I've been tweaking on several designs/topologies of headphone amps over the last year or so, and now it's time to put the four winners into enclosures. I have something appropriate on hand for one of them, looks like I'll have to buy the others.
With the Covid shutdown, I figgered it's not a good time to order direct from China. I found these on Amazon, not crazy about the color, and I'd prefer the long dimension to be the depth, but one of them is good size-wise.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08BS39P69/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
What project boxes have you found that you like?
With the Covid shutdown, I figgered it's not a good time to order direct from China. I found these on Amazon, not crazy about the color, and I'd prefer the long dimension to be the depth, but one of them is good size-wise.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08BS39P69/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
What project boxes have you found that you like?
I use Hammond boxes like the 1441 series...
https://www.hammfg.com/electronics/small-case/chassis/1441
https://www.hammfg.com/electronics/small-case/chassis/1441
I think almost identical. I have used the YaeCCC boxes like this https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07SW4RQBQ/ Worked well, fairly sturdy. It is a nice box as you can remove the bottom, front or back separately. The frame is this white soft plastic with steel runners between the front/back.
Recycled extruded aluminum (or pot metal) cases from industrial equipment or old modems. And I've built one thing in what was once the steel cover of a automotive voltage regulator from the 1950s. Bead-blasting, varnish and a wooden base turned it from an inner-fender black box into something reasonably presentable.
Ham radio swap meets can be a good place to buy cases that someone else has hoarded waiting for the right project to come along, or old projects and equipment to salvage.
Ham radio swap meets can be a good place to buy cases that someone else has hoarded waiting for the right project to come along, or old projects and equipment to salvage.
I looked at the Hammonds but in order to get 4" height you have to buy 17" wide.
Thanks for the report on the YaeCCC, they look identical to Zulkit boxes.
Yeah, I like the old modem boxes. Wish I had more of a size selection on hand. No swap meets around here, unfortunately.
Thanks for the report on the YaeCCC, they look identical to Zulkit boxes.
Yeah, I like the old modem boxes. Wish I had more of a size selection on hand. No swap meets around here, unfortunately.
My projects get AM sports talk radio or driveby police/fire/CB radio interference if they are not in grounded metal boxes.
I've been using steel file boxes from the seventies. Not made anymore but available at charity resale shops. Index card size good for 3-10 IC's, 8 1/2"x11"x6" useful for power amps. Heat sink goes through a square hole in the back.
I also have a supply of SS boxes from Semi brand VFD motor drives, a definite boat anchor sold in Heat & Control fastback conveyors. After 3 years the factory had to buy new drives, which came in a replacement SS box. Handy 3 phase disconnect/lockout switch on the front. Three 3/4" conduit entries on the back. 5"x8"x1" heat sink on the back. If you live near a food plant, make a connection with a maintenance or cleaning crew employee who will dumpster dive for you. Reuse Recycle Repurpose.
I've been using steel file boxes from the seventies. Not made anymore but available at charity resale shops. Index card size good for 3-10 IC's, 8 1/2"x11"x6" useful for power amps. Heat sink goes through a square hole in the back.
I also have a supply of SS boxes from Semi brand VFD motor drives, a definite boat anchor sold in Heat & Control fastback conveyors. After 3 years the factory had to buy new drives, which came in a replacement SS box. Handy 3 phase disconnect/lockout switch on the front. Three 3/4" conduit entries on the back. 5"x8"x1" heat sink on the back. If you live near a food plant, make a connection with a maintenance or cleaning crew employee who will dumpster dive for you. Reuse Recycle Repurpose.