Polycarbonate Enclosures: Features, Benefits and Common Applications

Whether you need an enclosure for indoor or outdoor applications, a polycarbonate enclosure should be taken into consideration. Rugged, lightweight and incredibly versatile, these enclosures are the perfect solution for a wide range of applications.Engineers, plant managers and contractors across nearly every industry trust high-quality polycarbonate enclosures to protect their valuable electronics. Here is a look at the features, benefits and applications for polycarbonate enclosures:

Benefits of Polycarbonate Enclosures

An extremely versatile and durable material, polycarbonate plastic is incredibly popular in the electronics industry. Below are just a few reasons why so many engineers put their trust in polycarbonate enclosures:Durable—Polycarbonate is a material with a high heat resistance (roughly -40C to 120C). It’s also UV-resistant and offers good chemical resistance, making it an ideal material for outdoor applications.Lightweight—Polycarbonate enclosures are lightweight, making them easy to carry and install.Easy to Modify—Although polycarbonate enclosures are incredibly durable, they’re also easy to add cutouts when customization is needed.Affordable—As if being versatile and strong weren’t enough, polycarbonate enclosures are affordable compared to their metal counterparts. This makes them an ideal choice for many contractors and plant manufacturers who want quality without paying a fortune for it.Protects from Corrosion, Dust, Rain, Extreme Temperatures, Etc.—If you need to protect your sensitive electronics from the weather, a well-manufactured polycarbonate enclosure will keep your equipment safe from Mother Nature. Many polycarbonate enclosures have a NEMA 4X or 6P rating to protect your electronics from corrosion, dirt, water and occasional submersion.

Features of Polycarbonate Enclosures

Depending on the electronics manufacturer and design of the enclosure, polycarbonate enclosures can have a wide range of features. Because of this, we’ll discuss the features that you can find on Polycase’s ten different series of polycarbonate enclosures:Robust Design—Molded from UV-stable, impact-resistant polycarbonate, all our polycarbonate enclosures meet at least NEMA 4X and IP65 specifications. Our YH Series, YQ Series and ML Series of polycarbonate enclosures are designed to protect your components in the most difficult environments, meeting NEMA 6P requirements.Surface/Wall Mounting Flanges—This is a convenient feature that allows you to mount your project box or industrial enclosure to a surface without needing to remove the cover.PCB Mounting Bosses—Molded-in mounting bosses come standard in all our polycarbonate series. These bosses allow you to easily mount a PC board or panel inside the enclosure.Numerous Design Options—Our polycarbonate enclosures are available in different styles, sizes and cover options. Enclosures can come in black and light gray with choice of clear/opaque covers and we can easily provide customized modifications to take your product to the next level with cutouts that meet your exact specifications.

Common Applications for Polycarbonate Enclosures

Polycarbonate enclosures are suited for many environments. From wastewater treatment to paper and pulp manufacturing plants, you can find these rugged enclosures in a wide variety of applications:Wastewater Treatment—Wastewater treatment and water distribution centers use monitoring equipment that acquires data and transmits it back to the main data center. Polycarbonate enclosures resist UV rays, offer a degree of protection against moisture, are lightweight (and therefore, easy to install) and can be easily modified out in the field.Solar Power—Because of their durability in extreme temperatures, polycarbonate enclosures are commonly used in solar power applications. Enclosures must be able to withstand UV radiation, as well as wind blowing dust, dirt and rain, making them vital for solar power operations.Marine or Marina—On a ship or docked at a port, it’s important for ship navigation officers to protect their electrical equipment from wet environments. This includes occasional sea spray and temporary submersion underwater. Polycarbonate enclosures with NEMA 6P ratings are waterproof enclosures that can handle the elements, as well as temporary submersion.Stadiums—Polycarbonate cases are incredibly durable and can protect Wi-Fi equipment from the impact of baseballs going at incredible speeds. Polycarbonate also allows wireless and radio frequency (RF) signals to pass through its body.Manufacturing Plants—In manufacturing plants, electronic enclosures must be corrosion- and heat-resistant. Pulp and paper plants, for instance, prepare fibrous material by chemical and mechanical processes and this can create a hot, damp and corrosive environment.

Customized Polycarbonate Enclosures

Made from versatile, durable and lightweight polycarbonate plastic, polycarbonate enclosures are the ideal choice for countless applications. With performance-enhancing features such as PCB mounting bosses and mounting flanges, Polycase offers rugged polycarbonate enclosures designed for the ultimate protection of your electronics.Ready to customize your polycarbonate enclosure? Get in touch with us!