insulating coating

[dsavitsk]

Does anyone know of a coating to put on an aluminum bottom plate that will act as a decent insulator? Electrical tape is not permament enough. Someting in liquid form would be ideal. I am building a high voltage project, and I would like to add yet another layer of safety for the off chance that something falls.

[skyskraper]

a few years ago, we had a rubbery sort of paint that we got at a hardware store in the paint section. i can't remember the details of it (i only had to use it once) but it went on fairly easily and left a nice thick coating on the surface. maybe you could find similar at a hardware store?

another alternative might be to go to a rubber/foam store and get a thin sticky backed rubber/foam sheet (my local one sells a few different types). or just unbacked sheet (could even be a gutter lining type rubber) and glue it down.

or you could just use a few layers of adhesive vinyl (the type for covering school books).

[ericj]

Define "High Voltage".

If we're talking about kilovolts that's a whole other kettle of fish.

[dsavitsk]

Originally Posted by ericj

Define "High Voltage".

If we're talking about kilovolts that's a whole other kettle of fish.

Nothing like that. Actually, for this project, nothing over about 200. The reason for the concern is that the B+ will need to conect to a tube socket with pins under a wide terminal strip and thus out of sight.



One of these with the socket reversed and mounted to the bottom plate.

So, while I don't forsee any problem and will make double sure that connections are good, etc, I figure adding an extra layer can't hurt.

[ericj]

Oh, well, since it's flat, why apply a liquid when you can use a solid?

These pieces sound like they're not big enough, but perhaps something like this:

http://www.allelectronics.com/cgi-bi...A-2&type=store

Mica sheets are used for this sort of thing all the time. The magnetron in my microwave is protected (from the food) by a mica sheet. The insulators in many vacuum tubes are mica wafers.

For more of a nouvel insulator, you can buy chunks of industrial grade teflon sheet on ebay for a few bucks. Floppier than the mica but i think it really broadens the bass don't you?

you could stick on a few of these self adhesive pads

[cetoole]

How about Liquid Electrical Tape, I have gotten it at home depot before, and it just paints right on.

[ericj]

ah, but sheets of composite mica are more correct in tube designs, and give the sound a more earthy feel.

I forgot to mention, you may be able to get oddly-shaped sheets of mica very cheaply from appliance parts stores. They're used in clothes dryers to insulate . . . . something.

[vixr]

I used a piece of one of those disposable cutting boards in my CMOY. its very thin and can be cut easily with scissors. I got 3 one foot sq. pieces for .99 cents at KMart. they come in different colors too.