Frequent access places demands on enclosure doors

It is tempting to think of enclosures as simple boxes that, in the grand scheme of things, do little else than house electrical and/or electronic components. But that is to completely misunderstand their purpose.

The role of any electrical enclosure is to provide protection against unauthorised access for security reasons or when potentially dangerous voltages are present, as well as providing protection for the electrical components within. And it must do this while allowing easy access for authorised personnel.

In addition to providing frequent and easy access, these enclosures will also have to endure those occasional knocks and blows, poor weather or the vagaries of harsh industrial environments. An enclosure that cannot provide this level of performance will eventually fail, leading to loss of service or production and possibly even reputation damage for the original installer. A 'cheap' enclosure could turn out to be more of a liability than an asset.

Quality counts
A poor quality door enclosure may have flimsy hinges that will weaken prematurely. And, as they misalign or fail altogether, the whole enclosure is compromised. Another point of weakness with many low cost enclosures is the door seals: these may slip and therefore not be able to engage properly when closed.

Moreover, budget enclosures are unlikely to have built-in mounting accessories, requiring additional purchases by the panel builder. This will increase assembly times and the risk of ill-fitted mounting hardware.

In short, the total cost of ownership of a poor quality door enclosure will be high – and certainly higher than that of a high quality product, should it have been specified at the outset.

DE Controls, the manufacturing arm of Hylec-APL, has developed a range of hinged-door enclosures that offer similar degrees of impact resistance to metal enclosures of similar sizes and are equipped with high quality hinges and seals. Offering high performance, long working life and easy installation, they do not dent on impact and  scratches are unlikely to penetrate the protective layers of paint, which have been applied to prevent corrosion in the presence of moisture or chemicals.

Recognising the importance of secure mountings, Hylec supplies its door enclosures with external mounting brackets and fitted galvanised steel backplates as a standard, no-cost option. The company claims to have taken a market leading position in providing this added value feature to the end user.

The hinged-door enclosures are fitted with locks and seals as standard, so they are secure and reliable even when installed outside. High-quality seals and hinges ensure that their performance won't deteriorate over time. Further, the external mounting brackets are designed to make installation simple without compromising the IP65 rating against dust and moisture ingress.

Hylec hinged-door enclosures are available in eight sizes and can be specified with a solid grey door or a transparent, polycarbonate version, the latter being popular for those applications where a meter has to be read or other indicators checked, preferably without opening the enclosure. The standard locks provided on the enclosures are of the quarter-turn type and are operated by a triangular key similar to those used for utilities and gas meter enclosures. 

Avoiding condensation damage
Hylec-APL also offers a range of venting elements which ensure pressure equilibrium is maintained between the inside and outside of the enclosure. The breathable membrane is quickly installed on the wall of the enclosure and allows the internal air pressure to equalise without drawing in moisture from the outside.

This low cost accessory is as easy to install as a cable gland and can prevent failures arising from the ingress of moisture laden air. It is supplied with an M12 thread fitting with a short (6mm) or standard (10mm) length, and is constructed from flameproof polyamide.

Mark Severn is director of sales at Hylec-APL