chassismounted

Chassis-mounted refers to components, connectors, or assemblies that are physically secured to the chassis or frame of an electrical or electronic device rather than being mounted on a printed circuit board. This mounting approach is chosen for parts that require greater mechanical strength, thermal management, or electrical isolation from low-voltage circuitry.

Common examples include power transformers and inductors, mains input components and fuses, relays and switches, bulkhead or panel connectors, and heat sinks attached to the chassis. Large capacitors and shielding elements may also be mounted directly to the chassis. In typical builds, chassis-mounted parts are connected to PCBs or other chassis-mounted elements via cables, harnesses, or through removable connectors.

Advantages of chassis mounting include improved thermal dissipation for high-power components, increased mechanical robustness and vibration resistance, enhanced electrical isolation from sensitive circuitry, and easier maintenance or replacement of high-current or high-voltage parts. The metal chassis can also serve as an effective electromagnetic shield and grounding reference.

Disadvantages include higher assembly complexity and cost, longer cabling runs and wiring harnesses, a larger overall chassis footprint, and potential connector fatigue or wear from repeated mating cycles. Design considerations for chassis-mounted components involve ensuring adequate mounting hardware, clearances and creepage distances for safety, proper strain relief for cables, secure grounding to the chassis, and attention to EMI implications.

Chassis-mounted components are common in power supplies, radio and telecom equipment, industrial controls, audio amplifiers, and other systems where thermal, safety, or mechanical requirements justify mounting parts to the chassis rather than to a PCB.