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• #2
Which country are you in?
I recently discovered electrical 'Junction Boxes':
- 65x65 http://www.screwfix.com/p/4-entry-junction-box-with-knockouts-grey-65-x-65-x-45mm/63295
- 88x88 http://www.screwfix.com/p/7-entry-junction-box-with-knockouts-grey-88-x-88-x-53mm/30356
They're cheap, nice-looking, mountable, and relatively waterproof. The fronts also just ping off if you need to get access to the innards (but you could probably screw into the side with a strange-headed screw like a pentalobe/torx if you wanted to stop people getting in)
For the sensors it might be worth making a rain shield to go over the top and protect them - I guess either 3D printed or just bent metal. You might also find that you can use the cloth they use on speaker fronts to help to protect the sensors a bit.
Otherwise companies like Farnell/RS/Rapid Electronics have a very good selection of tough boxes, but you usually end up paying a lot for them :)
- 65x65 http://www.screwfix.com/p/4-entry-junction-box-with-knockouts-grey-65-x-65-x-45mm/63295
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• #3
In Australia, looks like we have a decent selection at our chain hardware store
http://www.bunnings.com.au/our-range/lighting-electrical/electrical/powerpoints-light-switches-accessories/junction-boxes -
• #4
Great - I'm surprised more people don't use them for electronics projects really... I'm starting to find loads of interesting stuff at DIY shops that can be repurposed :)
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• #5
Thanks for the tip. Here in Canada we can find also find junction boxes at Home Depot: http://www.homedepot.ca/product/pvc-junction-box-150-4x4x4-in/954512. They are not really cheap but the quality seems pretty good and they should be waterproof.
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• #6
@pdominique, thanks for the - oh! so convenient - 'americanization'...
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• #7
Here is a good tutorial on what to do once you procure a box from the hardware store:
http://www.instructables.com/id/Building-an-Electronics-Enclosure/ -
• #8
@Rek thanks for the tutorial, seems really useful.
I found cheaper and smaller junction boxes on Amazon that might be a perfect fit for a project with the Pico: http://www.amazon.ca/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=junction%20box
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• #9
Wow, 55x35x15 - looks perfect! http://www.amazon.ca/Waterproof-Plastic-Electric-Junction-55x35x15mm/dp/B00O9Y5RK6/ref=sr_1_3/186-3291097-9330621?ie=UTF8&qid=1432918774&sr=8-3&keywords=junction+box
I'm unconvinced by the 'waterproof' claim though!
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• #10
I thought I posted here already...
Just search Amazon or eBay for "project box", and you'll get tons of results for normal project boxes that don't look as crappy as using electrical junction boxes, and are available in smaller sizes
Of course, those are just for scrubs like us who don't have 3d printers to print up custom boxes (though some effort would be needed to waterproof one acceptably, for OP's project).
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• #11
An enclosure like this should have an IP rating. IP66 "Powerful water jets" is good enough
http://www.dsmt.com/resources/ip-rating-chart
I use Fibox You can get internationally from Farnell/Element 13/newark This has a clear cover
http://uk.farnell.com/jsp/search/productdetail.jsp?CMP=i-ddd7-00001003&sku=2473462To get fully water proof you will have to Pot the electronics and leads.
Hi all,
Thanks to the helpful people on this forum I am now at the stage that I am looking on building a finished product from my project.
I will need to have some sturdy casing for my gadgets, one for the main unit and three to house my sensors (HC-SR04), the sensors will need to have pluggable 4 core, 1.5 meter cables and will need to have a face that does not shield the sensors but (somewhat) hides them from view and protects them from the elements (I am hoping a thin mesh material will do the job).
I will also need to be able to secure the cases by bolting them to something as this will be in a public area.
Being my first project, I have no idea where to look for casing, so I thought I would ask the community, is there a good site to get generic plastic cases from, or do people usually make their own cases?