In this guide, we will explore all fundamental protection standards, and features or NEMA 3 enclosures. Additionally, we will also compare NEMA 3 to NEMA 3S and 3R.
So, by the end of this guide, you should be able to decide whether NEMA 3 enclosure is suitable for you or not.
What is NEMA 3 Rated Enclosure?
NEMA 3 rated enclosures are unique types of protective casings designed to protect electrical wirings to meet all standards of the National Electrical Manufacturers Association or NEMA. They are designed to provide better protection than NEMA 2. Ideally, these enclosure are more weather resistant.
Features of NEMA Enclosure
The NEMA 3 enclosure comes with unique features to ensure it stays relevant and effective as is required. Below are these features:
- Dust protection
- Weatherproof
- Resistant to water
- Resistant to corrosion
- Safe mounting
- Ice forming safety
- Easy access and security
- Ideal ventilation
- Heat management
- Meets compliance and tests
NEMA 3 vs. NEMA 3R Enclosure
Knowing the types of NEMA enclosure helps you decide how to make the most of them. Below is a comparison of some NEMA enclosure types:
| NEMA 3 Electrical Enclosure Rating | NEMA 3R Enclosure |
| Comes with safety against windblown dust | Doesn’t come with safety against windblown dust |
| Designed mostly without ventilation openings | Comes with already made ventilation openings. |
| Mostly has no ventilation openings, which makes it quite airtight. | Has ventilation openings, which allows the flow of air and prevents accumulation of water. |
| Offers safety against sleet, snow, and rain as well as dust. | Offers protection against water alone. |
| Ideal to be used both indoors and outdoors | Ideally designed for use outdoors with dust not being considered |
NEMA 3 vs. NEMA 3S Enclosure
Hitting the market, you will find different types of NEMA enclosure to choose from. Based on your specific needs, the NEMA enclosure types you go for matter a lot. Comparing the following can help you decide:
| NEMA 3 Enclosure | NEMA 3S Enclosure |
| General safety against dust, moisture, and some environmental factors | Provides unique safety against rain, external ice, sleet, and moisture ingress. |
| Ideal for indoor and outdoor use | Made for use outdoor ideally |
Factors Affecting NEMA 3 Electrical Price
· NEMA 3 Enclosure Dimensions
The dimensions of NEMA 3 enclosures mostly impacts its price to go high or low. Some of the reasons for this include:
- Use of material for smaller enclosures is mostly not much which means the cost of material goes down. However, when the raw materials used to manufacture is more, it increases dimensions for the NEMA enclosure type which increases the price.
- Complexity in manufacturing based on the enclosure size counts a lot. A larger enclosure means the process of manufacturing will be more complex. This can increase the cost of labor and total cost of production. This means, the cost goes higher.
- When the enclosure is large, it is heavy and bulky. This leads to cost of handling and shipping going higher too. These costs are added to the final cost for buyers and this makes the price go higher.
- When the enclosure ordered is large, customizations like specific finishes and mounting alternatives can lead to higher costs overall.
· Material for NEMA 3 Enclosure
There are some ways by which NEMA enclosure types prices are affected by material. Remember, there are many electrical enclosure materials to choose from:
- Different materials like Aluminum, stainless steel, and others come with different price tags. The cost of stainless steel is mostly higher compared to Aluminum. Also, some engineered plastics come with a huge price tag based on their uniqueness and certifications. The cost of the material used to make the NEMA 3 enclosure you buy matters a lot.
- There are some materials that come with some level of intricacy when manufacturing than others do. For example, with stainless steel, much welding and other finishes will be required. This adds to the cost of labor and price overall. Aluminum NEMA 3 enclosures are very easy to fabricate and it makes its price higher.
- Materials with the best properties like durability, resistance to corrosion and heat, and others will cost more.
- Maintenance and durability counts where cost of materials are concerned. Some materials come with low maintenance with long durability while others do not. The higher the durability the higher the cost.
· NEMA 3 Enclosure Market Demand
Market demand fluctuations also has a way of influencing NEMA 3 enclosure prices. The following are the ways it influences prices:
- The dynamics of supply and demand. Higher demand for NEMA 3 enclosures means manufacturers increase the cost of their enclosures to benefit from the demand. Worse case scenario, bidding becomes the norm which can shoot prices up further.
- Using production capacity. During high demands, manufacturers mostly work their productions at a capacity that is full. This increases the cost.
- Raw material pricing. When the demand is higher, the cost of materials go higher because different companies are buying. This influences the price of NEMA 3 enclosure in the long run.
· NEMA 3 Enclosure Locations and Suppliers
Due to the disparities in the cost of location and suppliers, NEMA 3 enclosure prices can be affected due to the cost of the following:
- Cost of labor of suppliers in varied locations will differ depending on the local wages not forgetting economic situations. When cost of labor is high, NEMA 3 enclosure prices can be expected to go higher.
- Overhead costs count here a lot. Since these expenses are incurred by suppliers, it has a way of influencing the total price tag.
- Currency rates can greatly affect prices, particularly if the supplier is in another country.
- Shipping and location distances between the supplier and buyer can increase prices or versa too.
· NEMA 3 Enclosure Quantity Ordered
When orders are large, discounts can be offered. This helps where cutting down on prices are concerned. Some more details are:
- Fixed costs can be spread when you want to buy larger orders. This is where Economies of scale comes in. This spread cuts down costs for every unit. This is what makes bulk orders highly affordable.
- Discounts for bulk purchases are mostly initiated by suppliers to ensure buyers increase their purchases.
- As a buyer, you need to be able to bargain. If you do not bargain well, then you cannot beat down prices.
· NEMA 3 Enclosure Certification and Compliance
To meet the standards of NEMA and receiving their certification increases NEMA 3 enclosure cost.
Where to use NEMA 3 Electrical Enclosure
Some areas where NEMA 3 electrical enclosure can be used include:
- In industrial sites to keep electrical safe due to the excess dirt and dust.
- Outdoors for protection against external ice, sleet, snow, and rain.
- To keep electrical parts safe from bad weather conditions on construction sites.
- Ideal for outdoor light controls, control panels, and communication equipment in recreational areas as well as parks.
- Used in power generation and water treatment plants.
- Excellent in keeping outdoor signage and other electrical displays, not forgetting electrical installations outdoor safe.
Conclusion
Clearly, NEMA 3 enclosure provide unique degree of protection that conform to NEMA ratings. Even as you choose these enclosures, you should understand the degree of protection, dimension, material quality and overall construction.
At KDM, we are a trusted NEMA enclosure manufacturer in China – contact us now for any inquiries.
More resources:
NEMA 7 vs. NEMA 4X – Source: KDM
NEMA 13 Enclosure – Source: KDM
NEMA 4 vs 4X Enclosures – Source: KDM
NEMA 1 Enclosure – Source: KDM
