Wednesday, April 24, 2024

Electrical Enclosures 101: Common Types, Colors, and More

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It should come as no surprise that electricity plays a major role in industrial automation. It provides the power and capabilities for various parts, mechanisms, and machines to successfully operate in the desired manner and ultimately lead to the end goal.

However, electricity doesn’t simply “appear” into these locations in a factory or other such location, nor does it turn off or, rather, “disappear” all on its own. In order to seamlessly provide your machinery with these desired voltages or even deny it such, you need a properly organized place to control the electricity, which means you need electrical enclosures.

What Are Electrical Enclosures?
Electrical enclosures are cabinets that hold mount switches used to control electrical or electronic equipment. These cabinets simultaneously protect both the users from electric shock and the cabinets’ contents from the environment and other outside conditions.

Not only do they assist in protection but they simply are more aesthetically pleasing to those working or even passing by. Altogether, they are excellent organizational tools for increasing overall safety, usage, reliability, and convenience.

What Are Enclosures Made Of?
Electrical enclosures come in a wide variety of sizes, shapes, and configurations. These enclosures are also made primarily of different materials, such as stainless steel, carbon steel, polycarbonate, aluminum, polycarbonate plastic, ABS plastic, and fiberglass.

Junction boxes are constructed from aluminum or carbon steel, especially if they lack terminal connections. These types of enclosures protect the contents from dust but can even be submerged for 30 minutes (up to one meter). For those enclosures with terminal connections, they can be made of ABS plastic, aluminum, or polycarbonate plastic.

Do the Colors Matter?
The various colors of these enclosures, especially those that are made of plastic, also matter as each color has its very own significance. Therefore, when choosing a specific color for your enclosure, ensure that it correlates with its meaning and most desirable location.

Gray: usually used in robotics, control system, machinery, and solar applications. This color is quite versatile.

Ivory: for locations that require a more aesthetically pleasing appearance, such as in offices.

Clear (especially a clear cover): for industries and locations that need consistent monitoring, like larger industrial equipment.

What Are the Key Rating Systems?
There are two main rating systems with these enclosures: the IP and NEMA systems.

The IP system grades enclosures on their protective abilities against dust and other smaller particles along with water ingress. The NEMA system, on the other hand, has various types and is extremely contingent on a wide range of factors, including specific situations.

Where to Buy Dependable Electrical Enclosures
When you are looking for such enclosures that you can rely on to do the job right, trust no one else but Major Electronix Corp. They have numerous high-quality parts and accessories for your industrial automation location.

They carry various enclosures as well, such as hinged lids, screw covers, terminals, and more. Alongside the enclosures themselves, Major Electronix also offers various accessories for these parts. Give them a call today at 800-966-2345 to get started.

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