Panels Selection Guide
Panels are divided into metal sheet, plastic, MCB and construction site types by housing material and internal layout; environment and IP rating are evaluated first in selection.
This guide explains what to look at when choosing products in the Panels category.
Panel types and places of use
The subcategories are divided by housing material and internal layout.
- Metal sheet panels: Control and distribution enclosures in which switches, contactors, drives and terminal blocks are arranged on a mounting plate. The wall-mounted and horizontal models are from Çetinkaya Pano's Eko, KE and Etanj E series.
- Plastic panels: Flat panels, mostly with ABS housings and metal or plastic mounting bases; models with opaque covers and transparent covers are listed separately.
- MCB panels: Fuse distribution panels with a DIN rail for miniature circuit breakers and a front cover (blanking plate) with module windows. ABB's Mistral series distribution boxes and accessories, and the MCB panels of Çetinkaya Pano and Adal Pano, are found here.
- Outdoor construction site panels: Panels that distribute power through socket outlets at temporary installations. Bemis models have metal housings and are rated IP44; the unassembled and assembled series are separate products.
In what order to decide when choosing a panel
- Environment and IP rating. IP44 appears in the names of construction site panels, and IP65, IP66 and IP67 in the names of plastic panels. IP44 is protection against solid objects larger than 1 mm and against water splashing from all directions. In ratings whose first digit is 6, the housing is dust-tight; for the second digit, 5 and 6 indicate the water jet test and 7 indicates the temporary immersion test.
- Housing material. When choosing between sheet metal and plastic, device weight, heat, corrosion and whether the housing is insulating are weighed together.
- Internal layout. If only DIN rail devices such as miniature circuit breakers and residual current devices will be installed, an MCB panel; if contactors, drives and power supplies will also be placed, a flat panel with a mounting plate is suitable.
- Dimensions. The dimension in the product name is the housing dimension; the mounting plate to which the devices are connected is smaller than this. The depth is determined by the deepest device and the elements to be fitted on the cover.
- Cover. If indicators and pilot lights are to be monitored without opening the cover, choose a transparent cover; if monitoring is not needed, choose an opaque cover.
- Shock resistance. The IK code classifies the protection of the housing against external mechanical impact; IK10 is stated in the specifications of Bemis ABS panels.
The internal equipment of flat panels is in separate categories: rails, in-panel cable trunking, terminal blocks and busbars and distribution blocks. You can pre-check the busbar cross-section with the busbar current carrying capacity calculation tool; the exact value belongs to the project calculation.
Row and module notation in MCB panel names
In Çetinkaya Pano names, 2x12 indicates two rows with 12 MCB positions in each row, that is, a total capacity of 24 MCBs. In names such as 3x22+1, the +1 is a position reserved for a cam switch. Adal Pano writes the number of modules per row first: 17x4 means a total of 68 modules in four rows. The numbers are based on the width of a single-pole MCB; a three-pole MCB takes up three positions, and a four-pole residual current device mostly takes up four. Do the count with the actual device list and leave spare space.
The difference between an empty panel and an equipped panel
Empty enclosures have a separate standard: IEC 62208 covers the empty housing before switchgear and controlgear devices are placed in it. The panel that results once the devices are fitted and wired falls under the IEC 61439 series. The practical result is this: the IP and IK values given by the manufacturer apply to the housing as delivered and with the cover closed. When a hole is cut in the cover for a push button, or in the housing for a gland or fan, the protection is limited by the rating of the fitted part and the sealing of the installation.
Brands in this category
- ABB: in the MCB panels group, Mistral series distribution boxes and accessories; in the sheet metal panels group, products belonging to the IS2 floor-standing panel system, listed by order code.
- Çetinkaya Pano: Eko, KE and Etanj E sheet metal panels, flat plastic panels, ABS MCB panels and construction site panels with socket outlets.
- Adal Pano: ABS panels with metal or plastic bases, and MCB panels.
- Bemis: IP65 ABS panels and IP44 metal construction site panels.
- Akiş Plastik lists plastic panels with opaque and transparent covers, and TP Elektrik lists plastic panels in IP65, IP66 and IP67 ratings.
Order notes
- Products are sold by the piece. Some are listed as made to order; for these products the lead time is confirmed before ordering.
- In Bemis construction site panels, the miniature circuit breakers, residual current devices and molded case circuit breakers are not included in the supplied components.
- Çetinkaya Pano gives dimensions in centimeters (35x50x19.5), while Adal Pano, Bemis and TP Elektrik give them in millimeters (300x400x170).
- Most product names carry the manufacturer code (such as ÇP 5017, MD9026, BPA-3001-0036); you can reach a product directly by typing the code into the search.
Electrical enclosure comparison table
| Enclosure Type | Body Material | Typical IP / IK Rating | Application Area | Product Group |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sheet steel wall-mount & floor-standing panel | Powder-coated sheet steel | IP54 – IP66 / IK10 | Industrial MCC, power factor correction, PLC, and main switchboards | Sheet Steel Panels |
| ABS / Polycarbonate thermoplastic enclosure | Halogen-free ABS / PC | IP65 / IK08 | Damp, dusty, or corrosive outdoor and field junction installations | Plastic Panels |
| Modular consumer unit (distribution box) | Flush / surface ABS | IP20 – IP40 (1–36 ways) | Residential, office, and floor sub-distribution fuse boxes | Fuse Boxes |
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between an IP44 and an IP65 panel?
In IP44, the first digit 4 describes protection against solid objects larger than 1 mm, and the second digit 4 describes protection against water splashing from all directions. In IP65, the first digit is 6, meaning the housing is dust-tight; the second digit 5 is protection against water jets from all directions. In this category, IP44 appears in the names of construction site panels and IP65 in the names of ABS plastic panels. In places with heavy dust or where washing with pressurized water takes place, this difference is decisive; the required rating is chosen according to the project.
How do you choose between a sheet metal panel and a plastic panel?
The deciding factors are the environment and the device load. A sheet metal panel carries heavy devices, withstands impact and sheds heat more easily through the housing surface; it can rust where the paint is damaged. An ABS plastic panel does not rust, is light, and has an insulating housing; for this reason it is chosen in damp and corrosive environments. The UV resistance of the plastic housing is checked separately in places exposed to sun, and the internal temperature in the case of devices that heat up is checked against manufacturer data.
Do construction site panels come with their switches?
The product data of Bemis construction site panels states that miniature circuit breakers, residual current devices and molded case circuit breakers are not included in the supplied components; these devices are purchased separately. The Product Configuration line gives the number and current rating of the sockets in the panel. The unassembled and assembled series are listed under separate codes. In Çetinkaya Pano names, on the other hand, the number of socket outputs and the space for fuse, cam and molded case circuit breakers are stated.
What does IK10 mean?
The IK code classifies the protection an enclosure provides against external mechanical impact and is defined in the IEC 62262 standard. IK10 corresponds to 20 J of impact energy; IK08 is at the level of 5 J and IK09 10 J. The code describes only impact: the IP code shows protection against dust and water, and resistance to sunlight is understood from the material information.