In the last couple of years, we have been offered more choices when it comes to choosing electrical enclosures most of these choices we didn’t have that long ago. So the question begs to differ, which electrical enclosure is right for me? Plastic enclosures or the traditional stainless steel.
Plastic enclosures were created when people needed a solution to the corrosion that stainless steel and aluminium enclosures develop over time. As more and more people lean towards plastic enclosures the choice might seem a bit unclear, there are a few pointers you should take into account when deciding which enclosure is best suited to your needs. You should consider the environment the enclosure will be put in and what it might need to endure, same as the physical strengths and weaknesses each enclosure has to offer, as well as how well it performs to make sure you get the most value for money.
The environment you choose to put your enclosure in should play a major deciding factor when you need to choose the enclosure that will deliver optimal performance. You should consider the temperature, humidity and any chemicals or risks in the environment and choose an enclosure that can match the needs of the environment you wish to put it in. While it can never do any damage choosing an enclosure that has way more features than you need, putting an enclosure in an environment that can’t match the climate can have serious repercussions.
When it comes to choosing an enclosure there are a few features you need to look at especially when comparing plastic enclosures and stainless steel enclosures. Strength can play a big role in which enclosure you choose, and the difference between stainless steel and plastic are great. Stainless steel enclosures usually have the ability to withstand great weight loads without stretching but are not great when it comes to sudden impact, they can dent quite easily. With all these new plastics being developed, the plastic used for enclosures usually can hold up quite well when heavy loads are applied and can also deflect sudden impacts better than stainless steel enclosures.
Corrosion is another factor you should look at. The reason plastic enclosures were created was mainly to avoid stainless steel enclosures that can corrode easily. While plastic enclosures are not entirely corrosion free, they seem to last longer without showing any signs of damage. The rest of the features you should look at include size, weight, water absorption, heat transfer, flammability, UV resistance, safety, impact resistance, security, hardness, and strength. You should take these features into consideration and decide which of these features you will need in an electrical enclosure to match your environment.
The reason you would buy an electrical enclosure is to protect your electrical equipment, so making sure that the features that protect said equipment doesn’t fail over time is another important deciding factor. Another reason that plastic enclosures have become popular is the fact that they are made out of a non-conductive material which provides a barrier between electricity and the electrical equipment inside but like any enclosure, you need to make sure that the enclosure is grounded to provide extra security and safety. Metal enclosures can get quite hot, so can plastic but not quite as extreme, so make sure the enclosure you choose is well insulated and suitable for the environment it will be put in.
Another thing you might not even know about is how electromagnetic waves and radio frequency can effect and cause a system to malfunction. Metal or stainless steel enclosures naturally deflect any kind of signal or frequency whereas plastic does not and will not provide protection against these things. You can, however, find special coating made of nickel or copper to help deflect these signals. So when it comes to protecting your electrical equipment, you should think about the conductivity of the enclosure, the temperatures it might rise to, what kind of insulation you will need and to remember to ground your enclosure.
Some other things you should think about when choosing between plastic enclosures and stainless steel ones should be if you need to provide any modifications what material will be easier to work with. Plastic is probably the right option for you. Furthermore, appearances are often considered a trivial thing, but it has an ability to effect which enclosure we choose. There are many different enclosures out there so you should choose one that is aesthetically pleasing to you. Last but not least, the price. Stainless steel tends to be more expensive, so most plastic enclosures go overlooked. This should not be a factor in your decision; you should always base your choice on the facts and what enclosure is best suited for you, the people around you and your environment.
