I am an IEC Socket Freak

[bulgin]

Hello All!

I've drilled, powerfiled and cut my mits too often already in fitting these sockets to amps, pre's and powersupplies.

Does anyone know if one of those screw together gadgets exists to make a panel cutout for these sockets?

Thank you & kind regards to all.

bulgin

 

[richie00boy]

I'm pretty sure I've seen them in the RS catalogue. Not cheap but if you do a lot of them I can see the point.

 

[Geek]

Greenlee?

 

[tvi]

I think Deltron make them also

regards
James

 

[SY]

You guys work too hard. I buy molded IEC sockets with a square cutout.

 

[poobah]

Yeah yeah... SY has square drill bits and pomodoro.

Google "nibbler"... good one ~$40-50

 

[Geek]

Yeah, but you can get the funny shaped one for soooooooo much less

 

[EC8010]

I cut mine with a tension file in a hacksaw frame. No problem.

 

[poobah]

tension file in a hacksaw frame

That is manly as hell... Like those Japanese guys with backsaws.

Geek,

Neither of us provided links... that's baiting I believe.

 

[bulgin]

Heheheee!

I like them square drillbits!!! I have a hand nibbler which takes too wee bites. I also have a diamond-coated tension file but parts are in the way if retrofitting these sockets. I'll check out the very expensive RS.

Thanks all!

BTW. This is not really in the spirit of diy but I have a newish 5-amp powersupply which started smelling of burning plastic the other night.

I had a look inside and could only spot a burned resistor. I next measured the output and saw things were way out of spec.

Since it was almost unused and still under guarantee, I took it back to the supplier. Before doing this, I replaced the cover with only two out of the eight selftappers and kept the rest here to prevent them from getting lost at the dealer.

On collecting the repaired item today, I saw the technician did not replace my original screws and he claimed they got lost.

I told him to find me 6 other screws of similar type and after some humming and cussing, got replacements which I noted were longer than the originals.

Well, when I got home, I decided to have a look (before switching the thing on) and saw one of the two screws the 'technician' replaced, was firmly screwed into the mains cable inside....

We live in interesting times. Maybe I should sue for theft of 2 selftappers and attempted murder...

bulgin

 

[poobah]

BAD boy...

 

[Geek]

Hi Poobah,

Geek,

Neither of us provided links... that's baiting I believe.

Too right!

Cheap IEC's
http://www.cascadesurplus.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/28/products_id/53

 

[chrispenycate]

Not only do I have the correct Qmax cutter for IEC sockets (proving that it has at one time existed, even if it's now unfindable) but one for Bulgin mains sockets. Prices for these punches have soared, haven't they?

 

[EC8010]

Prices for these punches have soared, haven't they?

I suspect that's because hardly anybody uses them anymore now that you can buy a DVD player for £25 or a personal CD player for less than a full price CD at your local supermarket. Buy 'em whilst they're still available...

 

[theAnonymous1]

Most of the IEC sockets I have come across require a minimum cutout of 19mm x 27mm. Square sheet metal punches are easy to find, so if you found a 19mm or 3/4" punch you could just punch a square with it then use a file or nibbler to remove another 8mm of material.

I've looked and looked for an IEC punch in the past and had no luck finding one.

I do it the dangerous messy way of using a cut-off disk and a dremel tool. When a cut-off disk explodes at 30,000rpm you better hope your face isn't in the way of the shrapnel.

 

[SY]

1, that's how I do it. A few drilled pilot holes and a cutoff disc. The cheap rectangular IEC sockets have enough of a flange to cover up the less-than-perfect edge.

The Dremel is the single handiest tool for electronics construction that I know.

 

[Geek]

Since I only use aluminum or brass for chassis, I just use my scrollsaw with a 28TPI twist blade and lotsa oil.

Not nearly as much fun as a punch, but it gets the job done

Just remember to bend the chassis *after* making the cut
(more experience)

 

[I_Forgot]

I do it the dangerous messy way of using a cut-off disk and a dremel tool. When a cut-off disk explodes at 30,000rpm you better hope your face isn't in the way of the shrapnel.

The Dremel is the single handiest tool for electronics construction that I know.

I use a dremel, too, and every time I turn it on it scares the hell out of me. I wonder how many emergency room visits can be attributed to dremel tools every year...

I use composite type cut-off wheels. They are built up on a fiberglass disc so they don't shatter and explode like the cheapy all-stone ones that come with the dremel tool. I bought a 5 pack for about $10. It was the best $10 I've spent since I bought the dremel tool.

Cut off wheels are great for cutting bicycle brake and shifter cables and their jackets. I wrap the cable with a piece of tape, then cut the cable mid way through the tape. The tape keeps the cable from fraying while cutting.

I hear that car thieves defeat "the club" type steering wheel locks by using battery operated cutoff saws to saw through the thin steel at the core of the steering wheel rather than the thick steel of the lock...

I_F

 

[EC8010]

Since I only use aluminum or brass for chassis, I just use my scrollsaw with a 28TPI twist blade and lotsa oil.

Methylated spirits (that purple stuff) is much better than oil. I haven't looked back since finding that tip in Deketh.

 

[theAnonymous1]

I use composite type cut-off wheels. They are built up on a fiberglass disc so they don't shatter and explode like the cheapy all-stone ones that come with the dremel tool. I bought a 5 pack for about $10. It was the best $10 I've spent since I bought the dremel tool.

I've tried the reinforced disks but they are much thicker than the regular brittle disks so they have to remove more material which takes longer and makes more dust.

I learned very quickly to keep my face out of a broken disks flight path. I had one explode and take some skin off my cheek right below my eye, another inch up and I hate to think of what would of happened.