Polycarbonate electrical enclosure boxes are designed to prevent electrical shock to equipment users and to protect the content inside the enclosure from outside elements. Altogether, polycarbonate is an excellent choice for an electrical enclosure box. Its durable, lightweight, and easy to use, which makes it a go-to choice for contractors and do it yourselfers. It’s hard to find fault with it, but like with anything else, it’s important to take all of the factors into consideration when choosing your electrical enclosure box.
Throughout the years, electrical enclosures have been made of many different materials including: carbon steel, stainless steel, fiberglass, and polycarbonate. While all of these have their advantages, today we are going to focus on polycarbonate electrical enclosure boxes and their benefits.
Benefits of Polycarbonate Electrical Enclosure Boxes
1. Polycarbonate is a heavy-duty and versatile thermoplastic that is often used in industrial and engineering applications. Since it’s a thermoplastic, it can flex and then return back to its original shape.
2. Like other types of thermoplastics, polycarbonate does not conduct electricity, which makes it an excellent choice when you need to have your enclosure near water or exposed to the elements. It is also helpful in situations where there may be concerns about electrical shorting or arcing.
3. Polycarbonate has natural UV filtering abilities, which helps when the box is outside and exposed to the elements. This allows the box to withstand the test of time.
4. Polycarbonate, compared to other types of materials used to make enclosures, is lightweight. For example, if an enclosure made of polycarbonate weighs 1 pound, a similar fiberglass enclosure would weigh 1.4 pounds, aluminum would weigh in at 2 pounds, and steel would be 6.5 pounds.
5. Despite being lightweight, polycarbonate is very durable. It can withstand an impact of 900psi.
Advantages of Using Polycarbonate Enclosures over Metal Enclosures
Metal (such as stainless steel, carbon steel, and aluminum) and Polycarbonate enclosures have many similarities, but it is in their differences that polycarbonate shines as an enclosure choice. Polycarbonate enclosures are a lightweight option making them an excellent choice for solo installations. In fact, polycarbonate enclosures are roughly 6x lighter than stainless steel enclosures of similar size. While the pricing of the two may be comparable, a lighter enclosure means you’re paying less for shipping.
Both metal and polycarbonate enclosures are durable, but on impact, metal is liable to dent, which could cause long term issues. Polycarbonate enclosures can withstand impact up to 900psi. Polycarbonate, as a type of thermoplastic, does not conduct electricity (unlike metals which are good conductors of electricity), which gives it an advantage when the enclosure is needed near water.
To recap, in situations where an electrical enclosure needs to be lightweight, cost less, withstand high impact and/or be used near water, polycarbonate is the ideal choice over metal enclosures.
Advantages of Using Polycarbonate Enclosures over Fiberglass Enclosures
Now, we want to preface this by saying we love fiberglass enclosures, and we have a whole selection here. We’ve even written a blog post on them. However, just like fiberglass enclosures have a time and a place to be used, so do polycarbonate enclosures.
Like with metal enclosures, polycarbonate enclosures are easier to modify than fiberglass enclosures. Fiberglass is made of interwoven fibers, which could splinter when modifying whereas polycarbonate is easier to cut and can be cut more cleanly. When fiberglass is modified, it can delaminate, which puts stress on the enclosure.
Polycarbonate enclosures also withstand the test of time better than fiberglass. When exposed to the elements, particularly sunlight, fiberglass’s color starts to fade, and can start to deteriorate. Polycarbonate on the other hand, does not have colors that will fade, and it maintains its shape and strength when exposed to UV light.
Overall, choose polycarbonate over fiberglass enclosures when modifications to the enclosure are necessary or when the enclosure will be exposed to the elements for long periods of time.
Polycarbonate Enclosures Are a Great Choice
Deciding to use polycarbonate electrical enclosures over other types of enclosures can be a bit of difficult decision, but if you remember that polycarbonate enclosures are durable, lightweight (and, therefore, often, cheaper), safe for conditions where exposure to water is possible, and can withstand continual light exposure, then you’re one step closer to choosing an electrical enclosure. If you have any questions about the type of enclosure you need, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We’d love to help you.
