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Wall in a Box? — Parallax Forums

Wall in a Box?

akalatiakalati Posts: 31
edited 2010-09-04 10:52 in General Discussion
(orig post in BS2 forum, reposed in Sandbox as recommended)

Greetings fellow Parallaxers,

I've got a prototype for a wall switch, which is mountable onto a standard electrical box and would like to demo it in an efficient way. Problem is, I can't walk into someone's office and start wiring the device to his existing wall switch. I thought the perfect solution was a "demo box" which has: A/C cord that connects to an outlet -> electric/junction box to allow for mounting the prototype -> A/C hot in and hot out to "fixture" (next item); A/C outlet (female) allowing connection of any device (which will be simulating the fixture attached to the wall switch).

I was wondering if anyone has come across something like this, in an "off the shelf" format so that I don't have to build one.

Thanks much for any feedback that leads me down the right path. If a different forum is a better place for this, please advise and I will move it there.

Andy

Comments

  • SeariderSearider Posts: 290
    edited 2010-09-02 14:19
    akalati,

    I have not seen anything like this for sale. I doubt it will be very hard to create though. 1 trip to the hardware store and 1 hour hooking it up (15min if it were not for a presentation).
  • mctriviamctrivia Posts: 3,772
    edited 2010-09-02 17:00
    buy a steel stud and 1 sheet of dry wall.(steel because it is lighter then 2 by 4s. Get a few drywall screws and a box and you can easily make one yourself.

    Prefab walls do exist but they are designed ro cubicle dimensions and would be fairly big.
  • Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514
    edited 2010-09-02 17:05
    You could do this with a single large (i.e. square) junction box. For these, there are faceplates that combine a switch cutout with cutouts for a duplex outlet.

    -Phil
  • bill190bill190 Posts: 769
    edited 2010-09-02 17:05
    I've seen demonstration boards which are just thin plywood over a few 2 x 4's. Something like this...
    http://www.rochelleintermodal.com/category/layout-construction/
  • localrogerlocalroger Posts: 3,452
    edited 2010-09-03 13:47
    When you make the box, do not use 2x4's or sheetrock; you do not need to meet hte structural or fire requirements that a real wall does. Use 1x4's for the edges and any internal "studs" where you mount the boxes, and thin (1/4 inch) plywood in place of sheetrock. Spackle and paint.
  • LoopyBytelooseLoopyByteloose Posts: 12,537
    edited 2010-09-04 08:32
    If it is a demo, make it look good - lucite maybe? Having a clear plastic 'wall' might make the presentation a bit more intriguing and get the listener's attention. Selling is all about showmanship..
  • WBA ConsultingWBA Consulting Posts: 2,935
    edited 2010-09-04 10:52
    The aluminum case I used for my Reverse Geo-Cache Box (in the completed forums) was originally a demo case for a Thermostat manufacturer. When you open the case, the top half looked like a chunk of a wall with the thermostat and a few other "wireless" devices that the thermostat communicated with that mounted into standard outlet boxes. I don't have any pictures of it, but if you want a really nice demo, check into going that route. Harbor Freight sells a really nice aluminum case for $25 that would work well. I actually have one of these cases that I am making into a "toolbox PC" that has a 15" LCD in the top and a small computer, power supply, and space for my PPDB in the base. They also have a smaller one for $15 that might work.
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