I want to shield electronics in a plastic box from RF. My first thought
was to get some copper foil tape with conductive adhesive and use that
to line the inside of the box. Then I priced the copper foil tape with
conductive adhesive, not cheap. I was wondering how much, if any, worse
it would be to simply use aluminum foil tape with out conductive
adhesive, which is much cheaper. Of course I would overlap each piece
of tape but there would be no electrical connection.

The RF I am concerned about is all less than 1Ghz, some as high as 930Mhz.



--
Chris W
KE5GIX

"Protect your digital freedom and privacy, eliminate DRM,
learn more at http://www.defectivebydesign.org/what_is_drm"

Ham Radio Repeater Database.
http://hrrdb.com

"Chris W"
>
>I want to shield electronics in a plastic box from RF.

** Use tinplate.


> My first thought was to get some copper foil tape with conductive adhesive
> and use that to line the inside of the box.

** Use tinplate.


> Then I priced the copper foil tape with conductive adhesive, not cheap.

** Use tinplate.

> I was wondering how much, if any, worse it would be to simply use
> aluminium foil tape with out conductive adhesive, which is much cheaper.

** Use tinplate - it's cheap.


> Of course I would overlap each piece of tape but there would be no
> electrical connection.


** Nice aluminium inductor you are winding ....


> > The RF I am concerned about is all less than 1Ghz, some as high as
> > 930Mhz.


** So mobile phones are NOT an issue ?




......... Phil

Phil Allison wrote:


> ** Use tinplate - it's cheap.
>
> ** So mobile phones are NOT an issue ?

No cell phones are not an issue.

How is tinplate a good alternative to foil. The plastic has lots of
complex curves which is why I planed to use foil which is easy to form
around curves.


--
Chris W
KE5GIX

"Protect your digital freedom and privacy, eliminate DRM,
learn more at http://www.defectivebydesign.org/what_is_drm"

Ham Radio Repeater Database.
http://hrrdb.com

"Chris Wanker "
Phil Allison wrote:
>
>
>> ** Use tinplate - it's cheap.
>>
>> ** So mobile phones are NOT an issue ?
>
> No cell phones are not an issue.


** For use only on planet Mars - is it ?


> How is tinplate a good alternative to foil.


** Ya can solder it.

Makes a continuous and near perfect RF shield.

> The plastic has lots of complex curves which is why I planed to use foil
> which is easy to form around curves.


** Shield the PCB - you wanker.

Forget caressing the damn plastic box.

And fucking stop OVER SNIPPING !!!




........ Phil

Chris W (1qazse4@cox.net) writes:
> I want to shield electronics in a plastic box from RF. My first thought
> was to get some copper foil tape with conductive adhesive and use that
> to line the inside of the box. Then I priced the copper foil tape with
> conductive adhesive, not cheap. I was wondering how much, if any, worse
> it would be to simply use aluminum foil tape with out conductive
> adhesive, which is much cheaper. Of course I would overlap each piece
> of tape but there would be no electrical connection.
>
> The RF I am concerned about is all less than 1Ghz, some as high as 930Mhz.
>
The problem with aluminum foil is that you really can't solder it, certainly
not without a lot of work. And that makes for leaky seams.

Get some very thin sheet metal, and fold it to fit in the box,
soldering the corners. The sort of stuff you see used as shielding
in commercial equipment. If you want to go cheap, cut up a tin can
and use that to make an inner box, though watch out, the edges will
be very sharp.

Rethink things, and build in an aluminum box.

Or, find some scrap piece of electronics and extract some shielded
section from it to use inside your plastic box.

Or, buy some scrap circuit board, and cut it to fit inside the
plastic box, soldering the corners together. If you've got space,
just make the box big enough to shield what you need, and use it
as a sort of chassis inside the plastic box.

Michael

Chris W wrote:
> I want to shield electronics in a plastic box from RF. My first thought
> was to get some copper foil tape with conductive adhesive and use that
> to line the inside of the box. Then I priced the copper foil tape with
> conductive adhesive, not cheap. I was wondering how much, if any, worse
> it would be to simply use aluminum foil tape with out conductive
> adhesive, which is much cheaper. Of course I would overlap each piece
> of tape but there would be no electrical connection.
>
> The RF I am concerned about is all less than 1Ghz, some as high as 930Mhz.

I have a roll of 6 inch wide, 2 mil thick brass shim stock I
use for this sort of thing. It solders very nicely.

--
Regards,

John Popelish

Chris W wrote:
> I want to shield electronics in a plastic box from RF. My first thought
> was to get some copper foil tape with conductive adhesive and use that
> to line the inside of the box. Then I priced the copper foil tape with
> conductive adhesive, not cheap. I was wondering how much, if any, worse
> it would be to simply use aluminum foil tape with out conductive
> adhesive, which is much cheaper. Of course I would overlap each piece
> of tape but there would be no electrical connection.
>
> The RF I am concerned about is all less than 1Ghz, some as high as 930Mhz.
>

There is also conductive paint that can even be sprayed but you'd have
to price that out to see if within budget.

--
Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com/

On Sat, 16 Feb 2008 19:55:56 -0600, Chris W <1qazse4@cox.net> wrote:

>I want to shield electronics in a plastic box from RF. My first thought
>was to get some copper foil tape with conductive adhesive and use that
>to line the inside of the box. Then I priced the copper foil tape with
>conductive adhesive, not cheap. I was wondering how much, if any, worse
>it would be to simply use aluminum foil tape with out conductive
>adhesive, which is much cheaper. Of course I would overlap each piece
>of tape but there would be no electrical connection.
>
>The RF I am concerned about is all less than 1Ghz, some as high as 930Mhz.

I agree with earlier posts suggesting that you shield the circuit,
rather than the box.

Larger hardware stores sell rolls of copper flashing that is only
slightly thicker than HD aluminum foil, but has the advantage of
solderability. Some of this flashing has a paper adhesive that can be
easily removed. You might persuade some friends to contribute to the
purchase of a roll, or get a couple of square feet from a contractor.

All you need is a pair of scissors, a soldering iron, and a ruler and
you can make a simple box or cylindrical shield.

Chuck

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Chris W wrote:

> I want to shield electronics in a plastic box from RF. My first thought
> was to get some copper foil tape with conductive adhesive and use that
> to line the inside of the box. Then I priced the copper foil tape with
> conductive adhesive, not cheap. I was wondering how much, if any, worse
> it would be to simply use aluminum foil tape with out conductive
> adhesive, which is much cheaper. Of course I would overlap each piece
> of tape but there would be no electrical connection.
>
> The RF I am concerned about is all less than 1Ghz, some as high as 930Mhz.
>
>
>
conductive paint.

http://www.action-electronics.com/conductivepaint.htm
--
http://webpages.charter.net/jamie_5"