With so much choice and variety in the world of enclosures, we’ve set out the key points to help make choosing an enclosure easier for you. We look at the benefits of different materials and consider the different applications and environments.

iLECSYS are the UK’s largest independent stockist of enclosures, we have 1000’s in stock and ready to ship today.

Sizing up the job – The first thing to consider when selecting the right enclosure are the dimensions; including the area where the enclosure will be installed and the internal space – will you be adding further components later down the line? Also remember that whilst a smaller enclosure will be more reasonably priced it will be more difficult to assemble.

Which material? When choosing the best material for the application think about the surrounding environment and what the enclosure will encounter. Choosing the correct material will ensure the safety of the installed equipment and its users.  The correct material will also reduce the risk of outages and breakdowns and increase the life of the internal components. The most common materials used for enclosures are:

Polycarbonate – Perfect for outdoor use, as it is UV stable and has 4x the impact resistance of fiberglass enclosures, easy to modify, lightweight and has a high gloss finish. Ideally suited for automotive, aircraft, industrial and electrical applications. Polycarbonate does not block radio waves, so it is a good fit for wireless applications.
ABS – Ideal for indoor applications and these are hard-wearing and lightweight enclosures at an affordable price. They are impact resistant and usually available in a variety of colours. ABS generally have a lower resistance to extreme conditions.
GRP – These enclosures have good rigidity, chemical resistance, a wide temperature range and are non-conductive. GRP enclosures are for indoor or outdoor use and for tougher environments e.g. extreme temperature, high salt concentration, strong alkalis, acids or organic solvents. Works well in continuously wet environments and for wireless applications.
Aluminium – For general indoor & outdoor use, lightweight, corrosion resistant to hydrogen sulphide and are perfect for wastewater treatment applications.
Mild Steel – Cost effective enclosures for general use where corrosion is not an issue.
Stainless Steel – Known for tough, corrosion-resistant construction. Ideally suited for food processing areas, dairies, breweries or any wet areas, including marine environments.

View our range of enclosures – https://www.ilecsys.co.uk/zdriverils/form/category/ENCLOSURES

What IP Rating? The Ingress Protection rating is used to define levels of sealing effectiveness for electrical enclosures against the intrusion from foreign bodies (tools, dirt, dust etc.) and moisture. Don’t forget to maintain the IP rating by ensuring that the cable glands used are the same or higher rated as that of the enclosure.

Access & Mounting – Do you want the enclosure to have hinged doors, a screwed down lid or a transparent window? You can also get internal doors so that you can see in but keep the internals safe. Enclosures can also be installed in a variety of ways; wall mounting, free standing and modular.

Accessories – Internal Mounting Plates, Trunking, Din Rail, Ventilation, Wall Fixing Brackets, Key Lock upgrades, Plinths, Internal Doors & Pole Fixing Clamps.

Modifications –We have an in-house engineering department at our head office in Princes Risborough and we can offer our customers bespoke modifications to enclosures.  We offer one off or repeat jobs, which can save you time and money.  

Components – iLECSYS also supply everything you need for the inside of your enclosures from contactors power supplies, transformers through to pushbuttons and MCB’s. We are official distributors of many of the world’s leading manufacturers such as: Schneider Electric, Cahors, Bocchiotti, Fibox, Iboco, Lovato, ABB, WISKA, Stego, Cosmotec, Eldon, Ensto, IMO, GE, Spelsberg, Gewiss, Kraus & Naimer, IMO, Weidmuller, Finder, Eaton, Mersen, nVent, Partex, Bussmann, Interflex, Wieland, Bartec, Legrand, Adaptaflex, Betaduct, Entrelec and IDEC.

If you are not sure about what type of enclosure to choose then our experienced sales team can help on 01844 397300 or sales@ilecsys.co.uk. 

At iLECSYS we have over 25 years of experience and we are happy to provide excellent support, service and prices to the trade – https://www.ilecsys.co.uk.