Plastic Enclosure Selection Guide
Plastic panels are plain enclosures with a mounting plate; when choosing, compare the cover, mounting plate, cover fastening, depth and housing material.
This guide explains what to look at when choosing products in the Plastic Panels category.
Plastic panel types
The panels in this category are plain enclosures with a mounting plate, and they differ in four features.
- Cover: Opaque cover plastic panels and transparent cover plastic panels are in separate subcategories.
- Mounting plate: Adal Pano lists the same housing as two separate products, with a sheet-metal plate and with a plastic plate (code ending in -P); MD9004 has a sheet-metal plate and MD9004-P a plastic plate. In the manufacturer catalog, Çetinkaya Pano's plain panels have a galvanized sheet-steel plate.
- Cover fastening: TP Elektrik lists its hinged-cover models under separate codes.
- Depth: Two depths may exist for the same width and height, such as 300x400x170 and 300x400x220 mm. In Çetinkaya Pano, the version of the same code with a D suffix is deeper: ÇP 5003 measures 30x40x16.5 and ÇP 5003 D measures 30x40x19.5.
If you only need to mount MCBs, MCB panels, which come with a rail and a cover plate, are the better group; for cable splices and small connections, junction box enclosures are more suitable.
The difference between ABS, polycarbonate and ASA
In most product names, the housing material appears as ABS. ABS is an impact-resistant plastic that is easy to machine, but it is damaged by sunlight and turns yellow under ultraviolet radiation. Polycarbonate is transparent and impact-resistant, so it is used in transparent covers; TP Elektrik describes its hinged transparent models as ABS+polycarbonate. ASA is a plastic developed as an alternative to ABS, with higher weather resistance; Çetinkaya Pano shows its UV-resistant ASA panels in its catalog as a product group separate from ABS panels. For a location that receives sunlight, verify the housing material and the UV statement from the manufacturer data.
Protection rating and cable entry
The protection rating varies by brand and model. On Bemis panels, IP65 appears in the name and IK10 in the specifications; TP Elektrik's plain models are rated IP65, and its hinged models IP66 or IP67. In all three ratings the first digit is 6: the housing is dust-tight. The second digit shows protection against water jets for 5, powerful water jets for 6, and 30 minutes of immersion up to 1 m depth for 7; a housing that passes the immersion test is not automatically considered to have passed the water jet test. IK10 corresponds to 20 J of impact energy.
For cable entries, use cable glands with an IP rating equal to or higher than that of the housing; holes that are opened but not used are closed with blind plugs.
Plate, layout and heat
- Plate material. A sheet-metal plate is more rigid for heavy devices that are fastened with screws; a plastic plate is insulating, easy to drill and does not corrode. The connection of a sheet-metal plate to the protective conductor is made according to the project and the manufacturer data.
- Mounting area. The mounting plate is smaller than the housing size; plan the layout according to the plate dimensions in the manufacturer drawing, leaving room for cable trunking and the terminal block row.
- Heat. A plastic housing does not conduct heat outward as well as a sheet-metal housing. If devices that heat up, such as drives, power supplies and transformers, will be installed, the device manufacturer's ambient temperature limit is evaluated against the conditions inside the enclosure.
Rails, cable trunking and additional mounting plates are in separate categories: rails, in-panel cable trunking, mounting plates.
Brands in this category
- Adal Pano: ABS panels with MD codes; opaque and transparent cover, and sheet-metal or plastic plate options under separate codes.
- Çetinkaya Pano: Opaque and transparent cover panels with ÇP codes; dimensions are written in centimeters.
- Akiş Plastik: plastic panels with opaque and transparent covers.
- Bemis: IP65 ABS panels with opaque covers under BPA codes and transparent covers under BPC codes.
- TP Elektrik: IP65 ABS panels and IP66 and IP67 hinged panels.
Ordering notes
Plastic panels are sold by the piece; for models listed as made to order (terminli), the delivery time is confirmed before the order is placed. Çetinkaya Pano writes dimensions in centimeters (50x70x24.5), while other brands mostly use millimeters (500x700x250); check the unit when comparing. You can reach a product directly by typing the model code (such as MD9004-P, ÇP 5006, BPA-3001-0036) into the search.
Comparison and selection table
| Selection Criterion | ABS / Thermoplastic Junction & Control Box | Polycarbonate (PC) / Fiberglass (GRP) Outdoor Panel | Opaque Door vs Transparent Door Plastic Panel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Material Durability | Lightweight, easy-to-machine halogen-free ABS | High UV stability, chemical resistance & IK08–IK10 impact rating | Opaque: conceals wiring; Transparent: visual inspection |
| Ingress Protection | IP54 / IP65 (gasketed lid or hinged door) | IP65 / IP66 / IP67 (harsh outdoor, coastal & industrial sites) | Both styles maintain full IP65 perimeter gasket sealing |
| Internal Hardware | Galvanized steel or plastic backplate / DIN rail | Class II double insulation, hinged lockable door, mounting plate | Clear polycarbonate door lets operators read meters & MCBs |
| Typical Application | Indoor machine boxes, CCTV power & local junctions | Solar PV combiners, water treatment, telecom & street cabinets | Securing switchgear while keeping indicators visible |
Frequently asked questions
How are plastic panel dimensions read, and which sizes are available?
Dimensions are given in the order width x height x depth. Examples of listed sizes include 200x300x130, 250x350x150, 300x400x170, 350x500x190, 400x600x200, 500x700x250 and 600x800x260 mm. Çetinkaya Pano writes the same information in centimeters, for example 50x70x24.5. These values are housing dimensions; because the mounting plate to which the devices are attached is smaller, the net space should be taken from the manufacturer drawing.
Can a plastic panel be used outdoors in direct sunlight?
The IP rating describes only protection against dust and water; resistance to solar radiation is a separate property. ABS is a plastic that is damaged by sunlight and turns yellow under ultraviolet radiation. Panels with ASA housings, which have higher weather resistance, are a separate product group at some manufacturers. For this reason, at a mounting location that receives sunlight, the choice is made according to the material information in addition to the IP value.
Is the protection rating maintained when a gland hole is drilled in an IP65 panel?
The IP65 value is declared for the housing as it leaves the factory, undrilled, with the cover closed. After a hole is drilled, the protection of the panel is limited by the rating of the part fitted into that hole and by the tightness of the installation. For this reason, cable entries use glands with an IP rating equal to or higher than that of the housing and suited to the cable diameter, and unused holes are closed with a blind plug. The same rule applies to holes for fans, buttons and indicators.
What is the difference between a plastic panel and an MCB panel?
The plastic panels in this category are plain enclosures: they contain only a mounting plate, and devices such as contactors, drives, power supplies and terminal blocks are placed on this plate. MCB panels, on the other hand, have MCB rails and a front cover (cover plate) with module windows; DIN rail devices such as fuses and residual current devices are arranged in a row. If the main job is fuse distribution, an MCB panel requires less labor.