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Home / I-Opener Areas / I-Opener Technical Stuff Possible Car mounting solution? Can a "snakelite" type thing be used?

Possible Car mounting solution? (modified 0 times) Ledfoot Hey gang... Well, I'm slowly getting all the parts I need to get one of my I-Openers mounted into my car to act as an MP3 player/GPS map. I'm awaiting my I-Booster and my replacement case, and will be getting a big laptop HD to put in it. Now comes the mount.... I was wondering... A couple months ago I rented a car through Hertz and it had one of those Neverlost mapping systems. It was mounted on a flexible mount. The mount looked similar to the flexible piece on a Black and Decker Snake Light. I was wondering if something similar (albeit heftier due to the greater weight) could be used to mount the I-Opener. Pluses - easier to move around/pivot, not rigidly mounted so there should be less direct shock translated to the hard drive. Anyhow, 2 questions: 1) what the heck IS the neck of the snake-light made out of? (I'm suspecting electrical conduit wrapped in plastic) 2) Anybody know where I can get a 3' length of it and attach 2 metal plates, one to each end? Thanks gang! You guys have been very helpful and I'm really enjoying this project (even if I am sinking a lot of money into them... Good thing I just got that $8/hr raise!!!) hehe 06-15-2000 17:09:20

RE:Possible Car mounting solution? (modified 0 times) Linuxguru Some years ago, I saw a Blaupunkt car amplifier which had the controls on a similar snake-light kind of mount. It should be possible to modify that and mount the IO with the snake-light tube longitudinally along (or through) the hinge axis of the IO. -Linuxguru 06-15-2000 17:43:13

RE:Possible Car mounting solution? (modified 0 times) h_ank Profile This doesn't answer the question either, but I remember when the discman was first released. Many people bought car mounting kits and several models of those had that snake-like appendage. One side was adhered to the vehichle and the other to a square platform for strapping the unit down. Perhaps one of those could be used? As I recall, the first portable disc players were quite large and heavy themselves... 06-15-2000 21:53:20

RE:Possible Car mounting solution? (modified 0 times) Mount_man Take a look at: http://tvnav.com They sell RAM mounts and some helpful links. I do not know if they have the specific mount that you are talking about. I have used this type of thing to mount ham radio equipment and scanners. You might try some ham radio stores. 06-15-2000 23:24:01

RE:Possible Car mounting solution? (modified 0 times) Mount_man Actually, this is a better link to the RAM catalog. http://www.ram-mount.com/ramcat.htm Take a look at the aviation page and the computer page. They have the flexible mounts you were describing. I suspect that these things are a bit expensive. However, since they sell the individual components, you can effectively design your own mount. 06-16-2000 07:07:06

RE:Possible Car mounting solution? (modified 0 times) Ledfoot Eeek!! Cheap they aren't!!! Thanks for the link though... Gonna make a trip to Home Depot this weekend and investigate the possibility of using metalic conduit covered wire. Figure 2 should be able to support the weight of the I-Opener no prob. It's times like this that I wish I had a SUV instead of a little sport coupe... 06-16-2000 08:11:01

RE:Possible Car mounting solution? (modified 0 times) Mount_man You might look into the waterproof flexible conduit that has a plastic jacket. I am not sure that this stuff is stiff enough to stay in the desired position. Maybe if you could fill it with something like silicone or the insulating foam they sell to put in walls it would work. 06-16-2000 09:21:46

RE:Possible Car mounting solution? (modified 0 times) ioioioinfoioioio How about filling it with strips of solid or stranded copper or aluminum wire? may offer better support but allow to form bends? like 10 gauge or 14 gauge ? or something like that? Probrobly have to experiment. Maybe leave the insulation on it to allow to flex better? secure with silicone? Just an idea? 06-16-2000 17:49:29

RE:Possible Car mounting solution? (modified 0 times) ioioioinfoioioio Perhaps even finer solid gauge like 22 ??? just fill the entire section of flex conduit so there is no play. 06-16-2000 17:55:55

RE:Possible Car mounting solution? (modified 0 times) ioioioinfoioioio or a combination of different gauges? and use a combination small diameter foam or rubber strip(s) as a filler? 06-16-2000 18:01:17

RE:Possible Car mounting solution? (modified 0 times) ioioioinfoioioio I've been looking for an inexpensive mount solution too... so I think I'm going to try Mount-mans idea with the waterproof flex conduit 06-16-2000 18:07:36

RE:Possible Car mounting solution? (modified 0 times) joeuser You want an FMB-9 from allelectronics.com - costs $9.95 and does exactly what you want. Looks good too. http://www.allelectronics.com/cgi-local/SoftCart.exe/online-store/scstore/p-FMB-9.html?L+scstore+rxxy0683ff08f408+963852921 06-17-2000 03:03:26

RE:Possible Car mounting solution? (modified 0 times) cb4800 Are you using one of these, or have you seen one in person? If they are not that strong 2 of them could be used. 06-17-2000 22:23:11

RE:Possible Car mounting solution? (modified 0 times) Ledfoot Well, I got 2 of the FMB-9's from allelectronics.com. VERY VERY rigid. One should be plenty to support the weight. The biggest problem is mounting and length though. The 9" length isn't long enough for me to mount it on the passenger floorboard next to the center console on my Probe GT and get the I-Opener up high enough to clear the passenger seat. Also, since cars tend to get hot here in Atlanta over the summer, I need to find a way to make the I-Opener easy to detach and carry into the office with me. The brackets that come with the FMB 9's are strictly screw in permanent attachments. Not really useable in this situation. I guess I'm gonna have to bite the bullet and get the RAM mounts. Might be able to get something for about $75 that would be do-able. Just gotta find out how to order them. 07-11-2000 11:45:02

RE:Possible Car mounting solution? (modified 0 times) Fooch Ledfoot, where are you in Atlanta? Please respond to spfouche@inetnow.net. Thanks! 07-11-2000 16:21:01

RE:Possible Car mounting solution? (modified 0 times) boykster A possible source for the RAM Mounts is your local Boat/Marine store. I picked up a 12" dual ball-joint mount for my i-opener mounted in the kitchen....works great and was only $40. I was going to order the same kinda thing from their catalog and it was much more expensive...so check places that sell cb/gps type mounts... cheers boykster ps if anyone is interested, I could post a couple pics of the mount... 07-11-2000 16:27:33

RE:Possible Car mounting solution? (modified 0 times) Phillerup Which RAM are you talking about? 07-12-2000 15:11:45

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