3/21/2023 0 Comments Digial photoframe![]() Stand back and enjoy! -Other Things You Can Do- Since this guy is just a mini-pc hanging on the wall you could also set it up to: -display daily weather reports -daily stock info -add an infrared sensor and remote control software to control it -add wireless mouse and keyboard to surf the net -display tv listings -add some speakers (or connect it to your stereo) for a wall mounted juke box The list goes on and on. Make sure you know where you want the board to be before you peel off the paper from the backs of the zip tie mounts( those little things are sticky!) Connect the hard drive cable, power cables, LAN and LCD signal cable. Mount the motherboard ( makes sure the bottom of the board isn't touching anything metal!) I drilled holes through the middle of the sticky-backed zip tie mounts, and ran a screw up through the bottom (the sticky side) I then put the screws through the motherboard mount holes, and tightened them up with some nylock nuts. Mount the hard drive using the sticky-backed zip tie mounts, and zip ties. You will need a 2 pin female square connector on the other end, (steal one from and old computer) Dont mount the hard drive yet if you are going to install the OS and software outside of the picture frame, like I did. (also from the electronics store) This will be used to start the system, and will be connected to the "start" pins of the motherboard. Don't do it this way (lawsuit averted!) -Start Button: Drill a hole in the top of the wooden frame, near the back, and mount a momentary normaly open push button. ( This is so all the components will be run off of one power cord.) ***Super Heavy Danger Alert*** If you dont know how to hook up AC power, have someone that does, do it for you! Also, Im quit sure that my junction box is ummm. In the one remaining hole, I ran one end of an extension cord that I cut in half, and merreted all the wires together. ![]() ![]() I drilled 3 holes in it, and then cut the 3 prong ends off of the power supplies and ran them into the junction box. Junction Box: I used a metal project box from the local electronics store as the junction box. Mount the Power Supplies: I used a combination of double sided sticky velcro tape, plastic wire ties, and wire tie mounts ( you know the ones with the sticky tape on the back) Try to mount the power supplies closer to the top of the picture frame, as they will generate some heat. I used a fanless Mini ITX motherboard that I purchased from Logic Supply as well as a power supply board and plug in, also a Hard Drive Converter is needed to allow a 2.5 laptop hard drive to be connected to the motherboards IDE I used an old 20 Gig laptop hard drive that I had laying around. Take your time and make sure that the LCD is square and true (look at the front.not the back!) and then tighten down all the screws. To attach the brackets to the LCD, I used the screws and holes that originally held the LCD's plastic back piece on, and then used wood screws to attach the brackets to the picture frame. Mounting the LCD- I had some tin lying around, which I used to fabricate the mounting brackets (using a Dremel Rotary Tool). You will have to measure the dimensions of the LCD's Viewable area and get them to cut the matting of the picture frame so that only the LCD's screen is visible. It's a "shadow box" style frame without a back and has hanging brackets added. ![]() (I would guess that this would void the warranty of a new LCD) -The Frame- I had the wooden picture frame made at a local framing shop. To prep the monitor for mounting you will need to remove the bottom mount, and the plastic back cover. This is so that, when mounted to the wood picture frame, the buttons wont be pressed against the back of the glass IMPORTANT: Make sure the monitor has a flat frame on its front side This is so that it will sit flush when mounted up against the glass of the wooden picture frame. IMPORTANT: Make sure the monitor you use has NO buttons on the front of it. The Monitor- As I said in the intro, I just happened to have a 15 inch LCD monitor I wasn't using, that was perfect for this project, laying around. ![]()
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