Sources for parts?

[preiter]

I'm new to the DIY audio scene and I haven't figured out good sources for some of the parts I need (I'm going to be building the 3886 kit from www.chipamp.com). In particular...

A relatively inexpensive chassis. The best I've come up with so far is some from jameco.com. They fit the need and are cheap I suppose, but I'm wondering if there are other good options out there.

A stereo potentiometer. No source on this yet.

Heatsinks

Electronics miscellany. Like those very handy looking terminal strips I see running down the middle of some of the completed amps in the gallery at www.chipamp.com.

[jerishi]

lots of choices for chassis... try local goodwill/ salvation army... then try looking at various ways of implementing ideas within (chosen) design ideas. It's the details that'll cause one to keep trying to get it 'perfect'... and then you're stuck. Good Luck.

[davidlzimmer]

http://www.circuitspecialists.com/prod.itml/icOid/3521

This place has several options for nice low priced enclosers. But try to order as much as possible at any one time to compensate for the shipping. They stick you on the shipping.

[SRMcGee]

Preiter:

Alltronics has some decent enclosures -- I used one of these for my Foreplay: http://www.alltronics.com/cgi-bin/ca...20A&type=store

Regards,
Scott

[widman]

Electronic Goldmine has a nice assortment of dual-gang pots for $2.00.

Stereo Pots

widman

[jackinnj]

Originally posted by jerishi
lots of choices for chassis... try local goodwill/ salvation army... then try looking at various ways of implementing ideas within (chosen) design ideas. It's the details that'll cause one to keep trying to get it 'perfect'... and then you're stuck. Good Luck.

While the Goodwill and SA get picked over by the tube (vacuum state) guys, you can pick up a used CD player for a couple of bucks -- just discard all the innards -- keep the power connector, etc. CD Players, like the Denons, were pretty well put together (mechanically).

you can use a small piece of Formica laminate for the front panel --this is easy to drill -- mount over the existing front panel with contact adhesive. For an amplifier you only need "ON" and "OFF" control.

My dual LM4780 120 watt bridged amp is housed in a very nice Lambda rack-mount power supply cabinet -- it was around $10

[testlab]

I have some blank, Penn Fabrication, knocked down chassis. The were advertised here about 5-6 months ago. I also have a couple of nice Noble 10K duals.

[preiter]

You have given me some good ideas. Thanks!

[davidlzimmer]

preiter,

If you don't mind, I'd like to keep this thread going for awhile.

Can anyone tell me the best way to mount chip amps with the exposed case? And where to get the pads or material? I really don't want a "hot" heatsink.

Thanks,
David

[Bazukaz]

Hi ,
If you don't want hot heat sink , you must use a very large one or fans.
70 degrees celsius is quite hot to touch(still it is possible to hold fingers on it) , but is no problem at all for ICs.
If you want good thermal conductivity , mica can be used as insulator.But you will have to split it with a sharp knife to make thermal resistance smaller.For sure , thermal paste is required with it.
I think that best mounting technique is something similar to shown in picture ; it would provide more uniform force than standard bolt.Also , there is no risk of break-down between insulator and heat sink where bolt goes , if a small metal dust gets in there.

Hope this helps,
Lukas.