Enclosure engineering articles

1. Oct 28, 2026Is a plastic junction box watertight outdoors?A plastic junction box is watertight only for its rated exposure. Check the gasket, cable glands and mounting holes before outdoor use.Explainer

1. Oct 28, 2026Aluminum vs stainless steel enclosure selectionCompare aluminum vs stainless steel enclosure weight, stiffness, heat transfer and corrosion, then specify the right metal for your environment.Comparison

1. Oct 28, 2026Enclosure cooling: fan vs air conditioner vs heat exchangerCompare enclosure fans, air conditioners and heat exchangers by ambient temperature, heat load, sealing needs and mounting cutouts before ordering.Comparison

1. Oct 28, 2026NEMA 4 enclosure drawing callout: what to includeWrite a NEMA 4 enclosure drawing callout that defines rating scope, evidence, cutout responsibility and acceptance checks for the completed panel.How-to
2. Oct 28, 2026Instrument junction box selection for signal wiringSelect an instrument junction box for signal wiring by checking exposure, terminals, cable entries, shield grounding and service clearance.Selection guide
3. Oct 28, 2026Humidity sensor in a sealed enclosure: measuring ambient airMeasure ambient humidity without exposing control electronics. Specify an external probe, sealed cable entry and vent without assuming fast response.Explainer
4. Oct 28, 2026G3/4 cable gland sizing and thread compatibilityIdentify G3/4 cable gland threads, check cable diameter, and select compatible seals or adapters without confusing BSPP, NPT and metric entries.How-to
5. Oct 28, 2026Enclosure battery shelf support without door distortionSpecify enclosure battery shelf support from equipment weight, center of gravity and verified load paths to prevent door distortion and seal damage.How-to
6. Oct 28, 2026Cable gland for RJ45 connector: sizing and sealingChoose a cable gland for RJ45 connector clearance and jacket sealing. Check split inserts, entry threads and cutouts before drilling your enclosure.How-to

1. Oct 28, 2026Stainless steel enclosure with gland plate: when to specify oneWhen a gasketed removable gland plate beats drilling the enclosure wall, what to check before ordering, and how to specify plate size, holes and gasket.Selection guide

1. Oct 28, 2026HMI suspension arm enclosure: what to specifySpecify an HMI suspension arm enclosure by installed weight, center of gravity, reach, interface loads, cable routing and sealing.Selection guide

1. Oct 28, 2026Cattle barn electrical enclosure selection for PoESpecify a cattle barn electrical enclosure for PoE switches and injectors, with sealed entries, heat checks, pole mounting and surge protection.Selection guide

Looking for the fundamentals? The enclosure guides cover NEMA types, IP codes, materials, sizing and heat in depth. Ratings on this site are manufacturer ratings; not UL listed. NEMA does not test, certify or endorse enclosures.