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17" Monitor Case Modding -- The "iMike"

Posted by timothy on from the lots-of-time dept.

greyrax writes "So what does a Canadian cabinet maker who's a closet techie do during those long winter months? You modify a 17" monitor case to house your computer (think iMac). The blow-by-blow descriptions and pictures outline this three-month project. The only question that I'm left with is 'What is that antenna for?'"

12 of 381 comments (clear)

  1. Completed pictures by cascino · · Score: 4, Informative

    Completed pictures here.
    Also, does anyone else think the green paint looks hideous? IMHO, he would've been much better keeping the factory grey.

  2. The antenna by macemoneta · · Score: 4, Informative

    Looks like an 802.11b/g/a wireless unit is in the box too.

    --

    Can You Say Linux? I Knew That You Could.

    1. Re:The antenna by fractalrock · · Score: 4, Informative

      I can see in one of the pics on the last page...it's a Linksys WET11 802.11b wireless adapter that he used.

    2. Re:The antenna by Chunky-Spinach · · Score: 5, Informative

      Actually, it's for his Hauppauge WinTV card. You can clearly see here

  3. Long winter months? by quantumparadox · · Score: 2, Informative

    Actually in North Van, where this guy lives, not single snowflake fell this winter ... well maybe one or too. But it can hardly be considered a long winter.

    The conversion is very cool and its one of the most involved mod projects I've seen. Definitely going on the "to-do" list.

  4. Mirror by jdoff · · Score: 3, Informative

    http://www.feep.org/mirrors/members.shaw.ca/northv anmike/page1.html

  5. One complaint... by shivianzealot · · Score: 5, Informative

    I've had to explain to people more times than I would like to have had to that opening up a monitor without understanding which parts can hurt you has the potential to hurt you. I'd like to say this is common sense, but it really isn't.

    So PLEASE warn visitors on any monitor modding site you build. Its an extra two seconds and might save someone a trip to the emergency room.

    And manafacturers, how about a sticker warning "DEATH MAY BE IMMENENT IF OPENED," instead of "No user servicable parts?" :)

    --

    Bored with karma, be a fan/freak

    1. Re:One complaint... by adamfranco · · Score: 5, Informative

      For those that "may try this at home" (like the article): which parts can hurt you are those which are plugged in (or any high V capcitors). To be safe stick to the following guidelines:

      1. Unplug it! Keeping a grounding wire connected is cool if you don't want to damage you or sensitive parts, but if the thing isn't plugged in, it can't send 5 amps through you.

      2. Use one hand All of the good (and alive) electricians I know tuck one hand into their pocket/coat while working. This provents current from traveling accross your chest (and heart) on its way to ground. I have one electrician friend who was trapped (hanging from the ceiling by an arm stuck in an electrical conduit) while 220V AC ran from his fingers to his shoulder. He is alive today because current didn't pass through his chest.

      3. Re-Read #1

      --
      "When ideology and theology couple, their offspring are not always bad but they are always blind." -- Bill Moyers
    2. Re:One complaint... by kikta · · Score: 2, Informative

      Or better yet, wait three days for the capacitors to discharge. I get nervous imagining anyone who doesn't have electrical training opening up a monitor on their own. That feeling goes up exponentially thinking about someone trying to discharge the caps without someone there who knows what they're doing to guide them.

      Seriously, for those of you who don't know - this will no shit kill you. Especially if you try to discharge the caps. Be careful & try to find someone who's experienced to teach you.

    3. Re:One complaint... by deranged+unix+nut · · Score: 5, Informative

      4. Discharge the capacitors if you are going to touch anything
      Take an old screwdriver that you don't care about and either use it to short directly across any capacitors. Those things can maintain a charge for months, and that charge can kill you if you aren't careful!

      (Yes, I have done stupid stuff like replacing a contact switch in my microwave, and I am not licensed to do such a thing, but I *STRONGLY* urge anyone to be very careful with high voltages.)

      I have felt 220V AC run from my index finger to my ring finger, luckily both were on the same hand. It only made contact for less than a second, left a 1/8th inch white burn mark on both the entry and exit point, my arm was flailing for several minutes, and my hand was jittering for several hours.

      Even the lower voltages in a phone system, I think the ring tone hits up to 48 volts, can cause a tingling sensation.

      Also, remember that while your skin normally acts as a good insulator, if you are sweating, or it is damp, the resistivity of skin drops to almost nothing and even a very, very small voltage across the heart can kill you.

      If in doubt, ask for help from someone who has some experience with TV or computer monitor repair.

  6. So here's how to deal with that by AllenChristopher · · Score: 2, Informative
    Yes, and thank you, but this is Slashdot. You should never handle liquid nitrogen, build a microwave gun, arc-weld, or do any number of other things unless you know what you're doing.

    Now that we have the internet, we just find out what the hell we're doing. Even for those of us almost too eager to put on our goggles, finding a website doesn't strain patience. For example:

    http://www.repairfaq.org/REPAIR/F_captest.html

  7. High-quality? by gad_zuki! · · Score: 3, Informative

    > It's a high-quality farm implement, and I admire his work ethic, but it's still a farm implement.

    I wouldn't even go that far. At first I was impressed that he got everything stuffed in there and working, but then again he's using NINE (or more) fans. That's just cheating; in a way.

    This is a nick hack, but that's it, a hack. Its a dirty "shove it all in a box" job. I would think a project like the PC in a picture frame would be more deserving of world-wide geek attention.