Circuit Breaker Enclosures

Proper protection demands a proper enclosure.

So you’ve got your circuit breakers, now it’s time to get your circuit breaker enclosure. But what is a circuit breaker enclosure? Essentially, it is a cabinet that will protect your circuit breakers. Because whether your breakers will be located outdoors or indoors, you need to be equipped with the proper circuit breaker enclosure to effectively protect your devices from dust, corrosion, and other outside elements that can cause damage.

It’s also important to note that circuit breakers are never rated for outdoor use on their own, so choosing the right enclosure is not only crucial, but required. This means that before purchasing your circuit breaker enclosure, you must know what NEMA rating you require for your enclosure.

What enclosure rating is right for me?

There are a vast variety of NEMA-rated enclosures, each intended for a specific use and to protect against different elements depending on where and how your circuit breakers are installed. All will protect the user from hazardous parts inside the enclosure. The most common ratings are as follows: Type 1 circuit breaker enclosures are a basic enclosure intended for indoor use, and protect against dirt and dust. Type 3R circuit breaker enclosures are intended for indoor or outdoors use, and protect against dirt, dust, rain, sleet, and snow. Type 4 circuit breaker enclosures protect against everything outlined for type 3R, plus falling dirt, windblown dust, and splashed or directed water (from a hose, for example). Type 12 circuit breaker enclosures are intended solely for indoor use to protect against heavier, solid falling objects, as well as light splashing.