Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum
Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: dubstylee on September 10, 2014, 05:24:11 pm
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I have seen pictures of different ways of securing the PSU inside of a cabinet/control panel, and am wondering what you guys think from experience is the best way to go? I already have some L brackets from a previous project, which would be able to hold it in place from sliding around, but that would not hold it down and prevent it from falling if the control panel was turned upside down. This _shouldn't_ in reality be a problem, but I would rather make sure that just in case the CP is flipped upside down, that the power supply doesn't fall and damage any joystick/button microswitches that would be underneath.
One method I have seen is to use straps. What are these types of straps called? Any feedback is greatly appreciated! Finally have all the necessary components, so I am starting to get to work on this control panel project and just want to make sure I'm going about things the right way.
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The strapping you are after is called all-round. I have used it in the past as well as L-brackets screwed directly to the power supply. Just make sure to use short screws.
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It seems like the L brackets might work well. As far as the length, I just want long enough to screw into the metal itself, but not too long that it might accidentally make contact with any of the internal component of the PSU, correct?
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two to four L brackets would do depending on how you have the PSU. long as you are screwing them directly to the PSU and the control panel. you may even be able to screw it to already made holes on the PSU depending on its design.
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All Round secures the component better then L brackets etc which need more holes to hold the item. The All Round goes around the item and holds it securely to whatever you strap it to. Here is a link to a thread re the strapping.
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,71824.msg738816.html#msg738816 (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,71824.msg738816.html#msg738816)
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metal strap does seem to be a lot easier to use. tho I don't see it holding it more securely then l brackets. personally now that I thought of it ill probably just open the PSU up run 4 screws through the top to the wood then reassemble the PSU. that's if I need it to stay upside down. if it is laying normal my PSU happens to have a lil bracket I can use.
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Ah, thanks for the info guys. I think I will go with the plumber's strapping first and see if that does the trick, that way I'm not messing around screwing anything into the power supply. Just took a little looking around to figure out what exactly it was that I was looking for!
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A nice bead of hot glue around the base works great. If you ever need to remove it, you can cut it easily with a box knife. This is how I mount all my board mount power supplies.
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Just a note about the strap...
A lot of people install it wrong in this context. Those All-Rounds can be used in all sorts of ways but in this context, people will make the mistake and use just two screws and drive the screws in. This is hit and miss because you need to have proper tension on the strap for it work right. If your strap is loose, whatever you're holding down is going to wiggle around. And once you drive that screw in, it's hard to move the screw enough to increase the tension. Not what you want.
At a bare minimum, you need three screws, though sometimes I do use four. An "anchor" screw (or two) on one side. Set your item under the strap and lay out enough strap that you can have at least two holes for two screws. Drive your third screw in the farthest hole from the item on the opposite side from the first two screws. The strap should have enough tension that the holes between it and the item can't quite sit flush on the wood but not so much that you can't hope to drive a screw through it without tear out. Then drive your fourth screw through the hole between item and third screw. This is the screw that controls the tension on the item. The further you drive this screw in, the more tension (pressure) you place on the power supply.
If the description sucks, I can draw up a simple diagram.
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A nice bead of hot glue around the base works great. If you ever need to remove it, you can cut it easily with a box knife. This is how I mount all my board mount pcs.
I hadn't even considered this. Hot glue would probably be the easiest way to go, and like you said, easily removable if needed. Thanks for the tip!
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Assuming that we are talking about plastic-cased PSU's, I have the perfect solution.
Almost all computer-related plastic stuff, keyboards, mice, PSU casings etc are made out of a type of plastic called ABS.
ABS dissolves in acetone, and therefore can be solvent-welded using acetone.
Break up some scrap pieces of ABS, put them in a glass or HDPE (ie acetone-proof) container, and cover them with pure acetone (in the paint section of Walmart). I use an HDPE plastic squeezy bottle with a nozzle for easy application.
Leave it overnight, and in the morning you will have a gloopy, syrupy ABS 'goop'.
You can then use this goop to join ABS pieces together.
The joint (actually a weld) is far stronger than using epoxy or hot glue, as the pieces of ABS plastic are literally fused together as a solid mass.
I used this goop to attach plastic mounting brackets to all of the plastic components inside my cabinet; PSU, the project boxes which house my gamepad hacks, the amplifier, even the power strip.
The components were then attached to the cabinet using screws.
Once you make this stuff, you'll wonder how you ever lived without it.
I recently use it to repair the remote fob for my car when the keychain loop broke.
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Good info for wall warts but I assume the original poster is talking about a PC metal boxed power supply.
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I thought that too, until I read that he wanted to mount the PSU in a control panel, and then followed the link to the thread about mounting a laptop PSU with straps.
Either way, I hope someone finds the plastic welding info useful.
If I was mounting a metal-cased PC PSU, I'd pop-rivet metal brackets to it.
You would of course have to be careful to ensure that the rivets were placed somewhere where they wouldn't protrude enough to touch any of the electronics, but there is usually plenty of room inside these PSU's.