koro
07-29-2004, 02:02 AM
After recently buying up another car, I decided it was about time I integrated my Ipaq 4150 with the car stereo, especially since this car doesn’t have a CD player and I can’t be bothered installing one right now. I figured the best way was to install a generic PDA holder that would bolt right in.
On looking out for one on the web, I encountered an immediate problem:
There is not one PDA mount available new in New Zealand, where I live.
Turning to eBay, I had some issues with the mounts on offer:
I don’t like the idea of my Ipaq hanging from the windscreen
I don’t want to drill a hole in my dashboard
I like cold air, which rules out a vent mount
My passenger side seat is electric and doesn’t have available bolts to fit a gooseneck mount.
Considering the above, and the myriad of woodworking tools in my Dad’s shed, I figured, “Why not make one?”
So, using a few small off-cuts of Rimu (NZ native timber) I have constructed a mount for my Ipaq that (I think) looks classy and has the added benefit of matching the wood trim on my BMW. :D
Here’s how I went about it:
First I took a 10mm thick sheet of Rimu and cut it approximately to the size of the Ipaq in its Sena case. I then measured the approximate height of the Ipaq and ran the sides and bottom piece through the table saw, being careful not to slice my fingers doing such a fiddly job. Then I sanded the pieces and screwed and glued them together.
http://www.scottcarpenter.com/mount1.JPG
Fig. 1. The PDA holder part of the mount.
Next I had to design a way to fix the mount to the car. There were a couple of holes in the carpet used to fix the floor mats to the floor, but these didn’t seem to fit any of the bolts and screws I had to hand. Being a BMW, there is a not a visibly screw anywhere in the dashboard area – good aesthetically but a problem for mounting a PDA. However, I noted that although the centre console trim was tight to the carpet, with a bit of force I could move it and there was a bit of room in behind. That got me thinking, and this is what I came up with – the metal adds some spring to hold the batten hard against the inside trim and the batten adds friction.
http://www.scottcarpenter.com/mount_stem.JPG
Fig 2. The Stem.
All that remained was a couple of coats of Danish oil and fitting the mount in the BMW.
http://www.scottcarpenter.com/mount_pass.JPG
Fig 3. The finished article in place.
http://www.scottcarpenter.com/mount_driver.JPG
Fig 4. Driver’s Eye-view.
With a Belkin Tunecast added to the package, presto, I have sounds! I still have to fix the Tunecast to the mount, but it think I might just fix it in behind with a couple of pieces of Velcro, which will enable easy removal to change the station and batteries, as well as keeping it hidden from the casual observer.
On looking out for one on the web, I encountered an immediate problem:
There is not one PDA mount available new in New Zealand, where I live.
Turning to eBay, I had some issues with the mounts on offer:
I don’t like the idea of my Ipaq hanging from the windscreen
I don’t want to drill a hole in my dashboard
I like cold air, which rules out a vent mount
My passenger side seat is electric and doesn’t have available bolts to fit a gooseneck mount.
Considering the above, and the myriad of woodworking tools in my Dad’s shed, I figured, “Why not make one?”
So, using a few small off-cuts of Rimu (NZ native timber) I have constructed a mount for my Ipaq that (I think) looks classy and has the added benefit of matching the wood trim on my BMW. :D
Here’s how I went about it:
First I took a 10mm thick sheet of Rimu and cut it approximately to the size of the Ipaq in its Sena case. I then measured the approximate height of the Ipaq and ran the sides and bottom piece through the table saw, being careful not to slice my fingers doing such a fiddly job. Then I sanded the pieces and screwed and glued them together.
http://www.scottcarpenter.com/mount1.JPG
Fig. 1. The PDA holder part of the mount.
Next I had to design a way to fix the mount to the car. There were a couple of holes in the carpet used to fix the floor mats to the floor, but these didn’t seem to fit any of the bolts and screws I had to hand. Being a BMW, there is a not a visibly screw anywhere in the dashboard area – good aesthetically but a problem for mounting a PDA. However, I noted that although the centre console trim was tight to the carpet, with a bit of force I could move it and there was a bit of room in behind. That got me thinking, and this is what I came up with – the metal adds some spring to hold the batten hard against the inside trim and the batten adds friction.
http://www.scottcarpenter.com/mount_stem.JPG
Fig 2. The Stem.
All that remained was a couple of coats of Danish oil and fitting the mount in the BMW.
http://www.scottcarpenter.com/mount_pass.JPG
Fig 3. The finished article in place.
http://www.scottcarpenter.com/mount_driver.JPG
Fig 4. Driver’s Eye-view.
With a Belkin Tunecast added to the package, presto, I have sounds! I still have to fix the Tunecast to the mount, but it think I might just fix it in behind with a couple of pieces of Velcro, which will enable easy removal to change the station and batteries, as well as keeping it hidden from the casual observer.