control housing suggestions?

pybyr · Oct 20, 2010

I'm getting close to final on my control topology for automated control of the boiler/ primary/ storage/ house-

It's going to be several Azel controls and a bunch of DPDT (and maybe one or two 3PDT) relays on one or more sections of DIN rail.

I need to house all this, and the wiring running between those various sub-parts--

I estimate that I'll need something at least 4 inches deep, 10-12 inches tall, and 15+ inches wide.

Enclosures I have looked into so far (metal and plastic electrical enclosures) seem to be composed of the element $pendium.

In case I am overlooking options, does anyone have any suggestions of 'cheap and cheerful' yet basically safe enclosures?

Thanks

kabbott · Oct 20, 2010

I put my relays on DIN rail in an electrical box from home depot, I think it was $20-$30 dollars. It is only about 10x10 though, I believe larger
boxes go up in price rather quickly.Maybe 2 smaller boxes? Can't think of anything really cheap off the top of head.

ewdudley · Oct 20, 2010

pybyr said:
I'm getting close to final on my control topology for automated control of the boiler/ primary/ storage/ house-

It's going to be several Azel controls and a bunch of DPDT (and maybe one or two 3PDT) relays on one or more sections of DIN rail.

I need to house all this, and the wiring running between those various sub-parts--

I estimate that I'll need something at least 4 inches deep, 10-12 inches tall, and 15+ inches wide.

Enclosures I have looked into so far (metal and plastic electrical enclosures) seem to be composed of the element $pendium.

In case I am overlooking options, does anyone have any suggestions of 'cheap and cheerful' yet basically safe enclosures?

I came up with a couple zone relay panels for next to nothing from a guy's moving sale on CraigLook. I used one of them as-is for controlling pumps and zone valve power, and the other I converted to an enclosure by removing the PCB and adding what I needed to remount the relays and get full access to the relay terminals. Mounting them side-by-side I can route between the two by modifying the covers as appropriate.

Cheers --ewd

Nofossil · Oct 21, 2010

The enclosure that I use for the NFCS is 6x10x12 and costs less than $50 - it's a Bud 563-SNB3731.

At the other end of the spectrum, plywood works pretty well. Doesn't have to be metal.....

kabbott · Oct 21, 2010

nofossil said:
The enclosure that I use for the NFCS is 6x10x12 and costs less than $50 - it's a Bud 563-SNB3731.

At the other end of the spectrum, plywood works pretty well. Doesn't have to be metal.....

I was going to suggest something el-cheapo like that (the plywood that is) BUT.... pybyr, with the econoburn, the stainless tank, etc.... I know sometimes you have to
stop the bleeding but just pony up and do it right....... the first time. :shut:

sdrobertson · Oct 21, 2010

Not pretty, but maybe a surplus ammo box?

free75degrees · Oct 21, 2010

I like to use acrylic sheet for projects like that. I takes a bit of work, but that's part of the fun. You can order sheets for pretty cheap from usplastics.com, or probably a bunch of other sites. It's pretty easy to cut, and then you can use solvent cement to make super clean welds to join the pieces. The cool thing is that you can use clear acrylic and then you can see and show off the guts of the project. Here is an enclosure I just finished for a temperature difference switch...

capetom · Oct 21, 2010

I don't know what these guys charge, but they do really nice work (and they're in my hometown)

http://www.protocase.com/

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control housing suggestions?

pybyr

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Nofossil

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