Batboard

I have been bent over catalogs and surfing the web for a long time today, i give up, maybe someone can suggest a supplier for what i want.

I am looking for a plastic or fiberglass enclosure that is 6" by 6" by 2" deep, with a hinged front cover that is secured with a latch.

I plan on using it as a power distribution box with this:



To power misc. items in the shack as part of my battery backup project. The PCB needs to be standoff mounted if i used a metal enclosure so i was thinking of keeping it simple and safe and using a plastic/fiberglass enclosure and providing a seperate ground buss.

hoffman makes Boxes liek that

Try Grabar or your Local Electrical Supply house

I'll try Graybar. The local guys is why i was looking at catalogs and online, they wanted $65 for a small box like that, i just laughed on my way out.

off the top of my head: http://www.allelectronics.com/

may have something? I didn't have time to look

What about surplus shops?

I'm actually trying to make something like that myself... 4 switched Bosch relays, with a Cat5 UTP cable to the front of the car to low-current switches. If I need any more, I simply add another UTP cable, which takes up barely any space. Plus RJ-45 quick disconnects if required.

I'll take a look in Circuit Specialist, I saw several enclosures there, they may have one close to the dimensions you require.

Jim2121 wrote:off the top of my head: http://www.allelectronics.com/

may have something? I didn't have time to look

It's funny you mention that, they are the place i use for almost all of my odds and ends if they have something in stock.

This PCB with the fuse holders came from them as well! I couldn't find any enclosure on their website or in their catalog that would work.

I want a little extra room because i plan on building in a few other things, some switching and indicators. But i don't want it any deeper than necessary otherwise it's a pain to change fuses if needed.

videonerd wrote:What about surplus shops?

I'm actually trying to make something like that myself... 4 switched Bosch relays, with a Cat5 UTP cable to the front of the car to low-current switches. If I need any more, I simply add another UTP cable, which takes up barely any space. Plus RJ-45 quick disconnects if required.

I've checked a few surplus catalogs and websites. Nothing around here locally though, unfortunately!

I'm perusing the Surplus Sales of Nebraska website right now also. They are kinda like Allelectronics, their inventory changes rapidly.

AEC wrote:I'll take a look in Circuit Specialist, I saw several enclosures there, they may have one close to the dimensions you require.

Is that the Circuit Specialists with the website at http://www.web-tronics.com, they used to be http://www.cir.com but they moved.

on a longshot: http://www.sciplus.com

at least get a free catalog
good luck.

ps: I'll even thro in: http://www.ramseykits.com

I got a free catalog ordered from sciplus.com, looks like they have a lot of interesting stuff.

I didn't see any enclosures in Ramsey's latest catalog or on the website that would work.

Should be a simple enough item to find but i just can't find one that fits my needs and doesn't cost a small fortune.

yep! I typed in google "plastic enclosures for sale" it goes on forever!

and it can get expensive if you want the product
but every now & then:
http://www.electronicsurplus.com/ccc1700-enclosures.htm

good luck......Jim

PS: if you see something ramsey sells with a case --email them or call them & ask them just for the case. they have sold cases in the past.
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that was about 7 years ago

Well, i'm taking a break for now. Maybe this weekend i will spend some more time searching.

Hours of searching and not one darn thing that i like. I found plenty of enclosures with a hinged door and latch that were 6x6, but most of them were 4-8 inches deep. I just don't need one that big. Two inches would be darn near perfect.

The web site location for them is: http://www.circuitspecialists.com

AEC wrote:The web site location for them is: http://www.circuitspecialists.com

Yep, that's the same one. You can get to their page by using http://www.cir.com but then it tells you they have moved to web-tronics.com and the link brings you to the same page as circuitspecialists.com.

what did you end up getting for your project?

Nothing. I was ordering a bunch of other stuff from Waytek anyway so i bought a fuse panel with ground bus. I still have the other one, eventually i will find a use for that.

The problem is that it needs to be insulated, that's why i was thinking of a plastic or fiberglass enclosure.

Scott, you may not want anything this complicated, but why not just build one? Plexiglas and either polystyrene cement ('modeling glue') or PVC cement should give you what you want, and you get the added bonus of being able to make it exactly the dimentions you want it. If you don't want it clear, you can always paint it (or take sandpaper to it untill it's so scratched you can't see through it ).

I was thinking about making one, and i probably will if i decide to make use of that fuse panel in the future. For right now i got the other one i bought in use.

Mouser has one that might work for you, go on http://www.mouser.com and search for 563-nbb-10240

It's a NEMA enclosure, inside dimensions look like around 5x5x3, ABS plastic, under $20.

That would work, and the price is right. I will have to order one of those the next time i place an order from Mouser.