Electronic components used in industrial lighting often require protection from the surrounding environment. The enclosure becomes the mechanical boundary between sensitive electronics and dust, moisture, chemicals, contact, vibration, and production activity.
Environmental Protection
Separating Electronics From Industrial Conditions
Enclosures can protect control boards, supplies, drivers, wiring, and terminals from contamination and mechanical exposure.
The enclosure should be selected around actual operating conditions rather than assuming every industrial installation requires the same level of sealing or mechanical construction.
Enclosure Materials
Metal and Polymer Construction
Electronic enclosures can use metal or polymer construction depending on structure, impact, weight, electrical, thermal, corrosion, fabrication, and environmental requirements.
Plastic enclosures represent one option where polymer properties suit the application.
Cabinet Systems
Electrical Cabinets
Larger systems can place power supplies, controls, terminal blocks, breakers, communication hardware, and lighting controls within a dedicated electrical cabinet.
Internal layout should preserve wiring space, separation, cooling, labeling, and maintenance access.
Cable Entry
Bringing Wiring Through the Enclosure Wall
Cable-entry features should maintain mechanical protection while allowing conductors and connectors to reach internal equipment.
Strain relief, sealing, connector mounting, bend radius, and service access should be considered at each entry point.
Heat Management
Electronics Inside the Enclosure Generate Heat
Power supplies, drivers, processors, relays, and other electronics contribute thermal load. Enclosure size, material, internal spacing, mounting, ambient temperature, and heat-transfer strategy influence operating conditions.
Highly sealed enclosures require particular attention because restricting contamination can also restrict air exchange.
Serviceability
Doors, Covers and Internal Access
Components that require inspection, replacement, configuration, or troubleshooting should remain accessible after the enclosure is mounted into the machine or facility.
Fasteners, hinges, latches, terminal access, and cable movement should support the intended maintenance process.
Selection
Electronic Enclosure Design Factors
From Electronics to Hardware
Continue Into Custom Manufacturing
Electronic enclosures connect the electrical system to the physical product. Sheet metal fabrication, machining, extrusion, casting, molding, finishing, gasketing, and assembly can all contribute to the finished enclosure or lighting housing.
Custom Manufacturing →