an easy first question

[whitty]

Hey guys, ive enjoyed checking out his forum over the last few weeks as ive just picked up the hobby, learnt a lot too. my question which may have a simple answer, but i cant figure out, is: how do you mount your pcb inside an aluminium box without the bottom of the board shorting to the metal?? thanks again!

[Focalized]

Plastic stand-offs. Double sided tape. Paper. Depends on how much room there is.

I like double sided tape in small boxes. Or a proper cut of paper to fit between the board and pots.

Stand-offs are most common with DIY. You need to have room on the board to punch a hole or two.

http://www.pedalpartsplus.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=PPP&Product_Code=1212&Category_Code=ACC

[whitty]

aha. very simple. thankyou!

[chuckmoose]

I've been using double sided foam tape mostly, it's easy and works well, and provides the needed protection from grounding.  Be careful that any sharp solder spikes or component leads don't poke through it though.  Radio Shack has some heavy duty tape I like.

[whitty]

easy. its these ones that make me think the hardest sometimes.. thanks!

[chuckmoose]

I've also seen people wrap a circuit in electrical tap and just shove it in there.  And there's always goop! 

[humptydumpty]

pcb mounted pots or jacks could also hold the board up

[Andi]

I use little threaded steel standoffs held on with screws through the top of the box.

[biggy boy]

I Shoe Goo a piece of thick paper in, then put four dabs of Shoe Goo on the back of the board to fasten it to the paper.
Just make sure the circuit works first before gluing it into the box

[JasonG]

If you have a surplus parts store near you I would suggest you buy some stand offs in the end they are the best way to go I. I think small bear has them also. They will let you trouble shoot/mod later  on down the road I use JB weld to secure it to the box. For about 20 cents a project I have the board secure you can't beat that.
Have you checked out the Wiki or or FAQ? There is a wealth of information there.
What pedals do you want to build ?

[Joe Hart]

I use felt. Just wrap the board loosely in a piece of felt and you're all set. I usually use a bit more than really needed and it helps cushion the board and keep anything from rattling around. And it's easy to take the board out for mods or repairs.
-Joe Hart

[Mark Hammer]

For many years, MXR pedals simply had a hunk of foam separating the free-floating board from the pots and chassis.  Works fine for me too.

[whitty]

for my first project i made gus smalleys npn boost of this forum then direct coupled it to jack orams beginner muff single tranny cct. i made it on a peice of board which i guess is for mainly IC based dig circuits, stuck it in a plastic box, ive since got some proper strip board so i'm doin another one properly. I want to paint it etc hence metal box. thanks for all your posts, ive been an electronics apprentice for 4 years but ive never been interested in stuff on the side until now, having so much knowledge makes it fun and accessible.

[Joe Hart]

Well, good luck and let us know how it all turns out (pics, too)!
-Joe Hart