So I am looking into chassis materials for a project and my interest in repurposed materials has me wondering what abundant products can be repurposed into enclosures etc. Some members have used RC car heatsinks in amps and others use cigar boxes to house amps... I used a poop shaped tin to house a line level crossover. What are you employing? Or what's on your wish list? Computer cases always interested me as being useful, and have to admit a desire to find a G5 Mac computer case to repurpose. Anyone tried these?
Attachments
I do organ generator preamp power supplies in a PCAT power supply case. Comes with an IEC socket, an on-off switch, and the toriod RF filter, MOS spike supressor.
I do amps in Stainless Steel motor drive boxes from food machines. They have a 6x10x1.5 ribbed heat sink on the back. They have an on-off switch, and three conduit holes in the back.
Up to now, I've sawed up PC computer cases to make mount strips for load resistors (5 ohms x 225 watts) for amp testing. I bend up tabs on the end and insert them in the logs. This keeps the resistor from burning the coffee table I use for amp repair.
I have also cut the fan grill out to put over salvage PCAT fans on an amp that needs cooling to not melt the solder. I have two fans like mouse ears around an existing amp (ST120) that had a heat sink that just barely met the FCC spec for the rated watts.
Even plastic cased motor VF motor drives have nice aluminum heat sinks. Also nice industrial quality 470 uf 400 WVDC electrolytic caps. All except the CDE flat pack caps in the SS motor drive cases discussed above. Those semi brand motor drives were known for the caps leaking out the fluid and blowing the fuse at three to four years life. Siemens AllenBradley motor drives and TB Woods motor drives have caps in them that are high temperature resistant and run 10-12 years if cleaning water doesn't kill them by leaking in and blowing the SCR's.
The MOS surge surpressors in VF motor drives I have been installing on the input of all the old amps I have bought. Tube (valve) organs are lightning resistant, but transistor amps are not. The ones out of motor drives are 500 v rated, but they have a huge energy capacity, and are probably much more likely to supress a lightning strike at below the wire resistance (600 v) than the "150 VAC" 7 mm surge supressors found in consumer equipment. The joule rating of industrial supressors are much higher.
I do amps in Stainless Steel motor drive boxes from food machines. They have a 6x10x1.5 ribbed heat sink on the back. They have an on-off switch, and three conduit holes in the back.
Up to now, I've sawed up PC computer cases to make mount strips for load resistors (5 ohms x 225 watts) for amp testing. I bend up tabs on the end and insert them in the logs. This keeps the resistor from burning the coffee table I use for amp repair.
I have also cut the fan grill out to put over salvage PCAT fans on an amp that needs cooling to not melt the solder. I have two fans like mouse ears around an existing amp (ST120) that had a heat sink that just barely met the FCC spec for the rated watts.
Even plastic cased motor VF motor drives have nice aluminum heat sinks. Also nice industrial quality 470 uf 400 WVDC electrolytic caps. All except the CDE flat pack caps in the SS motor drive cases discussed above. Those semi brand motor drives were known for the caps leaking out the fluid and blowing the fuse at three to four years life. Siemens AllenBradley motor drives and TB Woods motor drives have caps in them that are high temperature resistant and run 10-12 years if cleaning water doesn't kill them by leaking in and blowing the SCR's.
The MOS surge surpressors in VF motor drives I have been installing on the input of all the old amps I have bought. Tube (valve) organs are lightning resistant, but transistor amps are not. The ones out of motor drives are 500 v rated, but they have a huge energy capacity, and are probably much more likely to supress a lightning strike at below the wire resistance (600 v) than the "150 VAC" 7 mm surge supressors found in consumer equipment. The joule rating of industrial supressors are much higher.
Last edited:
A friend saved me an extruded housing for a control module from a small excavator. It has places for self-tapping mounting screws to attach end covers, and grooves for mounting a PC board. There's a ridge on the top that needs to go, and flanges which would be useful for mounting in an autosound situation, but would otherwise get in the way.
I've considered reusing the 19" 1U rack cases from obsolete ethernet hubs or other IT hardware. You might be able to find those cheap at computer recyclers.
The extruded aluminum cases from old analog modems could be useful, but I haven't seen one of those in a long time.
Computer UPS cases might work for monoblock power amps. They're built to handle the weight of a transformer and battery.
Obsolete car audio tech like CD changer housings, or underdash 8-track players could be useful for mounting car computers.
I've considered reusing the 19" 1U rack cases from obsolete ethernet hubs or other IT hardware. You might be able to find those cheap at computer recyclers.
The extruded aluminum cases from old analog modems could be useful, but I haven't seen one of those in a long time.
Computer UPS cases might work for monoblock power amps. They're built to handle the weight of a transformer and battery.
Obsolete car audio tech like CD changer housings, or underdash 8-track players could be useful for mounting car computers.
My early years of DIY! I've still in mind how a 2W amp + head amp on a 2 X 4"
PCB made my 3 way Infinity sing! I had adapted my Aiwa walkman mechanic
YES ! The autoreverse switch definitively switched the 2 of 4 coils in the head - while inverting motor rotation verse.
Long live analog 😀😛
UPVC window ledges are good for out door circuits as they do not fade in the sun. The housing for a cat dig up stopper for seedling beds was built this way and has lasted.
A soda bottle was used for a later version of this unit and both are working very well.
A soda bottle was used for a later version of this unit and both are working very well.
The topic runs the gamut from Altoids tins to military surplus ammo boxes. I just save whatever I come across that has DIY repurposing potential.
Old cable/satellite TV settop boxes seem to be fairly easy to obtain and would make a good preamp or smaller power amp enclosure.
Cassette decks could be gutted and a new faceplate added for larger amps.
I'm not an Apple guy, but PC cases always seemed to need too much metalwork modification to make them practical to me.
Old cable/satellite TV settop boxes seem to be fairly easy to obtain and would make a good preamp or smaller power amp enclosure.
Cassette decks could be gutted and a new faceplate added for larger amps.
I'm not an Apple guy, but PC cases always seemed to need too much metalwork modification to make them practical to me.
I was thinking of doing a similar project with a car audio amplifier board I snagged off of ebay. I've considered using a computer case, ammo can, metal tool box etc but can't quite iron out all the problems associated with the transistor cooling and support.
An X-box 360 chassis has given up a fair few brackets for a number of small jobs. They are crimped into shape and the angle bits are already formed. Just cut round the bit you want and use it.
The ammo box I have got handy is very heavy and once had 50mm shells in it. It is like a large steel suit case. It would not be any good for anything that has to move on a regular basis as it is far too heavy to go any ware in a hurry.
The ammo box I have got handy is very heavy and once had 50mm shells in it. It is like a large steel suit case. It would not be any good for anything that has to move on a regular basis as it is far too heavy to go any ware in a hurry.
Attachments
I have two G5 cases I plan on using as mono blocks. I got them a used electronics and recycling store between 30 and 40 bucks. You can basically gut them and have the lid still lock which is a plus. I also like the option of laying them on there sides which they look really cool🙂
I like to cruise the shelves at the Michigan State University surplus yard. Not only can you find useful test equipment and other things, but I like to buy old fairly useless test equipment or even just control boxes for things - and then repurpose the item. I am building a small Champ-like guitar amp into an old ph bridge from a chemistry lab. Mighty pieces of lab gear may have nifty looking control panels full of knobs and indicators. Turning one into a distortion box is fun. And i can leave the control labels as they are. Old Polygraph machines are FULL of modules and controls. And CHEAP.
I bet a local college or university where you are has a similar disposal facility. They sell me an old Eico or Heathkit VTVM for $15, and that is $15 they woulodn;t have if they tossed it into the land fill. And nice office chairs for $5.
I bet a local college or university where you are has a similar disposal facility. They sell me an old Eico or Heathkit VTVM for $15, and that is $15 they woulodn;t have if they tossed it into the land fill. And nice office chairs for $5.
I keep trying to get organforum newbies to buy a VTVM and trace AC signals through their circuit, but they insist on buying a new set of tubes from e-bay. else a whole new expired capacitor organ. The DVM's I own, don't read accurately on music.
I went to the wrong college. I met my best friend from the college years there behind the chemistry building, dumpster diving for electronics and other surplus. A pair of 24" channel-lock pliers helps eliminate stained clothes.
My best finds were at a snack food factory in the tip before they hauled it out to the haulaway dumpster, but now that I don't work, I'm not allowed access to any factory. Lots of stainless steel enclosure surplus is there. I salvaged a green LED from a dead VF motor drive Sunday, 6 days before the new ones are due from Mouser, but it was too internally corroded by lye wash to work. Lots of 600 PSI lye squirted around in a food plant. That is how the electronics and electric panels end up in the tip.
I went to the wrong college. I met my best friend from the college years there behind the chemistry building, dumpster diving for electronics and other surplus. A pair of 24" channel-lock pliers helps eliminate stained clothes.
My best finds were at a snack food factory in the tip before they hauled it out to the haulaway dumpster, but now that I don't work, I'm not allowed access to any factory. Lots of stainless steel enclosure surplus is there. I salvaged a green LED from a dead VF motor drive Sunday, 6 days before the new ones are due from Mouser, but it was too internally corroded by lye wash to work. Lots of 600 PSI lye squirted around in a food plant. That is how the electronics and electric panels end up in the tip.
- Status
- Not open for further replies.