Allied Moulded Fiberglass Enclosures
Allied Moulded fiberglass enclosures are meant to protect electrical equipment in harsh environments. They are tough, yet lightweight and easy to handle. Partly this is due to the high-quality fiberglass materials used in their construction. These enclosures are non-conductive and corrosion-resistant, which makes them ideal for outdoor and industrial applications. The fiberglass enclosures with hinged cover and snap latch, as well as enclosures with hinged window cover and twist latch are great for easy accessibility. These options maintain a secure enclosure while providing easy access to internal components; it’s tough to beat that combination of features.
The rigid design of the enclosures often bring into play stainless steel mounting brackets and a gasket system encased in a continuous channel on the cover which provides an extra measure of durability and stability, especially in rugged conditions. There are also back panel inserts that allow for easy mounting of various electrical components. Fiberglass enclosures are non-corrosive, non-conductive light weight with lower installation cost, easy to modify and longer life cycle compared to steel.
Non-Metallic Enclosure Types
Characteristics of non-metallic enclosures:
NEMA 4x rating for outdoor use providing chemical resistance and protection from dust, debris, water and rain.
High insulation value, which provides insulation from cold and hot temperatures, but does not dissipate heat from inside the enclosure.
Non-conductive, meaning components cannot be grounded to the enclosure, but it still provides the product the same security and tamper resistance levels as metallic enclosures when properly locked.
Types of non-metallic enclosures:
Fiberglass
A thermoset polyester material reinforced with glass fibers. It is the most widely used non-metallic material in the industry. It has high impact strength and rigidity (dimensional stability), a superior working temperature range (-31˚F to 300˚F), excellent electrical properties, moisture and chemical resistance, as well as being cost effective.
Polycarbonate
High-performance thermoplastic resin processed by injection molding or sheet extrusion. It has superior impact resistance, good rigidity (dimensional stability), an extended temperature range (-31˚F to 180˚F), excellent electrical properties, fire retention, UV stability and corrosion resistance in some acidic surroundings. It is not suitable for environments with strong alkalis and organic solvents.
ABS or ABS blends
Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene is a common thermoplastic polymer processed by injection molding. It has high impact resistance, but less impact resistance in cold weather compared to polycarbonate, excellent electrical properties, superior chemical and moisture resistance, but a narrower temperature range than fiberglass (-40˚F to 248˚F).
Polyester
High-performance unfilled thermal plastic processed by injection molding. It has high impact resistance, but less impact resistance in cold weather than polycarbonate, excellent electrical properties, superior chemical and moisture resistance, but a narrower temperature range than fiberglass (-40˚F to 248˚F).