Waterproof Enclosures

Suitable waterproof enclosures come in many varieties. Metal or plastic may be used to create a watertight container for outdoor embedded equipment.

Of course, equipment needs power to work, and will likely need to connect to an antenna and Ethernet cable. Each time you pierce a watertight enclosure, you provide another potential place for water to seep in.

The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) provides guidelines for protection of electrical equipment from rain, ice, dust, and other contaminants. An enclosure with a rating of NEMA 3 or better is suitable for outdoor use in a fair climate. A NEMA 4X or NEMA 6 provides excellent protection, even from hose driven water and ice. For fixtures that pierce the body of an enclosure (such as cable glands and bulkhead connectors), NEMA assigns an ingress protection (IP) rating. An ingress protection rating of IP66 or IP67 will protect these holes from very strong jets of water. A good outdoor enclosure should also provide UV protection to prevent breakdown of the seal from exposure to the sun, as well as to protect the equipment inside.

Of course, finding NEMA rated enclosures may be a challenge in your local area. Often, locally available parts can be repurposed for use as enclosures. Rugged plastic or metal sprinkler boxes, electrical conduit housings, or even plastic food containers can be used in a pinch. When piercing an enclosure, use quality gaskets or o-rings along with a cable gland to seal the opening. UV stabilized silicone compound or other sealant can be used for temporary installations, but remember that cables flex in the wind, and glued joints will eventually weaken and allow moisture to seep in.

You can greatly extend the life of a plastic enclosure by providing some protection from the sun. Mounting the box in the shade, either beneath existing equipment, solar panel, or thin sheet of metal specifically for this purpose, will add to the life span of the box as well as the equipment contained inside.

Before putting any piece of electronics in a sealed box, be sure that it has minimal heat dissipation requirements. If your motherboard requires a fan or large heat sink, remember that there will be no airflow, and your electronics will likely bake to death on the tower. Only use electronic components that are designed to be used in an embedded environment.