Plexi protecting my amps?

[Honzo]

I just ordered a my box, subs, and amp finally :cool:
now what I'd like to do is build a proper amp rack and I'd like to put plexi over the amps to protect them from getting banged around and such. I'm looking for suggestions on how to support the plexi above the mdf and amps, but I'm not sure what the proper procedure for something like this would be. Any suggestions?

[Honzo]

and if i wasn't clear enough, i found a perfect example of what i'd like to do with the plexiglass, but with my amps
http://www.newcougar.org/forums/attachments/audio-electrical/31954d1200150306-post-your-audio-system-_mg_2779.jpg

[MOMO]

its not necessarily a good idea to put stuff over amp IMO. they to tend to get hot.

[Rhino]

Here is mine, it is just a "groove" cut into the box and the plexi fits in that groove. It is in tight enough that it doesn't shake out, but you can take it out to get to the Amp.

http://www.newcougar.org/gallery/files/7/7/1/3/image.jpg

[bgred619]

heres some fancy ones, abit pricey These stand offs can be used for wall or horizontal surface mount applications. (http://signstandoffs.com/product.php?prod=7375)

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/wwg/guideBrowse.shtml

[Honzo]

its not necessarily a good idea to put stuff over amp IMO. they to tend to get hot.
i'm planning on some computer fans on the sides to get a little wind blowing under there of course :thumbsup:

[ice992]

I'd make sure to have say 4 fans... 2 inlet 2 exhaust... at opposite ends of the amp of course... we used to build enclosed setups all the time... we used to order the plexi bigger than we needed and dremel out each end so as to leave a "finger" on each corner, heat it and bend it down and use it as a standoff, drill a hole in it and screw it to the board, or, screw wooden dowels from the underside of the board, paint/carpet to your liking (I prefer carpet, looks cleaner) then screw the plexi to those...

honestly their is a million ways you can do what you're asking...

if you want to get fancy for a home brew install, take mdf, the same size as your amp rack bottom board, make boards for the sides to completely box off your amp board (making it into an amp "case") cut a hole about the size of each amp... not bigger so as to avoid showing the wires... router a notch around each hole on the underside of each hole, setting the depth of the router plunge to correspond to your plexi thickness, cut your plexi the same size as the area you just notched out with the router... before going any further make sure you've got your area marked where your amps are going, cut your holes through your MDF for you wires to run, cut holes in your sides for your fans (I like mounting the fans on the inside so all is hidden except the fan guard if you choose to use them), affix the "sides" to the bottom w/ wood glue and screws, carpet everything, install fans, attach plexi to top sheet of MDF, attach top sheet of MDF to amp case... you could also mount neons on the backside of the top sheet so they illuminate your amps... you could also have a distribution block set up inside said case to allow power for everything, and also using it to power the amp trigger (acc wire) I don't like to use the power coming out of the deck for more than 2 amps... ie, run your amp trigger back to a relay, which switches 12v power from your distribution block to activate your amps, power your neons and also power your fans.. :biggrin: :thumbsup:

let us know what you decide... sorry for the long winded reply, if any of it is unclear ask and I'll esplain what I'm talkin about haha

[Honzo]

sorry, i'm totally lost on that last paragraph there :tongue:

so i have a perfectly rectangular box... what I plan to do is cut out a piece of mdf roughly the size of the back and using some sort of wood boards, make triangles that will mount on the back of the sub box, then the mdf the size of the back will mount on those... this will give the appearance of a box with a slanted back (as close to the angle of the back seats as possible), but there will be a gap with an open bottom to hide the wires in. Then the amps will be mounted to the angled section on the back there with a sheet of plexi suspended with standoffs about an inch above the amps. Then i'll put a couple fans on each side of the plexi to get air flowing underneath it...

does that make any sense?

[ice992]

if going that route why not just mount them to the back of the seats like a lot of people (including myself when I had a coug) do

[Honzo]

How would I hide the wires if i did that?

[EternalOne]

4 fans are not needed, and don't use computer fans. They make a special purpose fan for linear movement of air. They are long tubes and move air in a flat motion to keep it moving properly under the plexi. You will need ONE single fan on one side to push air over and out -- that is all. They run anywhere from $5 to $20 and are perfect for this application.

Check out Allied:

Allied Electronics - Products (http://www.alliedelec.com/Catalog/Indices/Products.aspx?N=4294964256&No=70)

(There's a pic of what you want at the top, its the long slim fan.) Check on the CFM when buying, and make sure you'll actually be moving air. Computer fans are meant for enclosures, and won't work well in the application you are talking about...

E1

[Honzo]

computer fans were just a first thought since they're cheap, can be attractive, and run off 12v, but ill definitely look into what there is out there, especially from allied electronics. Proper airflow would be the biggest priority when it comes to adding fans to it in the first place huh?