I usually use Camdenboss boxes. They have a screw on lid with a seal. They also have card slots in the side walls for mounting PCB’s. I would normally print the control panel and mount it under clear acrylic sheet.

Hello Ken,

What do you think of this one:

CHDX8-326, this is the ABS version so a very reasonable price of £17.35 for one or £14.38 each for five.

We could put the display and main pcb in the lid and the batteries in the base.

That way you would get a field openable box without any engineering work.

Would still have to holes in the lid for the display and contols but that's inevitable.

(Farnell sell the poly-carbonate version but not the ABS.)

Did you have a different one in mind ?

MK

Yes that box looks ok, just wondering if we would need to remove the batteries for charging. Is it possible to have a socket on the unit that you use for charging.

Hi Ken,

I think that would be a major project (maybe better as a separate project to build a charger board that accepts a power supply with plug/socket). The camera batteries are better charged with off-the-shelf external chargers, they are not expensive, and they should be safe. Otherwise, fast charging such a large battery in a sealed enclosure will have heat implications, and could be risky. There's a few other reasons too, can elaborate if needed.

Besides, the battery will take a long time to charge (3 hours or more) so swapping out the battery is quicker (dual external chargers exist).

Certainly I think we should be able to remove the battery (or batteries), for the reasons Shabaz has suggested but also because if you run out in the field you need an instant fix.

A charger could be added but I doubt if you would want it on the same board and it's quite a big project on it's own. I've designed a product with a single cell (1/6 of these camera things)

and that took a lot of work to be sure of safety and performance.

I've just discovered that no one seems to stock the ABS box (after I ordered the last one from Rapid ) but you can get the poly-carbonate one.

I still like the idea because it gives you an openable box without a lot of work - but if we design the things sensibly people can pretty much

use whatever box they like.

I've just seen your box picture - what part number is that and how do you get it apart.- thanks.

MK

Certainly I think we should be able to remove the battery (or batteries), for the reasons Shabaz has suggested but also because if you run out in the field you need an instant fix.

A charger could be added but I doubt if you would want it on the same board and it's quite a big project on it's own. I've designed a product with a single cell (1/6 of these camera things)

and that took a lot of work to be sure of safety and performance.

I've just discovered that no one seems to stock the ABS box (after I ordered the last one from Rapid ) but you can get the poly-carbonate one.

I still like the idea because it gives you an openable box without a lot of work - but if we design the things sensibly people can pretty much

use whatever box they like.

I've just seen your box picture - what part number is that and how do you get it apart.- thanks.

MK

This box is CAMDENBOSS

CRDCG0009CRDCG0009

It's held together with 4 screws. If you look at it online it has a seal between the lid and the box. Seems Farnell no longer stock it, but CPC do. They have 8 in stock at £9.17 in 5's.

Ken

I made that a working product link for you.