Reuse of s/h case?

[bugbear]

I recently bought 3 old PC video converter boxes.

Cheap. 50 pence each. Way cheap.

They're a basic extruded Alu case, with 2 runners for PCBs (ringed in the photo). To fix the PCB front and back, it is fixed to one panel by the VGA socket (which is solder to the PCB, of course), and to the other panel by screws into a "tag" soldered to the board (ringed, next to the green "power in" socket).

The case's external dimensions are:
111 front to back
133 width
46 height

The PCB is 111 x 129; EDIT; hmm, that's very close to 4 3/8" x 5"

So - are these any (convenient) use as either Raspberry Pi cases or PSU cases?

For PSU/regulator/smoother circuits, I can't see a way to mount heat sinks, since the PCB slides in; and for Pi use, the box is a good Faraday cage.

All advice and recommendations (including chuck 'em) gladly listened to.

BugBear

 

[Andersonix]

For PSU/regulator/smoother circuits, I can't see a way to mount heat sinks, since the PCB slides in;

Use the extruded case itself as the heatsink?

 

[bugbear]

Use the extruded case itself as the heatsink?

Yes - but to do that I have to fix the power components to the case, but the PCB is a slide mount. Any tips?

BugBear

 

[DaveG]

They won't be perfect for every project but I see them as nice cases. I have a meter in a similar case with the slide in card with wires running to the end panels long enough so they can be turned and pushed through the extrusion and then mounted.
You could also mount a slightly smaller board directly to the bottom on stand offs.

 

[PRR]

> the PCB is a slide mount.

The case can take a slide PCB.

Doesn't have to. Make your PCB a few mm narrower, let it set inside on power-part legs or stand-offs.

It's your project. Make the parts do what works for you.