Aside from purchasing a steel electronics enclosure for your needs, there are plastic enclosures available in the market today. However, in purchasing one there are several considerations the user has to take in consideration before actually buying one. Asking the right questions is as crucial as choosing the right enclosure.

In this article, we will help you to make the right decision.

With this in mind, there are three basic questions in choosing the right plastic enclosure for your engineering project. These questions should be first addressed by the project or design engineer before making a decision if they should buy a plastic enclosure instead of the steel one.

Aside from the different price points, weight, transportability, and durability there are other important factors you should keep in mind.

The size of the enclosure. Plastic enclosures are easier to customize thus it can accommodate smaller design of electronics enclosure. It can range from a hand-held enclosure to a large one akin to the typical steel enclosures.

The user should keep in mind that the size specifics should be identified first and what types of customizations needed.

Level of protection. Also take into consideration that if you need a specific or certain level of environmental protection for your electronics enclosure, carefully note that the plastic enclosures can have the rating of at least IP40. It can also go up to IP65 or even higher.

It can also be a flame-retardant material so carefully consider the types of protection you might need.

Type of plastic material used. There are polycarbonate and ABS plastic enclosures available. You can search online for its different uses and characteristics. It is important to note that the polycarbonate material is also UV-stabilized and ideal for outdoor use.

NEMA Rating. Usually, plastic enclosures have the NEMA rating of 4X and 6P alongside other NEMA ratings.

In addition to this, if there’s a need for you to stock on an enclosure or there should be customization and modifications, the user should be upfront with the manufacturer to be clear about what is needed to be made on the plastic enclosure.