Seperate control panel for 5e8a FLPT

[ajdroid]

(Moderator, if this isn't the right spot, please move appropriately, thanks.)

Hello, I've just joined this site hoping that the smart people here can help me with a request of me from my son.

I recently just completed a 2x12 cabinet for him and we'd like to make it a combo cab with a Low Power Twin circuit (sourced from mojotone.com), but not in an internally mounted chassis. Rather, he's looking for it to be mounted on top of the cab with the tubes up, and then we'll place a sturdy cage around it. Not that hard so far. The kicker is, he wants the control panel to still be in the typical Tweed location, i.e. the top back of the cab (or cage in this case).

So I need to "fly" the panel a bit, just guessing 8" or so. The separation isn't as great as the 5b6 Bassman or Fender's current Excelsior since I won't be running from the inside bottom of the cab to the top. Just from the top of the cab to the top of the cage. I'm very comfortable building the amp in the traditional manner, but a bit squirrely about modifying it this much.

Hoping you friendly people could advise or point me on the best way to do this. My priorities in order are 1) safety, 2) performance, and 3) aesthetics. That said, the questions that come immediately to mind are mostly about avoiding any kind of shock hazard.

1) Perhaps the panel shouldn't be metal (especially if its attached to a metal cage)? Plastic, wood?

2) If not metal, how best to ground the pots and switches? A bus bar with one connection to the main chassis?

3) Perhaps an on/off/standby switch that controls a relay at the main chassis for turning on the 120AC, rather than bringing the 120AC up to the flying panel?

4) How to minimize any hum that might be introduced by the longer leads.

Apologies for the long winded request, and thanks much in advance for your assistance. And now I'm all ears ...

[M Fowler]

Doesn't sound like a good idea to me building the amp on top like that. Why not just a Tweed style head cabinet for the amp.

[xtian]

Remote panels are evil. I spent a long time trying to get mine to work without ground loops and buzz:

https://tubeamparchive.com/viewtopic.php?t=22152

[Baddog01]

There is a reason they dont do remote panels anymore... I would go with a standard head thing....

[ajdroid]

Baddog01, xtian, and M Fowler,

Appreciate the candid answers. xtian - especially the link to your experience. Understand from it that doing it is a real PITA; but also, eventually, it can be done.

Thanks much,

ajdroid