NEMA 12 Enclosure

It's ok to do that......but.

NEMA 12 is about a 52 on the IP scale, which is all dust and drippy water.

If your gonna mount it to one of the light post by third base, bolt it to a good sturdy piece of 3/4 inch ply wood and build a little lean to over the top of it to keep direct rain off

Use Meyers Hubs for ALL penetrations and use wash down covers for all your switches and push buttons

After that its all about the seal on the door.

Good luck
 
I prefer to use a weigmann 4/12 enclosure. They provide enough protection from rain, snow, dirt, etc.. on our mobile outdoor equipment.

Door seal is important but if you don't use good cgbs to feed in and out of the box its meaningless.
 
I would say no.

Nema 12 is designed for indoor use and has restrictions placed on that use.
I would use a NEMA 4/12/13.

there are even limitations to its use and you must look at the restrictions in regards to your application.
I would contact the manufacturer and discuss the application with tech support. or you could contact the local sales rep.


james
 
Is there any time that a NEMA 12 enclosure can be used outside? I know its an indoor enclosure, but the prints are calling for it and its outside in a ball field. It clearly calls for a Saginaw NEMA 12 enclosure. Just wondering if I am missing something.

Thank you
No, not if it is a strictly Type 12 enclosure, because Type 12 is "indoor use", in that the finishing system (pre-treatment and paint) is not designed to hold up to even the mild corrosion resistance requirements of "outdoor" rated systems such as Types 3R and 4. In addition, nothing in Type 12 includes the necessary "drip lip" to protect internal equipment from falling water when the door is open (albeit falling straight down). It used to be that you could add a "drip shield" kit to a Type 12 enclosure, drill a weep hole for internal condensation and call it "3R"; but that was before UL took over the NEMA specs and did 3rd party testing and listing. UL never allows the "skill of the installer" to facilitate the listing of an enclosure as it comes off the assembly line. It must pass the tests WITHOUT anyone touching it.

For a few years, Hammond got away with a dual 12/3R listing on their enclosures, by using the better paint system, the drip lip seal and putting in a weep hole that was shipped with a little rubber plug installed so all the user need do was remove the plug, not drill a hole, with the argument being it did not rely upon "skill". Unfortunately, UL found a lot of them in the field where the plug was NOT removed in 3R applications, as well as some where it WAS removed in type 12 applications, and they rescinded that dual listing.

But as mentioned, Type 4/12 combination enclosures are available from almost any manufacturer. They are different in the way the door seal and lip is constructed so as to provide that "drip lip", and the Type 4 corrosion resistance requirements meet or exceed what Type 3R requires, meaning they are rated for "outdoor" use. UL Type 4 spec doesn't include a requirement to prevent internal condensation, so it still meets the listing without it, but it IS a good idea to drill one if it's going outside.
 
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