Imperial or Metric - Electronics Hardware 1

[behindpropellers]

Just about to start a new project involving several PCB's and other electronics "stuff".

Does it make sense to use metric or imperial for items such as standoffs, spacers, PCB mounting? Etc.

Advice?

 

[MintJulep]

Yes, it does.

 

[KENAT]

What units are used in the rest of the device?

While electrical components may often be metric, for the mechanical mounting hardware this doesn't really matter.

Posting guidelines faq731-376

http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm?

(probably not aimed specifically at you)
What is Engineering anyway: faq1088-1484​

 

[behindpropellers]

The components on the PCB are metric.

I guess the biggest driver for this is weather one is stocked more commonly than the other. The numbers really do not matter as far as metric or imperial....its just a number.

Tim

 

[ShaggyPE]

Sounds to me like you have answered your own question. Where do you intend to buy your hardware? Do they stock more metric or imperial? In my experience the answer to that question is imperial... though I am located in California, USA. Where will your assemblies be manufactured? Where will they be installed and serviced?

-Dustin
Professional Engineer
Pretty good with SolidWorks

 

[tienti]

I think the place where it is going to be in use is also important. Had problems with CE and CSA certifications.