Power Jack Tricks!

[Earthscum]

So, in an effort to isolate the metal jacks, I browsed my local hardware store and found... SCREW CAPS!!! All I had to do was enlarge the hole, put a notch of sorts in the front (so I could get it open again), and viola! When I got home, I discovered the black plastic jacks fit inside, also. So, if you notch it right (like I did with the black one shown below) you can essentially keep fluids and dirt out of the jack opening when you aren't using it.

To isolate the metal jack, I used a thin plastic washer, a rubber o-ring, and the screw cap cover:





This shows the size. I've actually considered using them as in and out jack covers by drilling a hole in the top, so that you can cover up the nut and washer. The jack will still ground out from the back side of the case.




Got any tricks to share?

[J0K3RX]

I like what you did but seems like a little extra unnecessary headache and added expense... After realizing the problem I would have probably wired them center positive, made sure I had polarity protection and not buy them again...  

[Earthscum]

Smallbear sells a neat one (didn't know, pretty neat!): http://www.smallbearelec.com/servlet/Detail?no=1216

I like what you did but seems like a little extra unnecessary headache and added expense... After realizing the problem I would have probably wired them center positive, made sure I had polarity protection and not buy them again...  

Actually, wasn't hard at all, and the 3 parts cost $0.63 USD. It's really no harder than drilling a hole, stacking the small washer and o-ring, putting the cap on the outside, and cinching it down. You can enlarge the hole in the cap by hand, it's fairly soft nylon.

They have some brown ones I just thought about... if I used them for the In/Out jacks, I could paint the enclosure to look like Princess Leia.