Side Pannel Contacts

[Exley]

i was reading through the forums a couple days ago and i saw this thread

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6339&highlight=contacts

what intrested me the most was this post by xmastree



Why use a plug at all? A couple of carefully placed contacts and it will connect automatically when you fit the panel.

i love this idea because i am always taking my side pannel (with a fan ) off and on and the connector i have now is a real pain. I am kinda stumped right now as to how to do it, does anyone have any ideas. keep in mind my entire case is metal

[xmastree]

Hmm...

I said that, but I've never actually done it. I was thinking aloud really.

However, it really ought to be possible. First thing to determine is how does your panel come off? If it slides back a little, then falls off, you want the connectors to be at the front edge so that when the cover slides into place, they meet up.

As for the actual connectors, you'll need some kind of insulator on which to mount them. Or if you use a plug and socket arrangement, some sort of bracket.
Bear in mind, if you do use a plug and socket, ideally you want something with a low insertion force.

I had a thought, maybe a modified USB plug/socket. Remove the metal outer from the socket, so that just the plastic part with the spring contacts remains. I expect this will slide into the hole in the plug with minimal force.

Then mount them somehow, so that they line up as you slide the panel into place.

I'm just thinking aloud here, so don't take this as gospel, it's just food for thought.

Another option could be the contacts from an old relay, aligned so they touch and bend slightly when the panel's fitted.

[Exley]

i just tried it on the back lip of the panel with tin-foil (not a permanent solution) and it works pretty good. but your connector idea is making some gears in my head turn i'm gonna look around for some connectors that might work.

[Exley]

I Pulled a phone jack out of an old phone and am trying to use a phone wire the only problem is lining it up correctly, the plug has to be raised off of the panel to fit in the jack. I am also having trouble coming up with a mounting solution ( so far its electrical tape ).

this is a mod i really want to do so any help or ideas are appreciated.

[Nagoshi]

ever thought abuot, like, rca jacks or headphone 3.5mm jacks? you would need 2 rca, or a single 3.5mm... altho with stereo jacks you don't want to remove the side panel/disconnect the fan while it's working, or you'll send power in the wrong lines when the poles will touch the other pole. I dont know if you understand... it's like when you listen to your MP3 player, and remove your headphones just a tad bit, the sound loks more wide and weird, monaural, and it sucks batteries fast enough. ^_^

[b4i7]

jacks and connections will be a slight pain when doing this...wouldnt it be easier if you had just a spot for contact.....like a piece of copper insulated on the back side so when you slid the panel back on...you have a decently wide area to make the contact...instead of having to worry that your jacks or plugs will line up correctly every time

[Exley]

jacks and connections will be a slight pain when doing this...wouldnt it be easier if you had just a spot for contact.....like a piece of copper insulated on the back side so when you slid the panel back on...you have a decently wide area to make the contact...instead of having to worry that your jacks or plugs will line up correctly every time

I tried that and it works, sort of, if i move the side panel the fan flickers. it also makes it so my panel doesn't slide on all the way. today when i get done school i will probably work on improving this method


ever thought abuot, like, rca jacks or headphone 3.5mm jacks? you would need 2 rca, or a single 3.5mm... altho with stereo jacks you don't want to remove the side panel/disconnect the fan while it's working, or you'll send power in the wrong lines when the poles will touch the other pole. I dont know if you understand... it's like when you listen to your MP3 player, and remove your headphones just a tad bit, the sound loks more wide and weird, monaural, and it sucks batteries fast enough. ^_^

it would work but it would be just as hard to line up. about the two poles touching, if im not mistaken a headphone jack has three lines, left right and ground so i would use left or right for positive and ground for negative to avoid the problem. I might go this route for a quick release plug, if the contacts or mounted plugs don't work

[xmastree]

Ok, here's an idea. Those 'clips' which hold the case side to the back edge of the front panel. You need to make something which looks like them, but insulated from the side.
Then, some flat plates behind the edge where they fit, also insulated.

Then need to be springy, so they maintain contact when you move the panel.

You might be able to mount them with double sided tape, although I'd prefer a more solid option. The tape would be fine for the case contacts, as the spring contacts would press on it anyway.

But what to make them out of? Copper-clad board for the fixed part in the case, that's easy. Something springy for the panel part...
If you can get hold of something like this (http://profesanxenxo.iespana.es/electrical/relay.jpg), there will be some suitably springy contacts inside it, mounted on a handy dandy insulator.

[Exley]

ok, after many different attempts at using a contact system i finally decided to try a different approach. I still wanted an easer way to connect my side panel so i decided to mount a socket to plug my panel into, after many different attempts here is what i came up with.

the plug adapter
http://barbarasstamppad.com/images/aleximage/plug2.jpg

the mounted socket
http://barbarasstamppad.com/images/aleximage/socket.jpg

http://barbarasstamppad.com/images/aleximage/socket2.jpg

all together in the case
http://barbarasstamppad.com/images/aleximage/closed.jpg

in case anyone is curious the socket was pulled off of an old 28k external modem.

[xmastree]

Looks good, but why the three pin header? Wouldn't it be neater just to connect it to one of the molexes nearby?

[Exley]

i need the three pin for my fan controller. plus this way it uses the connectors that were already there