Keep electronic projects secure & weatherproof with the right enclosures

For many designers of DIY or prototype projects, once the electronics are laid out, finding a suitable enclosure is often left to the last minute. This may be reasonable if it’s going to be used indoors on a desk or placed on a wall, temporarily. But if the project is intended for use outdoors over long periods, it will quickly succumb to the elements or be damaged, either intentionally or unintentionally, by malicious tampering or idle curiosity.

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It’s difficult to craft an appropriate enclosure using available materials, and while off-the-shelf enclosures might meet ruggedness requirements, they may be the wrong size, overly vulnerable to tampering, and lack aesthetics. The latter two can be problematic if the enclosure is going to be on the outside of a home or commercial building.

For small electronic project housings or enclosures that will be placed outside, it’s best to opt for a line of officially IP-68 qualified polycarbonate enclosures that can seal the electronics effectively against the elements.

This article will discuss the effects of rain, temperature extremes, and sunlight on electronics systems and their enclosures. It will then describe what IP-68 protection implies before introducing enclosures from Hammond Manufacturing with associated gaskets that meet both physical and aesthetic requirements.

Read the full article in the December issue of DPA