Your guide to Hammond enclosures

Enclosures are used to house electrical circuits providing protection against the environment and safely housing the circuit. They come in all shapes and sizes, which can sometimes make it overwhelming when trying to find the most suitable enclosure. We stock over 1000 different Hammond enclosures and created this guide to assist you in finding the best option.  

Enclosures are typically made from 2 materials; metal or plastic. Plastic enclosures are typically lower cost and lightweight making them suitable for a huge range of applications. They are commonly made from polycarbonate, ABS or PVC, and can easily be moulded or modified into various shapes and sizes. The material is also non-corrosive against rust and chemicals making them suitable for use in harsh environments. Plastic enclosures also let EMF and RFI waves pass through which can be a significant factor if your application needs to send or receive radio signals. 

Metal enclosures are often more costly and are typically manufactured from aluminium. They are more durable than plastic making them suitable for high-impact environments and feature strong resistance to temperature. Aluminium is resistant to corrosion and rust which also makes them a great option in harsh environments. Metal enclosures can resist some EMF and RFI signals, which can limit its application when used with certain transmitting and receiving equipment. 

How to choose the correct enclosure

The first step is to determine whether a plastic or metal enclosure will be best for your application. Once this is decided you can analyse whether you require any specific features for example; flange, RFI shielding, PCB guides, IP rating, standoffs etc.

The final step is to determine the enclosure size. You can use the category filters to choose the most suited enclosure outer dimensions for your application. It is also important to consider the internal dimensions required for your application. Our website features a technical drawing for each Hammond enclosure which shows the full dimensions including the internal dimensions.

Popular Series

The 1551 series by Hammond are a low cost ABS enclosure used to house small circuits. They come in black, blue or grey and feature self tapping screws to secure the lid. These enclosures have an IP54 protection rating and are perfect for mounting small printed circuit boards. 

The 1591 series by Hammond are very similar to the 1551 series but are typically slightly larger. They come in black, blue or grey and feature self tapping screws to secure the lid. These enclosures have an IP54 protection rating and are perfect for mounting small to medium printed circuit boards. The 1591 series are also available in flame retardant ABS.

The 1550 series are a rugged enclosure manufactured from a diecast aluminium alloy. The enclosures are tough yet easy to machine and are available in textured black or smooth natural finish. The enclosures are rated to IP54 and can meet IP66/IP67 with the optional gasket. The enclosures are suitable for housing a wide range of instruments requiring a tough enclosure.

The 1590 series are a rugged enclosure manufactured from a diecast aluminium alloy. The enclosures are tough yet easy to machine and are available in textured black or smooth natural finish. The enclosures are rated to IP54 and can meet IP65 with the optional gasket. The enclosures are suitable for housing a wide range of instruments requiring a tough enclosure.

The 1553 series are an ergonomically designed handheld enclosure featuring a comfortable grip and body moulded from ABS. The enclosures are available with our without a battery compartment allowing easy access, and standoffs for mounting PCBs. The enclosures are available in black, grey, blue, red or yellow and in a variety of sizes. The enclosures without a battery compartment are designed to meet IP54 and waterproof IP65 versions are also available.

The 1455 series are extruded aluminium enclosures designed to house PCBs or for equipment interfacing. The enclosures are designed to mount the PCB horizontally using the internal slots and feature removable end plates. The aluminium body features a minimum 1.5mm wall thickness making the enclosure suitable for rugged environments. The 1455 series are available in a wide range of sizes and available in black, red, blue or silver.

The 1591T series are translucent enclosures manufactured from flame retardant polycarbonate suitable for mounting PCBs where the contents of the enclosure need to be visible. The enclosure features internal card guides which accept 1.5mm PC cards and are designed to meet IP54. The enclosures are easy to machine and utilise integral threaded brass bushings for securing the lid

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