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Enclosures: Protecting Electrical & Electronic Components

In any setting where electricity is going to be used, or there will be electronic components at work, it is going to be necessary to use electronic enclosures. These are standard equipment in nearly any building, as they play a critical role in protecting the electronics and other electrical devices. Not only does this make the building safer for the occupants, but it also provides much-needed protection for those devices.

Often, it will be basic sheet metal that is used to create electronic enclosures. That is not always the case, however, as plenty of other options are available. Included in the other potential materials to be used for an enclosure include aluminum, specialty plastics, fiberglass, and other composites. The material which is used for a given enclosure should be selected based on the demands of the job at hand and the location where the enclosure will be installed.

There are a number of different types of enclosures available, so you should have no trouble at all finding one to meet your needs. Below we have listed some of the most-common types of electronic enclosures.

Electronic Cabinets

These are extremely common, and they are used in almost every setting to provide a safe and efficient place for electronics to function. They will do a nice job of protecting the electronics from things like dirt, dust, and moisture.

Junction Boxes

You can consider this to be perhaps the simplest form of electronic enclosure. A junction box is a protected point where wiring connections are typically made. These boxes are designed so they can be easily accessed later on, meaning they have a removable cover in a convenient location. Junction boxes are frequently made from metal, but there are plastic options available as well.

EMI Shielding

This is a special type of enclosure which is designed to prevent electromagnetic interference from damaging valuable equipment. There are specific materials like filters and gaskets which are put into use in order to provide the desired EMI shielding effect. The healthcare industry is one common place to come across such enclosures.

Computer Enclosures

You are already familiar with this type of enclosure. To keep everything running properly over the long run, computers are enclosed in metal or plastic in order to prevent damage to the delicate parts. Dust is a particular threat to the operation of a computer, as is moisture. Without an enclosure, a standard computer would not remain in functioning condition for a long period of time.

Custom Enclosures

To finish our list, we will mention that custom enclosures are commonly used when no ‘stock’ solution is available. There are often wiring problems in a construction job which require unique solutions, and those solutions may demand the fabrication of a custom enclosure to bring everything up to code successfully.

No matter what kind of electronics job is at hand, it is a safe bet that there will be an enclosure involved somewhere along the way. The key to success here is to select the enclosure which offers the perfect set of features – design, material, etc. – to meet the needs of your project.

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