Bought an aluminum amp case - what's the proper way to install parts?

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Pygmy

Member
Joined 2016
#1
So this is my first time piecing together 2 amp blocks; one block for each speaker. Each block will contain an SMPS and Class D amp.

Today I received my parts - yay, christmas came early! 🙂

My question - what's the proper way to mount individual parts / boards inside the aluminum amp cases?
I mean, I have an SMPS board and an amplifier board, but I can't just glue them to the bottom of the aluminum case 🙂

I could use stick-on plastic stand-offs but I have a feeling that that's not the correct way to go about it..
What's the correct and safe way to install?
 
#4
You won't find an easy short cut here. Nuts and bolts and brackets (and threaded stand offs) exist and are used for good reason.

Glue and suchlike has its place, but not in hobbyist assembly of mains powered equipment.

You need to be able to look inside the equipment and be completely convinced that nothing can come loose and horn I g that does come loose could credibly come into contact with the mains power.

Drill the case to either directly attach the SMPS (if they can bolt straight down) and to install appropriate stand offs for the modules.

Get your protective earth well connected to the case.
 
#7
I found it helpful when laying out where the holes for the standoffs go, to use a pattern and carefully mark the panel, double and triple checking everything before any drilling.

Use a metal punch or the tip of a thread tap to create a small impression to start the drill.
Use crimp connects for all the incoming a/c, protective earth.

Hopefully you have an iec socket that has a built in fuse, and maybe a switch as well.
 
#9
googlyone said:
You won't find an easy short cut here. Nuts and bolts and brackets (and threaded stand offs) exist and are used for good reason.

Glue and suchlike has its place, but not in hobbyist assembly of mains powered equipment.

You need to be able to look inside the equipment and be completely convinced that nothing can come loose and horn I g that does come loose could credibly come into contact with the mains power.

Drill the case to either directly attach the SMPS (if they can bolt straight down) and to install appropriate stand offs for the modules.

Get your protective earth well connected to the case.
Click to expand...

Thanks, this was exactly what I was thinking.
I have that bag of sticky plastic standoffs but to me it doesn't feel safe using that.
What's the proper way of connecting protective earth to the case?
 
#10
Can you show us a picture of what you have? That way we can provide better guidance. Standoffs are appropriate if you're mounting circuit boards. But if you're using Class D modules with a built-in aluminum bottom for heat conduction, you need to bolt it directly to the chassis. Consult the manufacturer's data sheet for the appropriate bolt dimensions and drill pattern.

Tom
 
#12
tomchr said:
Can you show us a picture of what you have? That way we can provide better guidance. Standoffs are appropriate if you're mounting circuit boards. But if you're using Class D modules with a built-in aluminum bottom for heat conduction, you need to bolt it directly to the chassis. Consult the manufacturer's data sheet for the appropriate bolt dimensions and drill pattern.

Tom
Click to expand...

The amp board actually did come with metal standoffs:
Sure Electronics AA-AB35281 3x200W Class D Audio Amplifier Board - T-Amp
so I'll probably be using those and drilling into the amp case baseplate.

The Connex SMPS didn't come with standoffs:
SMPS300RS Switching Power Supply Module 300W / 36V - Audiophonics

Isn't there something like a metal board with predrilled holes that I could install my boards on using standoffs, and then install that board with offsets in my case?
That would probably make life easier while wiring stuff up.

Edit: probably not as mounting holes probably do not match up to a standard size uniform grid...
 
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