What NOT to do when working with the display board

Do not over-torque the male/female bolts that hold the display board to the player.



I was doing the dimmer capacitor fix and made this bad thing happen on re-assembly. Fortunately, I was able to get the broken bit out without too much trouble as you can see.

Now I just need a replacement part for this. Is this an off-the-shelf part? I've seen parts like this for LPT and serial cables, but they are always much smaller. Where might I find something like this?

I guess I could bug David for one if I can't find one locally.

It's a off the shelf part so you're okay
It's a normal hexagonal spacer by the looks of it. I haven't measured it so I can't give you the exact specifications of it though.

You'll probably end up buy a bag of them, I've never seen them sold singly. They're not expensive.

When you snapped the stud you must have been scared silly!

- Trevor

Is it something I would find in a hardware store? Or would I have to go to a computer shop?

A place like digikey should sell it. I'd doubt a hardware store does... Ones in the UK wouldn't anyway

- Trevor

Tony,

As Trevor said you need a rather standard Male-Female aluminum hexagonal spacer. They are available in different diameters (1/4" and 3/16" are common) and lengths. Not too hard to find at an electronic parts store. My only caveat is that if the empeg was built in the UK the broken part may have metric threads which would be hard to find in the US. Try screwing your replacement into the old one before you try it in your empeg!

Listed below are stores that I think would have the part. I have listed them from most likely to least likely. Try what is convenient for you.

Jameco Electronics, www.jameco.com
1355 Shoreway Road, Belmont, 650.592.8097
Jameco has hex spacers in their online catalg.

Fry's Electronics

Weird Stuff, www.weirdstuff.com
384 W. Caribbean
Sunnyvale
408-743-5650 ext. 324
Open 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Saturday
11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday

Radio Shack

Good luck. I hope I got the hang of this UBBCode now.

Michael

It's a M3 thread on that part. The parts used in empeg production (at least the first 1400 units anyway) were from Farnell - I can try and find the actual farnell partcode, I think they sell them in 10s.

Hugo

It *looks* like some of those spacers you get with new motherboards... They're bigger than the LPT cable gizmos. If you or a friend put together PC's you may find one. I remember them usually beinig brass.

I will look to see if I've got extras in one of my old computer cases. Now that you mention it, that's where I've seen them before. Maybe I'll get lucky...

Okay, I had some, but they are all the wrong thread. It turns out that the actual size of the part is closer to the LPT/Serial hex spacers than it is to the motherboard standoffs. But since the thread and size is so critical, I'm going to beg David for a spare part instead of taking a chance ordering the wrong size.

Ah we use those exact parts for our ring-lights at work. We order everything from McMaster-Carr. www.mcmaster.com

On the main page go to "Fastening and Sealing" and then "Spacers and Standoffs". Follow the selection guide until you end up with the part you want. I think you can order online even if you don't have an account with them.

Wow I think we get a lot better price than the web page lists though!

If you can wait I can bring a few to the S.F. meet. The ones we use are M3 x 10 aluminum I think. We also have M3 x 6 stainless with a bigger OD. Can you measure yours? The body length is only the hex part, not the threaded part.

Speedy

Nah, it's all good, David is sending me a replacement part. Thanks David!

Gee I can think of at least a dozen more things not to do to the display board. Here are some highlights:
- step on it
- break the glass nipple
- break the glass
- break the capacitor on the back
- see how much it flexes before breaking
- mis-align the display connector
- fly a kite in a storm with the board attached to the kite
- play britney spears music near it
- have Steve Irwin poke a reptile with it
- use it as a chock for an aircraft
- fax it to someone
- eat off it
- garden with it
- fish with it
- use it in anti terrorist activities
- use it in terrorist activities
- play pool with it
- play in a pool with it
- target practice

You missed one:

- let Tony Fabris anywhere near it...