So I have this crazy idea....

[Exclamation]

I love my PS3 and I love my VX so why not combine them!??!

I have this idea to take a PS3 and put it into my VX along with mounting a small TV (around 19") on the back for the driver and passenger seat somehow and then putting an optima yellowtop deep cycle battery in the trunk which has a 75Ah capacity. Which is capable of running the PS3 and a small TV for around 4 hours on one charge which is long enough for me.

Now for charging the battery in the trunk. At first I was thinking I should figure out how to connect it to the alternator but then I came up with two easier and probably cheaper alternatives. First I could buy a solar panel meant for charging RV and boat deep cycle batteries such as this for around 130$ and attach that to the roof and run a cable to a regulator and then into the battery. Second option is just charging the battery at night by using a power cord from the house along with a regulator to make sure it does not overcharge the battery.

Also in the future I might add me a 4G wireless router so I could play online wherever I want!

Input, suggestions, and comments appreciated!

[Tookie]

Do the solar panel, and document it like crazy...mostly so I could maybe copy that later on hahahhaa. Of course, thats also because I think it would be super cool to have a solar panel on top Get even more people wondering what kinda car we have!

[vt_maverick]

I think you have to evaluate your daily/weekly/monthly usage of PS3 and compare that to how many hours of sunshine your VX will see over the same period of time (keep in mind to factor in both the amount of time it's outside and the average amount of sunshine in your area over that same period). I would be concerned that the solar panel would not be efficient enough to charge such a large battery in a timely fashion.

[surf-life]

Go for it, and document it. Also do you think 4g will run the ps3 network with out lag?

[Exclamation]

Tookie, If I do put a solar panel in people probably wouldn't see it because I was going to have it flat on the roof therefore you would have to be above the car to see it. I think having a solar panel sticking up at an angle or hanging off the side might look a little tacky haha

Mav, my usage of the PS3 might be about one or two uses a week so it would have a day or two to charge the battery, I would assume the solar panel would charge it in that time, also my VX stays outside all the time because I do not have a garage so it will be getting plenty of sunshine. But maybe I should possibly just go with both ideas integrate a solar panel and a plug up at night system so im sure to always have a charge even if I happen to play a lot.

Surf, I really do not know the answer to that, ive never tried to run a PS3 on 4G or 3G but ill find out when I try haha.

Also I will of course take notes and step by step pictures of anything I do!

[tom4bren]

Something like this is probably your best bet.

http://www.powerstream.com/battery-isolator.htm

click on the link in the upper right corner of that page. That unit is much smaller and can handle 80 amps. That's all you'd need.

There may be cheaper models available but this is the first one I opened when I googled 'battery isolator'

[Exclamation]

Awesome! thanks tom looks like that would work very well! Only problem is now it might be harder to wire it being that the alternate battery must be connected to the main battery in the front.

[nfpgasmask]

Do the solar panel, and document it like crazy...mostly so I could maybe copy that later on hahahhaa. Of course, thats also because I think it would be super cool to have a solar panel on top Get even more people wondering what kinda car we have!

x2 on that. Having a solor panel battery charger would be kind of a nice 'option' on my Trooper, for emergencies, etc.

Bart

[Triathlete]

I don't know about the rest of you but if I am in the VX it is for one reason...to drive. I would much rather sit on my big comfy couch when using my PS3.

[Exclamation]

Im thinking more on the lines of like when I go on vacation or if I end up waiting on someone somewhere which happens quite often, I will not be sitting in my driveway playing the PS3 in the VX when I have one in my room on the end of my bed haha.

[tom4bren]

Actually, there is no need for an independent battery for your PS3. Get one of these (battery brain):

http://batterybuddy.com/

1/2 the price of an Optima battery & you don't need to figure out where to put it.

Basically you could get the battery brain & a power inverter and have the whole thing up & running in about 30 minutes.

We installed some equipment on vehicles for the boarder patrol years ago and added the old device (battery buddy) & they worked great.

[Exclamation]

So youre saying to use the battery brain on my current battery and just hook the ps3 up to a converter in the car and run it off the main battery?

[mindaugas]

Whaa ... ? This sounds cool, but how much time do you spend just sitting in yer VX where you could actually play the PS3? Or are you gonna use it to drive the VX, load it up in GT5, or GTA.

...and you should get a slim and mount it in the dash somehow.

[Exclamation]

I sit places alot waiting on family and such so I will deffinately get use out of it, plus I drive friends and family around alot too so they could play it while im driving to give them something to do.

[samneil2000]

Plus it's just freakin cool!

I sit places alot waiting on family and such so I will deffinately get use out of it, plus I drive friends and family around alot too so they could play it while im driving to give them something to do.