etc.
Nick

[seaphoto]

Oh, Ok, I think I get it, mind runs a bit slower late at night LOL

Would the cases made by Pelican work for your application?

http://www.pelican.com/case_category.php?CaseSize=%&New=%

I have one that I use to carry my photo equipment when I travel in small craft, it is water tight and darn near indestructible.

Kurt

[nick_75au]

I Know the type, they are excellent cases. I just scrolled through them all but their sizes don't quite match up unfortunately :( the size of the motherboard is 8 X 8.5 but want to allow 11-12 on the longer dimention for connectors etc. The hight is only 2 inches.
I was considering one of these, its the smallest computer ive ever seen
http://www.fit-pc.com/new/
almost perfect but the other stuff was a much better price :D "free"
maybe if I advance the project enough to justify the spend
Nick

[gobigkahuna]

I was going to use this small form factor computer

http://www.mini-itx.com/store/?c=39

in a similar project. One thing you may want to consider if you are using an air tight box is cooling. Computer components do not handle over heating very well and most fanless computer systems are designed for freely circulating air.

[Prins Willem]

I guess I dont really need help with this more a question of has anyone else done anything similar.
Im going to put a computer in the Nexus tide. Ive obtained a small form business machine and a laptop for the purpose of logging and displaying data.

I want to get/make a box/housing suitable for housing the motherboard and hard disk. Any Ideas ?, that may be better than my thoughts of a simple plywood box?
Nick

Do a web search for NEMA box. When I worked maintenance we always used NEMA rated boxes on test equipment and production machinery.

[norgale]

Prins how will this computer work in a boat? Could you do a "build" on the whole thing? Pete

[pops52]

Hoffman is a good source for NEMA rated boxes.

[nick_75au]

Cool, I will check out what's available from our local electrical distributor, Our ratings are called IP ratings
http://www.ezscreen.com/ip_ratings.htm
Ive got the computer logging depth and position on the bench now, apparently i can have the data added live to an excel spread sheet
Does anyone know how a paddle wheel speed log works, ie what is its signal output?
Nick

[drakonis]

ok now im curious. you gonna map out the lake bottom? kinda sounds like it. :confused: