Inexpensive IP55-rated project boxes - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

PSValves · 13th Aug 2015, 6:53 pm

I came across these boxes today in my local branch of Wilko's (sold as "outdoor junction boxes"). They're approximately 80x80x40mm internally and priced at £1.99 in store.

I suspect they'll come in useful for quite a number of small projects, regardless of whether water-resistance is required.

GrimJosef · 13th Aug 2015, 7:29 pm

They look similar to these IP54 ones from CPC http://cpc.farnell.com/hellermanntyt...ith/dp/EN83292 which are £1.38 each. In my case walking just a few hundred yards to my nearest Wilko's would have them in my hands in 5 minutes rather than a day though

.

Cheers,

GJ

G6Tanuki · 13th Aug 2015, 7:47 pm

Screwfix do something almost exactly identical too.

The 'knock-outs' intended for conduit-connectors are - with a bit of frobbing - suitable to fit 'N'-sockets.

Herald1360 · 13th Aug 2015, 9:41 pm

Frobbing

Dialect or in house expression?

Refugee · 14th Aug 2015, 1:03 am

I came across a batch of boxes about the same size with a built in clock and battery holder and plenty of room for £199 each.
There is a coin cell for the clock and 2 AAA cells for the alarm so a project box with a clock or single event timer and battery power.
they have no IP rating though.

Station X · 14th Aug 2015, 10:54 am

Did you mean £1.99?

richrussell · 14th Aug 2015, 11:33 am

I've used those outdoor junction boxes for a few projects, they're quite handy. Also available in different colours (as long you want something like white, cream, grey or black).

One project actually involved mains electricity and being outside! (fitting the PIR bit off a cheap security light to the box and enclosing a ballast capacitor and resistor so it'd switch two 20W LED floodlights without them flashing due to the very low current leakage from the PIR output)

paulsherwin · 14th Aug 2015, 11:59 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Herald1360

Frobbing

Dialect or in house expression?

Nothing to do with the forum, but widely used and understood by techies and computer people.

https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/frob#English

Herald1360 · 14th Aug 2015, 2:03 pm

Hmmm. So the knockouts need to be fiddled with somehow.

I did wonder if there was any connection with hobbing, but a taper reamer might be more appropriate.

Sounds a bit like a synonym for furkle.

Refugee · 14th Aug 2015, 2:07 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Station X

Did you mean £1.99?

Yes indeed £1.99 new in box sold as new old stock with a coin cell isolated for shipping with a little insulated tab you pull out to apply power to the clock chip with AAA cells extra.
They were well worth it.

G6Tanuki · 14th Aug 2015, 8:29 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Herald1360

Sounds a bit like a synonym for furkle.

Furkle has always been 'furtle' in my [Black Country] experience. Do not confuse with Ferkel, the German for piglet.

paulsherwin · 14th Aug 2015, 11:45 pm

Enough of this please.

AC/HL · 14th Aug 2015, 11:46 pm

A Rose by any other name, we all know what's meant.

13th Aug 2015, 6:53 pm	#1
PSValves Pentode Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Nottingham, UK. Posts: 151	Inexpensive IP55-rated project boxes I came across these boxes today in my local branch of Wilko's (sold as "outdoor junction boxes"). They're approximately 80x80x40mm internally and priced at £1.99 in store. I suspect they'll come in useful for quite a number of small projects, regardless of whether water-resistance is required. Attached Thumbnails

13th Aug 2015, 7:29 pm	#2
GrimJosef Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Oxfordshire, UK. Posts: 4,311	Re: Inexpensive IP55-rated project boxes They look similar to these IP54 ones from CPC http://cpc.farnell.com/hellermanntyt...ith/dp/EN83292 which are £1.38 each. In my case walking just a few hundred yards to my nearest Wilko's would have them in my hands in 5 minutes rather than a day though . Cheers, GJ __________________ http://www.ampregen.com

13th Aug 2015, 7:47 pm	#3
G6Tanuki Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Wiltshire, UK. Posts: 14,007	Re: Inexpensive IP55-rated project boxes Screwfix do something almost exactly identical too. The 'knock-outs' intended for conduit-connectors are - with a bit of frobbing - suitable to fit 'N'-sockets.

13th Aug 2015, 9:41 pm	#4
Herald1360 Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Leominster, Herefordshire, UK. Posts: 16,536	Re: Inexpensive IP55-rated project boxes Frobbing Dialect or in house expression? __________________ ....__________ ....\|____\|\|__\|__\_____ .=.\| _---\__\|__\|_---_\|. .........O..Chris....O

14th Aug 2015, 1:03 am	#5
Refugee Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Worksop, Nottinghamshire, UK. Posts: 5,554	Re: Inexpensive IP55-rated project boxes I came across a batch of boxes about the same size with a built in clock and battery holder and plenty of room for £199 each. There is a coin cell for the clock and 2 AAA cells for the alarm so a project box with a clock or single event timer and battery power. they have no IP rating though. Attached Thumbnails

14th Aug 2015, 10:54 am	#6
Station X Moderator Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4, UK. Posts: 21,289	Re: Inexpensive IP55-rated project boxes Did you mean £1.99? __________________ Graham. Forum Moderator Reach for your meter before you reach for your soldering iron.

14th Aug 2015, 11:33 am	#7
richrussell Heptode Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Selby, North Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 979	Re: Inexpensive IP55-rated project boxes I've used those outdoor junction boxes for a few projects, they're quite handy. Also available in different colours (as long you want something like white, cream, grey or black). One project actually involved mains electricity and being outside! (fitting the PIR bit off a cheap security light to the box and enclosing a ballast capacitor and resistor so it'd switch two 20W LED floodlights without them flashing due to the very low current leakage from the PIR output)

14th Aug 2015, 2:03 pm	#9
Herald1360 Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Leominster, Herefordshire, UK. Posts: 16,536	Re: Inexpensive IP55-rated project boxes Hmmm. So the knockouts need to be fiddled with somehow. I did wonder if there was any connection with hobbing, but a taper reamer might be more appropriate. Sounds a bit like a synonym for furkle. __________________ ....__________ ....\|____\|\|__\|__\_____ .=.\| _---\__\|__\|_---_\|. .........O..Chris....O

14th Aug 2015, 11:45 pm	#12
paulsherwin Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 27,970	Re: Inexpensive IP55-rated project boxes Enough of this please.

14th Aug 2015, 11:46 pm	#13
AC/HL Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 9,642	Re: Inexpensive IP55-rated project boxes A Rose by any other name, we all know what's meant.