Help locating male power plug component

[Ibrewster]

I'm working on a small electronic device (rf remote receiver to home automation system bridge) that I would like to package into a small box that plugs directly into the wall. I am, however, having some difficulty locating the "plug" component. I can find plenty of sockets into which I can plug a power cord, but I haven't been able to locate any male panel mount plugs. Can someone help me with the proper google terminology or a link to a product? Thanks.

 

[MaxHeadRoom78]

I can find plenty of sockets into which I can plug a power cord, but I haven't been able to locate any male panel mount plugs.

For VERY good reason If talking the AC power, it would be dangerous to have male pins on a socket.
Or is this another configuration?
Max.

 

[Ibrewster]

This is the standard "wall wart" configuration. Lots of devices are configured this way. For example, your standard night light: https://www.lightbulbs.com/product/darice-99852/?source=ConnexityCSE Or, of course, your standard wall-wart power supply, though the idea is to put all the electronics in that wall box rather than having a cord running anywhere.

 

[MaxHeadRoom78]

If needing a male plug that is chassis mounted to attach to your enclosure, why not use the plug end of a standard extension cord plug **broken link removed**
Just use the plug section and attach to your unit with the three securing screws.
Discard the back shell.
Max.

 

[Ibrewster]

Yeah, that could work. Seems a bit "hackish" (I'm sure that's not how equipment manufacturers do it ), but meh, whatever works!

 

[rjenkinsgb]

Search "Wall plug PSU enclosure" or "Plug in enclosure" then build the whole device in to whichever is appropriate?

A few examples:

https://www.jprelec.co.uk/images/products/large/880_160A_big.jpg

https://www.polycase.com/uploads/xpm2425t0-95-xl.jpg.pagespeed.ic.RKQwy5NXDB.jpg

https://www.okw.co.uk/en/Plug-Cases/PLUG-CASE-F-D_TitleImageSwap500x408.jpg

Expanding the Curve - Wall-Plug Plastic Electronic Enclosures

I’ve been slowly redecorating my house. When I bought my house, the “fireplace wall” was a completely different color than...

www.polycase.com

 

[Ibrewster]

That sounds like a good option. Deals with the issue of getting an enclosure as well as getting power into it. Thanks!

 

[KeepItSimpleStupid]

Polycase has some wierdness trying to support 2-wire polarized plugs.

 

[Ibrewster]

Good to know. And their plug-in cases are pretty small too - the largest is only about 4.11 x 2.23 x 2.50, I've seen (and have) MUCH larger plug-in type devices. Hopefully I can find something somewhere else (how do manufacturers that produce plug-in devices do it?), or get my components to fit in that small of a space (doubtful, I think the power supply itself is about 3x2x1.5 or so, which wouldn't leave much room). Otherwise, I'm back to jury-rigging something from a plug as originally suggested, or using a power cord.

 

[rjenkinsgb]

I think the power supply itself is about 3x2x1.5 or so

How big??

Look at this type of thing -

RS PRO Switching Power Supply, 5V dc, 600mA, 3W, 1 Output, 70 → 420 V dc, 85 → 305 V ac Input Voltage | RS

uk.rs-online.com

MEAN WELL Switching Power Supply, IRM-01-12, 12V dc, 83mA, 1W, 1 Output, 120 → 430 V dc, 85 → 305 V ac | RS

uk.rs-online.com

There are many commercial modules with different output ratings & the cost is usually lower than just a conventional transformer.

 

[Ibrewster]

Well, I was looking at this one:

https://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/MEAN-WELL/RD-35A,

...but perhaps more research is in order to find something smaller. That one measures 3.8"x3.2"x1.4". I also need to go back and double-check my power requirements. Part of the reason I went with that one is that the 5v rail needs to power a raspberry pi zero, and what I read says they recommend something like 2.5 amps - so I would need at least 12.5W just for that, plus some extra for wiggle room and other components. And then I also need 12v for some of the other components, though I haven't been able to track down their current requirements.

Of course, I could get fancy and just get, say, a 15W 12v supply, and throw in a step-down converter or something, and that might save some space. Or I could go *really* fancy and use a microcontroller of some sort rather than a raspberry pi, such that my power requirements are less and I can go with a physically smaller supply, but I need wifi connectivity and the ability to call URL's, all of which is easy from the pi.

Point being I could probably find some way to squeeze into a 4x2 space, but I'd rather just use, say, a 4x6x2 case and have everything fit easily. Large, but no larger than some of the wall boxes I have. If I could only figure out how to plug it in

 

[rjenkinsgb]

Possibly either of these would be suitable for the Pi -

RS PRO Switching Power Supply, 5V dc, 2.7A, 13.5W, 1 Output, 100 → 370 V dc, 85 → 264 V ac Input Voltage | RS

uk.rs-online.com

MEAN WELL Switching Power Supply, IRM-15-5, 5V dc, 3A, 15W, 1 Output, 120 → 370 V dc, 85 → 264 V ac Input | RS

uk.rs-online.com

Plus either a tiny step-up or a separate skeleton type psu for the 12V output?

For the controller, the ESP8266 or similar type modules are apparently very capable, with built-in WiFi and a programmable MCU - some people on here rave about them, but I've not used them myself.

Amazon.com: ESP8266 microcontroller NodeMCU Lua V3 WiFi with CH340G : Cell Phones & Accessories

Amazon.com: ESP8266 microcontroller NodeMCU Lua V3 WiFi with CH340G : Cell Phones & Accessories

www.amazon.com

The power required for one of those is trivial compared to a Pi & they are a fraction the size & cost.

 

[Nigel Goodwin]

Possibly either of these would be suitable for the Pi -

RS PRO Switching Power Supply, 5V dc, 2.7A, 13.5W, 1 Output, 100 → 370 V dc, 85 → 264 V ac Input Voltage | RS

uk.rs-online.com

MEAN WELL Switching Power Supply, IRM-15-5, 5V dc, 3A, 15W, 1 Output, 120 → 370 V dc, 85 → 264 V ac Input | RS

uk.rs-online.com

Plus either a tiny step-up or a separate skeleton type psu for the 12V output?

For the controller, the ESP8266 or similar type modules are apparently very capable, with built-in WiFi and a programmable MCU - some people on here rave about them, but I've not used them myself.

Amazon.com: ESP8266 microcontroller NodeMCU Lua V3 WiFi with CH340G : Cell Phones & Accessories

Amazon.com: ESP8266 microcontroller NodeMCU Lua V3 WiFi with CH340G : Cell Phones & Accessories

www.amazon.com

The power required for one of those is trivial compared to a Pi & they are a fraction the size & cost.

You can also buy ready made plug-in modules (smart plugs) which use ESP8266's, and then reprogram them to do whatever you wish - although you'd need to make sure you bought one that used the ESP8266 (I think most do) and that provides programming access.

 

[Ibrewster]

Possibly either of these would be suitable for the Pi -

RS PRO Switching Power Supply, 5V dc, 2.7A, 13.5W, 1 Output, 100 → 370 V dc, 85 → 264 V ac Input Voltage | RS

uk.rs-online.com

MEAN WELL Switching Power Supply, IRM-15-5, 5V dc, 3A, 15W, 1 Output, 120 → 370 V dc, 85 → 264 V ac Input | RS

uk.rs-online.com

Plus either a tiny step-up or a separate skeleton type psu for the 12V output?

For the controller, the ESP8266 or similar type modules are apparently very capable, with built-in WiFi and a programmable MCU - some people on here rave about them, but I've not used them myself.

Amazon.com: ESP8266 microcontroller NodeMCU Lua V3 WiFi with CH340G : Cell Phones & Accessories

Amazon.com: ESP8266 microcontroller NodeMCU Lua V3 WiFi with CH340G : Cell Phones & Accessories

www.amazon.com

The power required for one of those is trivial compared to a Pi & they are a fraction the size & cost.

Oh, fun! Off to re-architect my project I guess - I need to dig up more information on that microcontroller (the Amazon page doesn't provide much), but at first glance it looks like it could be a better option than the Pi, depending on the exact capabilities. Or even just switching to the other power supplies you pointed out could work with a smaller form factor. Thanks!