Selecting cabinets and enclosures

A product roundup to keep up with the latest advancements

BY RALPH RAIOLA

Take a look at the most successful electronic devices out there — the iPhone, iPod, Wii, Xbox 360 — and it’s apparent that choosing the right enclosure for a particular design has become more important than ever. That doesn’t just hold true for these best-in-class products, but for most electronic gear, as the enclosure not only has to protect the precious circuit you’ve designed, but make it look good, too. Here are some new and recently products to help you in that selection.

Designed to house the latest handheld electronic devices in applications such as RF and IR remote-control units as well as controller devices connected via a cable, the pocket-sized OVO enclosures from Teko Enclosures (www.tekoenclosures.com/ovo) feature advanced ergonomics for comfortable handling and operation of controls. The enclosures come in sizes of 3.760 x 2.008 x 0.681 in. and 4.890 x 2.610 x 0.906 in. The larger version accepts two 1.5-V AA cells while the smaller case has room for a 12-V cell or a 3-V round cell.

Hoffman’s Accessplus II cabinet

Available in solid- and glass-door versions, the Accessplus II Type 1 wall-mount cabinet from Hoffman (www.hoffmanonline.com) is a double-hinged cabinet that provides cable management for networking applications. The cabinet handles equipment weighing from 250 to 500 lbs, and features latch-free sides to permit flush-mount installations.

The KM6 caseframes from Verotec (www.verotec.us) are designed for applications requiring the mounting or housing of Eurocard-based cards or modules in either a 19-in. rack-mount or desktop enclosure. The caseframes offer optional EMC protection along with the integration of cooling fans and power supplies.

The Type 33 modular instrument case from Elma Electronic (www.elma.com) features a two-piece clamshell design that facilitates interior access. Offered in standard, EMC, and compact styles, the enclosure features an extrusion-based modular design and suits applications such as test and measurement, laboratory, maintenance, and control designs.

Fiberglass enclosures from AD Products

An expanded version of the Adalet Premier Series fiberglass enclosures from AD Products (www.adproductsco.com) adds protection for electrical components. Hinges and latches are located on the outside of the sidewalls — with no penetration into the enclosureto eliminate the risk of compromised protection due to side penetrating rivets or screws for external hinges and/or latching.

The 0500 transport case from Pelican Products (www.pelican.com) provides more than 16,000 in.3 storage space to protect sensitive electronics, during travel. The case integrates two automatic pressure equalization valves that keep out moisture.

Anti arc flash products from Rittal

A variety of products offered from Rittal (www.rittal-corp.com) have been designed to guard against arc flash hazards. The products include external data pockets to hold system-related documentation; Fold-down shelves that provide a work surface for programming and monitoring equipment; viewing windows and ports that provide visual access into a sealed control panel; and modular data-interface flaps that enable system access via integrated USB, SUB-D9, RJ45, and NEMA 5-15 sockets.

A wall-mount flange option has been added to the ARCA enclosure line from Fibox Enclosures (www.fiboxusa.com) to allow the box to be mounted in both normal portrait orientation and in landscape orientation. Available with opaque or transparent covers, the enclosures come in seven interior sizes from 6 x 6 x 4 in. to 18 x 16 x 10 in.

The Senso-Case series of hand-controller enclosures from OKW (www.okwenclosures.com/senso) integrate a 28-V 100-mA pushbutton switch in the natural trigger position on the underside of the case to ensure logical operation of activation and logging functions. Measuring 7.08 x 3.38 x 1.77 in., the enclosures comprise a top, base, battery compartment lid, and end panel.

Upright cabinet racks from Bud Industries

The Budrack Professional Series and Server Rack Professional Series upright cabinet racks from Bud Industries (www.budind.com) feature a steel construction, a ventilated tempered glass front door, a locking rear door, and removable sides. Two pairs of fully adjustable panel-mounting rails are included.

A line of outdoor enclosures from Optima EPS (www.optimaeps.com) features a modular extrusion-based platform that allows a wide range of cabinet enclosure height, depths, and widths to be used. Standard sizes include 19-, 23-, and 24-in. widths; 24-, 30-, 36-, and 42-in. depths; and 12 to 44 U.

Part of the company’s Veris line, the Fusion Remote Max home theater PC case from Antec (www.antec.com) enables users to build a multimedia center with an enclosure that has the capability to support the latest high end and gaming hardware. The enclosure features an aluminum-plate front bezel with an LCD display and volume control, a 56-button remote control, and iMEDIAN HD media management software to help users navigate and access stored media and adjust settings.

The Tekbox line of enclosures from Teko (www.tekoenclosures.com/tekbox-s) now features a sloping-front keypad version for desktop or hand-held electronic in applications such as data-entry keypad devices for point-of-sale, medical, computer, and test and measurement equipment. The enclosures are molded in off-white or black ABS and have a textured finish.

The RAD-SYS-NEMA4X-900 radio-ready NEMA 4X enclosure from Phoenix Contact (www.phoenixcon.com) simplifies the installation of industrial wireless radio modems and small RTU devices. The enclosure includes a 24-Vdc power supply, a UPS system, surge protection, and an antenna adapter.

Offered in a 1-U height, the SlimKit 19-in. EMC enclosure from Elma Electronic (www.elma.com) integrates EMC contacts into the sheet metal, providing EMC performance without the need for separate gaskets The enclosure is available in depths of 240 and 360 mm. Optional accessories include grounding terminals and tilt feet in gray or black. ■