Office in a box.

Hi Guy and Gals.

After last night fun and games. I've realised that it's time to start
thinking about my next project. This time, I want to sort out seme problems
that I've found with my laptop setup. The problem I had last night was
that dew started to form on my laptop screen, at about 1am, as Saturn was
just comming into view. Also my laptop, is the bit of my setup that
requires most plugging together, there's just too many bits really.

What's I'm thinking about it making a box, that will work a little like a
docking station for my laptop. There's will be a single power supply
ending in a car lighter plug (so that I can plug into my current setup, or
even a car if I want to).

The box itself will have my USB hub, USB to Serial converter. power supplys
permently wired in, for hub and laptop. I want to add a lighting system, so
that it casts red light over the laptop keyboard to make it easier to see.
A red filter that can be dropped into play to cover the laptop screen would
be nice too. Ideally, I'd like to be able to store my Autostar serial
cable, and Usb Active extension cable too. It would be quite nice to have
the USB to Serial wired securly to the Autostar cable with a switch to
serial port (so that I can plug in my GPS).

I'd like to be able to make this box so that it's not too big, however my
woodworking skills leave alot to be desired. Putting the electrics of this
project together isn't a problem, there's nothing difficult about that.

Has anyone done something similar to this before? What materials would you
use to do this? Are there any design tips that anyone can offer?

At the moment. I've not really thought to much about how to do this. I'm
just looking for ideas to help make this project work well first time.

Regards

Colin Dawson
www.cjdawson.com

"Colin Dawson" wrote in message
...
Hi Guy and Gals.

After last night fun and games. I've realised that it's time to start
thinking about my next project. This time, I want to sort out seme
problems
that I've found with my laptop setup. The problem I had last night was
that dew started to form on my laptop screen, at about 1am, as Saturn was
just comming into view. Also my laptop, is the bit of my setup that
requires most plugging together, there's just too many bits really.

What's I'm thinking about it making a box, that will work a little like a
docking station for my laptop. There's will be a single power supply
ending in a car lighter plug (so that I can plug into my current setup, or
even a car if I want to).


Hi Colin,

I 've heard of someone who uses their laptop in one of those insulated cool
boxes - keeps the laptop heat in and the elements out. Perhaps you could use
one as the basis of your design. (Now I write it down, it seems such a good
idea that I wonder why I am not doing the same thing myself!)


Robin

"Colin Dawson" wrote in message
...
Hi Guy and Gals.

After last night fun and games. I've realised that it's time to start
thinking about my next project. This time, I want to sort out seme
problems
that I've found with my laptop setup. The problem I had last night was
that dew started to form on my laptop screen, at about 1am, as Saturn was
just comming into view. Also my laptop, is the bit of my setup that
requires most plugging together, there's just too many bits really.

What's I'm thinking about it making a box, that will work a little like a
docking station for my laptop. There's will be a single power supply
ending in a car lighter plug (so that I can plug into my current setup, or
even a car if I want to).

The box itself will have my USB hub, USB to Serial converter. power
supplys
permently wired in, for hub and laptop. I want to add a lighting system,
so
that it casts red light over the laptop keyboard to make it easier to see.
A red filter that can be dropped into play to cover the laptop screen
would
be nice too. Ideally, I'd like to be able to store my Autostar serial
cable, and Usb Active extension cable too. It would be quite nice to
have
the USB to Serial wired securly to the Autostar cable with a switch to
serial port (so that I can plug in my GPS).

I'd like to be able to make this box so that it's not too big, however my
woodworking skills leave alot to be desired. Putting the electrics of
this
project together isn't a problem, there's nothing difficult about that.

Has anyone done something similar to this before? What materials would
you
use to do this? Are there any design tips that anyone can offer?

At the moment. I've not really thought to much about how to do this. I'm
just looking for ideas to help make this project work well first time.

Regards

Colin Dawson
www.cjdawson.com



The first thing to do is lay all the kit out as you would want it, taking up
as little space as you can but keeping it workable and then take the
dimensions in a form of a box..

Then take some time to visit they DIY sheds and see if there is anything off
the shelf that could do the job as well. It may save you the hassle of
making a box.

Some timber merchants have a cutting service. If it is a box you end up
making out of wood, get then to cut all parts out and all you have to do is
glue and screw and then add the odd hole. Keep the wood light and try to use
exterior grade so the damp will not make it warp over time.

A local kitchen company may make you a box, and if you ask the right way
(mention cash) and via the foreman, it may cost less than you think. A local
engineering firm are making my pier mount and its over half of the cost of a
off the shelf one and better engineered.

A steady LED bike light is a great light for the keyboard fitted to the
underside top of the box, saves messing with wiring and they last forever on
a few batteries and cost next to nothing to buy. My observatory will be lit
this way although I suspect the neighbour will continue to do it for free,
with his copy of Blackpool's iluminations. To pose there is this laser
keyboard you can see in the dark
http://www.expansys.com/product.asp?code=110909

Steve

--
The UK SpeedTrap Guide" @ www.ukspeedtraps.co.uk
The UK Weather Guide" @ www.ukstorms.com

The first thing to do is lay all the kit out as you would want it, taking
up
as little space as you can but keeping it workable and then take the
dimensions in a form of a box..

I'll keep this in mind but, what I'm most interested in, how much room do I
need so allow so that I don't feel restricted when using it? My initial
thought is to have a compartment that will be a home for my USB hub, laptop
power supply, and all the cables when it's not in use.


Then take some time to visit they DIY sheds and see if there is anything
off
the shelf that could do the job as well. It may save you the hassle of
making a box.

There's definetly nothing at the DIY places that will do what I'm after.
I'm thinking that the place where the laptop will sit when in use, will be
completely collapseable. This will drastically reduce the space required to
restore it.


Some timber merchants have a cutting service. If it is a box you end up
making out of wood, get then to cut all parts out and all you have to do
is
glue and screw and then add the odd hole. Keep the wood light and try to
use
exterior grade so the damp will not make it warp over time.

I'll keep that in mind to. I don't really fancy this thing weighing 50lb.


A local kitchen company may make you a box, and if you ask the right way
(mention cash) and via the foreman, it may cost less than you think. A
local
engineering firm are making my pier mount and its over half of the cost of
a
off the shelf one and better engineered.

I'm not in a hurry to get this working. I think that the challenge will be
part of the fun. I think that the timber merchant idea will help me alot
with making the panels.


A steady LED bike light is a great light for the keyboard fitted to the
underside top of the box, saves messing with wiring and they last forever
on
a few batteries and cost next to nothing to buy. My observatory will be
lit
this way although I suspect the neighbour will continue to do it for free,
with his copy of Blackpool's iluminations. To pose there is this laser
keyboard you can see in the dark
http://www.expansys.com/product.asp?code=110909

I'm seen that keyboard in operation. It is a really cool toy, and extremely
useful for someone with a PDA. I think that I've prefer to keep with my
laptop keyboard though. I like the idea of the bike light, but I'd prefer
not to have lots of batteries (it's my pet hate as I never remember to
charge them all up) I know that those batteries to last a long time. I'll
be able to make use of the design idea though. I was thinking about a
couple of ultrabright Red LEDS shining down onto the keyboard.

At the moment I'm really just trying out ideas. The more input from people
who've used laptops in the field, the better.

Regards

Colin Dawson
www.cjdawson.com

"Colin Dawson" wrote:

At the moment I'm really just trying out ideas. The more input from people
who've used laptops in the field, the better.

I went out with a friends all singing all dancing goto and laptop. It
was brass monkeys and the screen was too dim to see after about 10
minutes ...

--
Martin