Feature

Enclosure specifications: Don’t box yourself in

The first step in enclosure selection for outdoor electronic equipment is establishing an appropriate specification, and that’s not always a straightforward process.

01/02/2023 12:57:47

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Enclosures for outdoor electronic equipment must offer simultaneous protection from multiple threats. They need to keep water, dust and vermin out, for example, and resist the efforts
of casual vandals or determined criminals. They must permit easy access to authorised users for installation, maintenance, and upgrade work. And they need to ensure that equipment
within can maintain a safe operating temperature, regardless of the weather outside.

Some enclosures also need to protect the environment from noise or electromagnetic emissions generated by the
equipment.

The cost of the enclosure is likely to be relatively low, compared with the through-life costs of operating critical equipment, and the value generated by that
equipment. As a result, it can be tempting to “gold plate” enclosure specifications, but this approach doesn’t always lead to the best solutions.

Read the full article in DPA's February issue

Written By Sophia Bell

Sophia Bell is the Group Editor of DPA, Connectivity, and PBSI. She joined the team in 2020 as Assistant Editor after achieving a First-Class Honours BA in English Literature and Film Studies from the University of East Anglia. In her current role, she leads the editorial strategy, driving digital growth and ensuring each title continues to deliver trusted, relevant insight for engineering and manufacturing professionals.