What Is a NEMA 2 Enclosure?

The NEMA enclosure rating system helps electronics engineers and manufacturers choose the enclosures that are right for their projects. However, to make the right choice, you’ll need to have a basic knowledge of the most common ratings and which enclosures they apply to.

NEMA 2 enclosures are indoor electronics enclosures that provide basic protection against common environmental hazards. In this TechTalk article, we’ll look at what exactly a NEMA 2 enclosure protects against and why you might choose a NEMA 2 enclosure for your project. 

NEMA Rating Basics

The National Electrical Manufacturers Association developed its NEMA rating system to provide an easy way to rate an enclosure’s protective qualities. It’s a scale of ratings that indicate an enclosure’s resistance to common environmental hazards, such as splashing liquids and flying dust.

The NEMA rating scale ascends from NEMA 1, the lowest level of protection, to NEMA 6P, the highest level. The levels between include some ratings, such as NEMA 12 and NEMA 13, that are numerically higher but provide a mid-range level of protection. 

Note that NEMA ratings are voluntary, meaning NEMA doesn’t bestow or certify them. Polycase has its enclosures independently tested by UL (Underwriters Laboratories) to ensure that they meet the performance standards issued by NEMA. 

See Polycase’s NEMA Ratings Guide for a full list of NEMA ratings and their protective qualities. 

The NEMA 2 Enclosure Rating

Let’s take a close look at the protection that the NEMA 2 rating provides. These are the essential characteristics of a NEMA 2 enclosure:

• • Rated for indoor use

• • Protects against accidental contact with device components

• • Protects against ingress from solid objects and falling dirt

• Protects against light splashing and dripping of water

NEMA 2 enclosures are a step up from NEMA 1 enclosures because they provide protection from liquids that NEMA 1 enclosures don’t offer. They provide this protection through durable design that helps the enclosures shed liquids from their surface and keeps them tightly sealed against dirt. 

When Is a NEMA 2 Rating a Good Choice?

NEMA 2 rated enclosures are a good choice for indoor devices that require solid basic protection at an affordable price point. You’ll often find them in commercial and light industrial settings. Essential devices like thermostats, security system consoles and Wi-Fi routers are all common applications for NEMA 2 enclosures. 

However, NEMA 2 rated enclosures aren’t a good choice for outdoor applications or applications that require protection from any of the following:

• • Hose-directed water jets

• • Submersion in water

• • Dripping oil or coolant

• Flying dust and debris

If you need an enclosure that can withstand these tougher conditions, make sure to browse our outdoor NEMA enclosures. 

NEMA 2 Enclosures from Polycase

Polycase offers many options for enclosures with NEMA 2 ratings and higher. The following models are just a few of the NEMA 2 enclosures that we offer: 

• Polycase WA Series: These durable ABS enclosures are among our most popular and affordable indoor electronics enclosures. They provide solid dust-proof protection and are constructed from UL listed flame-retardant ABS plastic. WA Series enclosures include molded-in PCB mounting bosses and are available with optional molded-on flanges for quick surface mounting. 

Polycase WA-20 ABS Indoor NEMA Enclosure

• Polycase WC Series: The WC Series makes an excellent choice for any application that demands a tougher NEMA enclosure. Manufactured from ultra-resilient, impact-resistant polycarbonate, the Polycase WC Series provides waterproof, UL flame-retardant protection. These polycarbonate enclosures are available with an optional clear cover for easy instrument reading. 

Polycase WC-20 Outdoor Enclosure with Clear Cover

• Polycase SA Series: Another NEMA 2 enclosure line that goes far above and beyond the rating requirements, the SA Series are stainless steel enclosures that offer true professional protection for your electrical and electronic equipment. Their stainless steel construction makes them highly resistant to scratching and rust. SA Series models are designed with a hinged cover sealed with a waterproof gasket, plus a built-in quarter turn keyed latch for extra security. 

Polycase SA-38 NEMA Stainless Steel Enclosure

• Polycase SB Series: These NEMA 2 steel enclosures provide the superior performance you expect from steel at a lower price point than our stainless steel enclosures. Don’t forget that both the SA Series and SB Series offer some natural RF shielding to prevent electromagnetic interference. 

Polycase SB-38 NEMA Steel Enclosure

See our complete selection of NEMA 2 enclosures for more options. Need assistance with choosing the perfect electrical enclosure? Call Polycase’s enclosure experts at 1-800-248-1233 or contact us online.