Electrical Cabinets
Electrical cabinets are boxes that protect electronic assemblies from dust, water and accidental contact. Also known as electrical enclosures, these cabinets house electrical conduits, connections and switches as well as other integral components of a circuit. Electrical cabinets are rectangular boxes that range from about half a foot to over 5 feet tall in varying depths and widths.
Electrical cabinets are typically made out of aluminum or stainless steel, though plastics such as polycarbonate polystyrene or acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) are options as well. Tall cabinets may require a door or body stiffener for strength. Electrical cabinets are usually found in the lower levels or utility rooms of buildings and residences but can be found on street corners or partially hidden by landscaping in a park, for example. They are also widely used in practically every industry, protecting circuit breakers, operations switches and connections that would otherwise be exposed. Read More…
Leading Manufacturers
Equipto Electronics Corporation
Aurora, IL | 800-204-7225We are committed to excellence and our innovations in enclosure technology is an example of our commitment. Our unparalleled electronic enclosures are specialized for various tasks and our facility is ISO 9001:2008 certified & RoHS compliant.
Maysteel, LLC
Allenton, WI | 877-629-7833Maysteel specializes in designing, engineering, and manufacturing custom sheet metal enclosures, cabinets, kiosks, and racks. Our team members are versed in both EMI and RFI containment to keep your electronic components safe.
Vynckier Enclosure Systems, Inc.
Houston, TX | 888-837-1114Vynckier Enclosure Systems is a premier provider of electronic enclosures, fiberglass enclosures, NEMA enclosures and plastic electronic enclosures.
PacTec® Enclosures
Concordville, PA | 610-361-4200We design & manufacture plastic electronic enclosures & electrical enclosures. Choose from over 350 off-the-shelf handheld, desktop and wall-mount enclosures. Modifications are available to further meet your needs.
EnclosureHub
Cleveland, OH | 216-267-0764AD Products Co., a division of Scott Fetzer, offers the lowest pricing on quality electronic and electrical enclosure products, including NEMA enclosures, fiberglass and industrial enclosures and more. Modifications are available and stock orders ship same day.
Bud Industries, Inc.
Willoughby, OH | 440-946-3200As the best known US electronics enclosures manufacturer, Bud Industries, Inc. has the most complete line, including 19 inch cabs, IP65/IP66/IP67 and communication options and related accessories, all of which are available in a range of sizes and materials.
Electrical Cabinets – Equipto Electronics Corporation
The cabinets are generally made from cold rolled steel with continuously welded seams. After receiving a finish such as a powder coating, the knockouts, doors and handles are added. Accessories such as shelves or drawers are optional but can be useful, depending on the application. Warning labels and locking mechanisms deter vandalism and tampering.
Some cabinets stand on the floor while smaller models have mounting holes in the back for fasteners to directly mount the enclosure to the wall; other cabinets have external mounting feet for a complete seal and maximum protection from contaminants. Electrical cabinets are certified and rated by NEMA, the National Electrical Manufacturers Association, the IP Code (International Protection Rating) and by UL, the Underwriters Laboratories.
Requirements and standards help keep workers and technicians safe besides effectively communicating the specifications of electrical cabinets to interested buyers. For example, a cabinet with a NEMA Type 1 certification is rated for indoor use in a non-hazardous situation with the main purpose of preventing accidental contact. A rating of IP 66 means that the enclosure is totally protected from dust and against temporary flooding of water.
Another threat that electrical cabinets protect their contents from is electromagnetic interference (EMI, also known as radio frequency interference, or RFI) which is a disturbance that affects electrical circuitry due to electromagnetic radiation or conduction from an external source. Special coatings are available to shield an enclosure's contents from EMI/RFI.