Selecting the suitable electrical enclosure type not only saves lives but equally a lot of money in operating expenses.
Because there are different types of electrical enclosures, it is challenging to choose the type that best suits your unique application.
To aid you out, we will discuss the common types of electrical enclosure boxes used today.
Let’s dive right in.
Common Types Of NEMA Electrical Enclosures
NEMA designations are normally applied to describe the extent of performance expectations. You will find many, however here are the common types of NEMA electrical enclosure:
NEMA Enclosures
- NEMA 1 Electrical Enclosure: Provide the least protection and are mostly used indoors.
- NEMA 2 Electrical Enclosures: The enclosures offer extra protection layer against light water drops.
- NEMA 3 Electrical Enclosure: Can be mounted both outdoors and indoors. You will notice them installed outdoors more often since they provide extra protection against rain, falling dirt, sleet, snow and external ice development.
- NEMA 4 Electrical Enclosure: Exhibit watertight features and offer greater degree of protection against extreme weather conditions.
- NEMA 4X Electrical Enclosure: Offer similar protection as NEMA 4 Enclosures though with extra protection against corrosion.
- NEMA 6 Electrical Enclosure: made for both outdoor and indoor use. It commonly finds use in applications where there may be occasional momentary immersion in water.
- NEMA 6P Enclosure: Gives similar protection level as NEMA 6 enclosures, though allows for extended immersion in water. It adds an extra protection layer against corrosion as well.
- NEMA 7 Electrical Enclosure: designed for indoor hazardous environments as specified in NFPA 70.
- NEMA 12 Electrical Enclosure: Irrespective of their higher rating, the enclosure ranks higher than NEMA 1 and 2. However, it offers less protection compared to outdoor enclosures such as NEMA 4X and 6P.
Electrical Enclosure By Material
Electrical enclosure cabinets also come in various materials that can considerably affect their role and performance:
Polycarbonate Plastic Electrical Enclosures
Polycarbonate electrical enclosures are typical less costly in comparison to metal enclosures and provide excellent impact resistance.
Also, polycarbonate plastic enclosures are exceptionally versatile and appropriate for a broad range of outdoor and indoor applications.
Polycarbonate electrical enclosure
Aluminum Electrical Enclosure
Aluminum electrical enclosure cabinets are more costly in comparison to plastic enclosures. These types of electrical enclosure boxes are exceptionally durable and can endure high temperatures.
Moreover, aluminum electrical enclosure cabinets have high corrosion resistance and provide natural RFI/EMI shielding to hinder interference.
Aluminum electrical enclosure
Stainless Steel Electrical Enclosure
These types of electrical enclosures are fire-resistant and are highly suitable for wet environments.
However, stainless steel electrical enclosure boxes are typically costlier than other enclosure types.
Mild Steel Electrical Enclosure
The mild steel electrical enclosures are fabricated with high strength materials such as 304 stainless steel, 316 stainless steel and galvanized steel.
This makes them have a tough and rigid construction.
To make them corrosion-resistant, mild steel electrical enclosure cabinets feature a powder coat paint.
Due to the coating, they are long-lasting and allow for both outdoor and indoor use.
Mild steel electrical enclosure
Galvanized Steel Electrical Enclosure
The galvanized steel electrical enclosures are strong and specially manufactured for outdoor applications within harsh environmental conditions.
They offer affordable yet long-lasting protection solutions.
Galvanized steel electrical enclosure
Electrical Enclosure By Mounting Options
The popular types of electrical enclosure boxes based on the mounting method include:
Floor Mount Electrical Enclosure
Floor mount electrical enclosure
Floor-mounted enclosures are large, freestanding electrical cabinets which are bolted and fastened to the floor perpetually.
They feature floor stands that raise the electrical enclosure cabinets above the floor for extra clearance and effortless cable access.
You can find both single and double door types of floor mount electrical enclosure, based on your access requirements. They fit the electrical components or equipment securely, hence require minimal amount of floor space.
Most floor-mounted enclosures come with locking mechanisms to prevent accidental opening of the doors. Some also feature electrical enclosure accessories like mounting panels, fans and handle.
Slope-top designs prevent accumulation of water and double access types offer rear access. Moreover, majority of floor mount enclosure cabinets are IP rated giving ingress protection against liquid and dust.
Wall Mount Electrical Enclosure
Wall-mounted electrical enclosures refer to electrical enclosure cabinets that are purposed to be fixed to an outdoor or indoor wall.
They provide protection and easy access to the different kinds of electrical components or equipment housed.
Most wall-mount electrical enclosures are vented, usually with a set of fluted cut-outs or grilles in door panels or along the sides.
This facilitates better thermal management of the electrical equipment or components secured inside.
You can use hardware such as mounting brackets, external tabs, or pre-punched openings in the back wall of the electrical enclosures.
Moreover, you can add reinforcement plates to the wall mount electrical enclosure cabinet in case the application needs them.
Wall mount electrical enclosure
Pole Mounted Electrical Enclosure
A pole-mounted electrical enclosure is available with a number of mounting bracket alternatives.
This allows for mounting on outdoor light or phone poles, interior support poles, or other round objects.
You can have the pole mounting brackets attached to the back wall of the pole mount electrical enclosure with hardware or welds.
Pole mounted electrical enclosure
Pad Mounted Electrical Enclosure
Typically, a pad mount enclosure has an open base and is put on top of a concrete pad.
Most will come with slotted holes for fitting the anchor bolts lodged within the pad, fastening the electrical enclosure.
Slots or holes may be punctured into an external or internal flange, setting the anchor bolts either outside or inside the enclosure.
Pad mount electrical enclosure
Walk-in Electrical Enclosure
You can fabricate electrical enclosures to a number of sizes ranging from a tiny booth to a big structure.
The ordinary walk-in electrical enclosure is a big structure featuring one or more doors.
They commonly have an open base for pad mounting, although can as well have full floors. Walk-in enclosures can also come with lifting hardware like lifting eyes, entry security systems and several other accessories.
Walk in electrical enclosure
Free Standing Electrical Enclosure
Free Standing enclosures are wholly enclosed electrical cabinets, usually on legs, fashioned to sit on a level floor. The legs raise the electrical enclosure for access from below.
Installation can be as effortless as fixing the enclosure legs to floor. This enables you to mount with negligible compromiser to the integrity of the free standing electrical enclosure.
Moreover, you can add optional casters to facilitate easy movement or removal.
Free standing electrical enclosure
Rack Mount Electrical Enclosure
Rack mount electrical enclosures offer distinct benefits over fixed types of electrical enclosure cabinets.
They are designed to accommodate electronic modules or assemblies having standard alignment rails or slides and locking systems.
The alignment rails enable easy mounting and removal of electronic components.
Besides, the rack mount enclosure normally has a number of racks for the installation of the electronic assemblies.
At times, rack mount enclosures feature an electrical backplane having precision placed connectors.
If you install the electronic assembly, a connector found at the back of electronic assembly will couple with backplane connector of the enclosure.
Rack mount electrical enclosures might as well come with cable cradles to hold up cable bundles and wires linking the electronic assemblies.
Common applications of rack mount enclosures include use for tabletop or desktop electronics, wall mount applications, LAN network, and computer server modules installations.
Rack mount electrical enclosure
Tower Mount Electrical Enclosure
Tower mount enclosures are almost similar to pole mount electrical enclosure boxes. They are suitable for applications comprising of:
- Wind antennas,
- Radiation shields,
- Solar panels,
- Radio equipment,
- Cross arms,
- Satellite,
- Emergency transmission, and
- Access switching station among other
Most tower mount electrical enclosure cabinets allow for cable access, fastening and grounding. Moreover, these electrical enclosure types can be installed on walls, poles or any fitting structure.
Tower mount electrical enclosure
General Enclosure Types
Here are the common classifications of electrical enclosure cabinets:
Large Electrical Enclosure
A large enclosure box denotes an electrical enclosure cabinet purposely intended for large-scale applications.
You can get all types of large electrical enclosures based on size, though free-standing enclosures are the best if the load is comparatively high.
However, it is also possible to fabricate wall mount and floor mount large electrical enclosure. Moreover, depending on your project requirements, you can as well fabricate custom large electrical enclosure cabinets.
Large Electrical Enclosure
Modular Electrical Enclosure
Modular electrical enclosure is engineered to shield electrical and electronic components in LAN, industrial and telecommunications applications.
It is designed to withstand advanced loads and severe conditions of industrial applications, whilst ensuring easier use and faster population of the enclosure.
Modular electrical enclosure boxes will help you to optimize your usable space.
They will spare more space for your electronics whilst utilizing similar outdoor footprint as ordinary electrical cabinets.
Modular electrical enclosure
Access Control Enclosure
This type of electrical enclosure is perfect for applications where the electrical components are susceptible to dirt, dust and water ingress.
The access control enclosures come in various designs, types, configurations and sizes.
KDM steel has double door and multi-door access control electrical enclosure box.
The enclosures are perfect for commercial, residential and outdoor applications.
Access control electrical enclosure
Electrical Pedestal Enclosure
Electrical pedestal enclosures are constructed to house small electronic terminals, instruments and controls.
They also offer protection against dangerous elements whilst giving ventilation for delicate components.
Electric pedestal enclosure
Double Door Electric Enclosure
As the name suggests, double door electrical enclosures have two doors and are commonly designed for larger capacities.
Most enclosures of this type have overlapping doors, eliminating the necessity for a centerpost.
Double door enclosures are waterproof making them fit for both outdoor and indoor applications.
They are ideal for mining, oil and gas communications, infrastructure, hospital industries among others.
Double door electric enclosure
Marshalling Box
Marshalling Boxes offer convenient connection spots for the several instrumentation, protection and control wires used within different substation facilities.
These comprise of switchgear equipment, power and instrument transformers.
This electrical enclosure type features a myriad of convenience and safety features, guaranteeing simplicity during installation, maintenance and commissioning.
You can have custom marshalling box to meet your specific project requirements. Whether you need several I/O within a control area or terminating field equipment on skidded package.
Hazardous environment Marshalling Box is custom designed for every individual application. Marshalling boxes can come with rear and front access or in certain applications front access only where there may be limited substation space.
Marshalling box
Wire Cage Enclosures
Wire cage enclosures form a security partition about your electrical equipment inside shared facility spaces like:
- Colocation Sites
- Multi-Tenant Data Centers (MTDC)
- Equipment Rooms, And
- Entrance Facilities.
Wire cage enclosure
The wire cage enclosure has an open design constructed from woven wire mesh, which enables airflow to equipment, whilst offering physical security.
They are a simple, cost-effective method to subdivide your space and guard your equipment.
Wireless Enclosures
Wireless enclosures protect access points near network users.
They offer an extra degree of security for wireless LAN through guarding wireless access points against theft, vandalism, tampering and harsh environmental conditions.
There are several styles of wireless enclosures in the market including NEMA-rated designs that you can use in warehouses, outdoors and industrial environment.
Wireless enclosure
Weatherproof Electrical Enclosure
These types of electrical enclosures are constructed to house electrical instruments, equipment and controls within an outdoor, weatherproof surrounding.
The electrical enclosure boxes provide protection against snow, sleet, and rain.
Weatherproof electrical enclosures are fabricated using sturdy, impact resistant materials. Most of the enclosure boxes are designed and fabricated in conformity with NEMA standards, are IP rated and/or UL listed.
Weatherproof electrical enclosure
Washdown Electrical Enclosure
Washdown electrical enclosure is designed to protect electrical and electronic equipment and components in places that may be often hosed down.
They are also suitable for installations in excessively wet environments.
Most washdown electrical enclosures feature a 15 degrees slope top that ensures protection from oil, dirt, dust and strong water jets.
This outdoor/indoor electrical enclosure is the solution for corrosive surroundings and weatherproof applications.
Washdown wlectrical enclosure
VFD Enclosure
Variable frequency drives are usually housed within enclosure made to shield them from water, dirt, dust and the like. This is due to the fact that VFDs can be mounted in harsh surroundings.
VFD Enclosures provide active heat ventilation minimizing heat accumulation and VFD failure. The enclosures offer heat ventilation necessary in variable frequency drives cooling solution that minimizes heat to optimize VFD efficiency and limit failures.
VFD Enclosure
The primary feature of VFD enclosures is their ability to control heat buildup efficiently. Heat accumulation in any enclosure may destroy electrical and electronic devices within.
Overheating has the potential of shortening the service life of the components or result in performance failure. Some of the unique thermal management solutions included in most VFD enclosures consist of:
- Back panel entry for heat sinks that carry heat efficiently away from the electronic components of the electrical enclosure.
- Custom cutouts helpful in circulating blowers and fans for circulation of air and ventilation. This is in addition to air conditioners and heat exchangers useful in closed loop cooling,
- Louver covers for controlling movement of cool air across the VFD enclosure.
- Pre-punched louvers essential in allowing heat dissipation within the enclosure and the efficient cooling of drivers,
- Sun shields that aid in reducing solar heat gain within outdoor VFD enclosures.
Hinged Electrical Enclosure
There are various hinged electrical enclosures fabricated in a wide variety of sizes, giving you safe, direct access to electrical components and controls.
These types of electrical enclosures have robust hinge for a strong industrial look.
These dependable hinged electrical enclosures come distinctive size ranges.
You can choose different types of hinges including stainless steel hinge spring hinge, continuous hinge, concealed hinge, among others.
Continuous hinged electrical enclosure
Lockable Electrical Enclosure
Most modern electrical enclosures feature a form of locking mechanism for additional security and protection.
The common locking mechanisms used in lockable electrical enclosures include:
- Single lock electrical enclosure
- Quick-release lockable enclosure box
- Double bar locking electrical enclosure box
- Cam locking enclosure cabinet
- Padlocked electrical enclosure
Lockable electric enclosure
Outdoor Electrical Enclosure
This type of electrical enclosure is designed to withstand all forms of outdoor weather conditions.
Outdoor electrical enclosures are fabricated to deter both street vandalism and the elements.
The electrical enclosure cabinets are particularly fabricated to withstand extreme environmental conditions and dangerous impacts like fire outbreaks and electrical shocks.
Majority of outdoor electrical enclosures are weatherproof ensuring that interior electrical and electronic assemblies are guarded in any environment.
They are purposely engineered to meet and surpass various IP and NEMA requirements, making them ideal for outdoor industrial applications.
Outdoor electric enclosure
From mini waterproof electrical enclosure cabinets, to big weatherproof enclosures, you have a range of sizes, styles and materials to select from.
Featuring a watertight gasket, the enclosures guarantee to keep electrical and electronic components safe in wet environments.
Outdoor electrical enclosures are available in aluminum, steel varieties and plastic and commonly find use in industries.
Operator Console Enclosure
Operator console enclosures guard electrical or electronic components and equipment normally applied to control a system or machine.
Most freestanding console enclosures feature sloped or flat tops and come in different sizes.
They can be tabletop or pedestal mounted.
Operator console enclosures are engineered for ergonomic installation of all kinds of operator interface devices including meters, pushbuttons, gauges, HMIs, LED display screens, etc.
Larger freestanding consoles enclosure boxes have enough space for mounting other control devices on the internal subpanels.
Console enclosures provide more close-packed solution for more compact control applications where you need fewer operator interface gadgets.
You may mount them on a pedestal or any vertical or horizontal surface.
Operator console electrical enclosure
Vented Electrical Enclosure
Electrical enclosure boxes of this type have an in-built venting system featuring vent duct, louvered opening, or fan cooling systems.
This enables vented electrical enclosures to offer protection, facilitate efficient heat dissipation, ensure pressure equalization, and remove liquids or dust.
Vented electrical enclosures are particularly perfect for outdoor applications in places having warm weather.
This is because electrical components or equipment within may get overheated in such conditions.
Vented Free-Standing Electrical Enclosure
Custom Electrical Enclosure
These are types of electrical enclosures exclusively constructed based on your distinctive requirements.
With the aid of your producer, you will create drawing and come up with fabrication procedures, which will satisfy you unique application requirements.
Some of the features of custom electrical enclosures are custom sizing, patterns, color matching, patterns and assembly.
Opting for custom enclosures give you a range of options. For instance, you have the freedom to choose your desired latch and lock or powder coat the enclosure to color of your liking.
The main advantage of custom electrical enclosure is that it allows you to arrange electronic equipment and accessories depending on the system requirements.
Furthermore, customized electrical enclosure cabinets act as ideal branding method that will assist you in marketing your business.
For all your electrical enclosures from China, contact KDMSteel now.