the $5 amp enclosure

theChris · 10th June 2004, 08:55 PM

i think i've found it! the cheapest way to get an enclosure for a gainclone project. cheap and it looks pretty easy too!

what is it? a mailbox. at least in the US, there are "rural" mailboxes made from metal. they are meant to be mounted on wood.

this looks like they have the following advantages:
1.) big and roomy.
2.) metal for sheilding/grounding.
3.) an access panel (the door to the mailbox!)
4.) wood can be attached to the bottom, allowing heavier transformers to be secured to the enclosure.
5.) it is metal, so it is somewhat fire resistant.
6.) it's kinda thin metal, so holes can be easily made for adding RCA jacks.
7.) not an unattractive shape and not as boring as rectangular enclosures.

at my local lowes they cost $4.87 USD each.

for some projects i guess you could use it as a heatsink -- it has plenty of area -- but i don't think i'd reccomend that, it is a little thin and isn't aluminum!

cliffhiker · 10th June 2004, 09:44 PM

Chris,

I think you may be on to something re: inexpensive .......

however..... I'm afraid no amount of ornamentation could hide the ........ uh... um.... ...... utilitarian appearance of a rural mailbox.

Cliff

mateo88 · 10th June 2004, 09:47 PM

Good idea!

That's a nice suggestion for people like me who have no money to spend on those fancy 50-100 dollar enclosures. Nice thinking!

Christer · 11th June 2004, 12:35 AM

You can also find some cheap metal boxes with lids at IKEA,
at least here in Sweden. I recently used one of these for
a lab PSU. Sometimes you have to buy a set of two or three
boxes, but they always come in handy for one thing or another.
The mailbox solutions sounde more fun though.

tool49 · 11th June 2004, 01:25 AM

Here they have those nice duck shaped mailbox, I must just make an amp out of one! Ok, they're a bit more expensive at $15US but its a nice idea!

Sébastien

netgeek · 11th June 2004, 03:19 AM

Can you post a picture - and is there better cooling with the flag raised/extended ???

soundNERD · 11th June 2004, 12:45 PM

hmm, but what if a mailman finds it? may think its a bomb...

netgeek, maybe the flag can be the on/off switch too...

chris ma · 11th June 2004, 03:10 PM

One of my idea for GC case was to use a relative large metal Transformer figuare using the power supply as base for these nice figuares to stand on. Or even a nice Bat mobile

Keep checking the sidewalk sales..
Chris

Kofi Annan · 11th June 2004, 03:29 PM

How about a breadbox? Cheap and readily available at Salvation Army / Ebay / garage sales WORLDWIDE!

Kofi

Sherman · 11th June 2004, 03:56 PM

I like cigar boxes!

10th June 2004, 08:55 PM	#1
theChris diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: SIUE, Illinois, USA	the $5 amp enclosure i think i've found it! the cheapest way to get an enclosure for a gainclone project. cheap and it looks pretty easy too! what is it? a mailbox. at least in the US, there are "rural" mailboxes made from metal. they are meant to be mounted on wood. this looks like they have the following advantages: 1.) big and roomy. 2.) metal for sheilding/grounding. 3.) an access panel (the door to the mailbox!) 4.) wood can be attached to the bottom, allowing heavier transformers to be secured to the enclosure. 5.) it is metal, so it is somewhat fire resistant. 6.) it's kinda thin metal, so holes can be easily made for adding RCA jacks. 7.) not an unattractive shape and not as boring as rectangular enclosures. at my local lowes they cost $4.87 USD each. for some projects i guess you could use it as a heatsink -- it has plenty of area -- but i don't think i'd reccomend that, it is a little thin and isn't aluminum! __________________ if only it could be used for good, not evil...

11th June 2004, 12:45 PM	#7
soundNERD diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Illinois	Re: the $5 amp enclosure hmm, but what if a mailman finds it? may think its a bomb... netgeek, maybe the flag can be the on/off switch too...

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10th June 2004, 09:44 PM	#2
cliffhiker diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Virginia	Chris, I think you may be on to something re: inexpensive ....... however..... I'm afraid no amount of ornamentation could hide the ........ uh... um.... ...... utilitarian appearance of a rural mailbox. Cliff

10th June 2004, 09:47 PM	#3
mateo88 diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Argyle, Texas	Good idea! That's a nice suggestion for people like me who have no money to spend on those fancy 50-100 dollar enclosures. Nice thinking!

11th June 2004, 12:35 AM	#4
Christer diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Sweden	You can also find some cheap metal boxes with lids at IKEA, at least here in Sweden. I recently used one of these for a lab PSU. Sometimes you have to buy a set of two or three boxes, but they always come in handy for one thing or another. The mailbox solutions sounde more fun though.

11th June 2004, 01:25 AM	#5
tool49 diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Montreal	Here they have those nice duck shaped mailbox, I must just make an amp out of one! Ok, they're a bit more expensive at $15US but its a nice idea! Sébastien

11th June 2004, 03:19 AM	#6
netgeek diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: East Coast USA	Can you post a picture - and is there better cooling with the flag raised/extended ???

11th June 2004, 03:10 PM	#8
chris ma diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Pickering, Canada	One of my idea for GC case was to use a relative large metal Transformer figuare using the power supply as base for these nice figuares to stand on. Or even a nice Bat mobile Keep checking the sidewalk sales.. Chris

11th June 2004, 03:29 PM	#9
Kofi Annan diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: US	How about a breadbox? Cheap and readily available at Salvation Army / Ebay / garage sales WORLDWIDE! Kofi

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