Enclosure Rain Hoods
Rain hoods for enclosures are a vital accessory for both indoor and outdoor applications where electrical enclosures and equipment are exposed to the kinds of elements that make being outside undesirable—like rain, snow, and dust. When it comes to shielding electrical enclosures, the rain hood is kind of like a small porch roof. Its primary job is to keep water from splashing up and into the enclosure so that the water doesn't mix with the electronic components and cause a short circuit.
Rain hoods are characterized by a roof that is sloped in just the right way. Water that accumulates on top of the hood runs off, thanks to the pitch that the roof has. Debris that might otherwise accumulate on top of the hood is prevented by this sloped design from harming the enclosure. Some rain hoods have a more pronounced slope; others have a gentler slope. All of them, by virtue of their design, are able to cover the top and part of the sides of the enclosure. By extending the coverage, you direct even more water away from the crucial areas of the enclosure, such as the door gasket, which you want to keep dry and very free of debris.
More Information about Enclosure Rain Hoods
Including features like a drip strip further improves the rain hood's water diversion capabilities. For installation purposes, rain hoods usually come with mounting accessories that enable attachment to different enclosure types, such as wall-mounted and pole-mounted variances. Working in conjunction with the compatibility of the different enclosure types, these rain hood features ensure that the rain hood can fit a variety of different enclosures of different dimensions, working with the specific enclosure to provide optimal protection.
NEMA 3R, 4 and 4X
Electrical enclosures are cabinets that are designed to house electrical components. Their main function is to protect the components, as well as to protect the operators from electrical hazards. Enclosures are typically made of solid plastics, fiberglass and metal materials, such as carbon steel, stainless steel and aluminum.
One of the most important things to consider when selecting an electrical enclosure is the NEMA rating. NEMA stands for National Electrical Manufacturer Association. They have developed a rating system which determines the types of environments an electrical enclosure can be used in.
NEMA 3R enclosures.
The NEMA definition of a 3R enclosure is as follows: ‘Enclosures constructed for either indoor or outdoor use to provide a degree of protection to personnel against access to hazardous parts, to provide a degree of protection of the equipment inside the enclosure against Ingress of solid foreign objects such as falling dirt, to provide a degree of protection with respect to harmful effects on the equipment due to the Ingress of water, rain, sleet or snow, and that will be undamaged by the external formation of ice on the enclosure.’ NEMA 3R enclosures provide adequate outdoor protection while providing significant cost savings over NEMA 4 and NEMA 4X enclosures.
NEMA 4 enclosures.
They provide all of the same protections found in the NEMA 3R enclosures with two additional protection elements, protection against wind-blown dust particles and protection against hose directed water. NEMA 4 enclosures provide this additional protection using a gasket material to prevent water or dust from entering the enclosure,
while the NEMA 3R enclosures rely on enclosure design and gravity to assist in diverting water and dust.
NEMA 4X enclosures.
They provide all of the same protections found in the NEMA 4 enclosures with one added protection element, corrosion resistance. NEMA 4X enclosures are typically made of either stainless steel or fiberglass.