small 12 volt remote laptop screen - no hair shirt please

[Gunfleet]

I'd like to try my laptop for navigation (I use it for just planning now) but reckon I'll be better with it tucked away in a drawer, using a bluetooth keyboard and separate screen on the chart table. Any suggestions for the screen? It needs to be under 13 inches and 12 volt of course. Before the hair shirt brigade get going, yes I have a small plotter and paper charts.

 

[shmoo]

Me too if anyone finds one. I've looked around widely and small "slave" screens are really expensive. We now just keep the lap top in the chart table, with l/t open and c/t closed. When l/t needs to be consulted c/t lid is lifted. Half a meter of non-slip on floor of c/t seems enough to keep it still even with enough heel to put the rail in the water.

And, yes we have paper charts for everywhere we sail and plot hourly positions on them when on passage. (That what is on the closed chart table)

 

[LittleShip]

I have a 10" drop down screen which connects to the laptop. It also has a DVD CD player which can be tuned into the radio for sound.

Bought off ebay for less than £200. Search for drop down TFT screens.

Tom Try this

 

[Wunja]

Some of these LCD 'photo frames' can take a video input, which might give some options.

 

[ean_p]

we use a Sony SDM N50 in just such a role though this is a 15'' screen . Now found very cheap on e-bay

 

[Gunfleet]

I wasn't intending to go that big (I's only a 26 ft boat!) but it looks like I may be forced to for price reasons. Does it take a straight 12 volt connection and is there a vesa connector on the back, do you know? I will have to put it on an arm (not mine).
Thanks
Happy Christmas
John

 

[stuey_two]

Try LCD monitors on ebay. For example, Item no 250199796942 is a seconhand 12" IBM monitor going for £44 inc postage. It has an external power supply, so accepts a low DC voltage as power source. DC/DC converters available from Maplin if required but it may well run on 12volts - my Mikuni 15" LCD TV does.

 

[ean_p]

Hi again John
no it doesn't have a Versa mount on the back as it comes with its own stand/mount normaly and as its main claim to fame is its slimness (it's 12mm thick) this is possible as the control electronics are housed in an external seperate box. This is a 240v drop down transformer etc so was simple enough to bypass and feed straight 12v . Will see if I can post a picture later.

 

[ean_p]

Not the clearest of pics but you can get the idea.

 

[Gunfleet]

well, I think we've established your installation is brilliant and mine will be quite a bit scruffier! I'm blaming the extra space on your boat. Seriously, thanks a lot for the gander at that. It gives food for thought, not least how satisfying an installation that's well worked out can be. I think mine is going to end up on the vesa arm come what may - I just don't have the space to build in like that.