At Functional Devices, our Indiana facility sees its fair share of rain, which naturally makes us think about how our products perform outdoors. While most building automation relays are designed for indoor use, taking them outside can be a whole different story. That’s where enclosure ratings step in to make sure your equipment is ready for anything the weather throws at it.
This blog explains why NEMA ratings matter, how NEMA 4/4X enclosures protect against weather, and highlights several Functional Devices products built to thrive outdoors.
What NEMA Ratings Really Mean
NEMA ratings, set by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association, classify how well electrical enclosures protect internal components. These ratings show resistance to hazards like dust, dirt, moisture, and accidental contact. Lower ratings cover basic indoor protection, while higher ratings guard against rain, snow, corrosion, or even water submersion. Knowing NEMA ratings helps you choose the right enclosure for your environment, ensuring safety and reliability.
Most standard relays are only NEMA 1 rated. In a nutshell (enclosure pun intended), NEMA 1 means the device is protected from falling dirt and debris, and you’re protected from the potentially harmful (voltage pun intended) electronics inside. But here’s the catch: NEMA 1 enclosures offer no real protection against the weather. Water can seep inside easily, leading to damage of internal electronics and even connected equipment. That’s why for outdoor installations, a higher NEMA rating is essential.
NEMA 4/4X Enclosures for Outdoor Automation
Luckily, there’s a tougher option for outdoor installs: NEMA 4 and 4X. Unlike NEMA 1, products with this higher rating are designed to thrive in the elements. NEMA 4/4X enclosures protect against rain, snow, ice, corrosion, and still provide the same defense against dirt and accidental contact as NEMA 1.
That’s exactly why we offer many of our RIB relay products in NEMA 4/4X enclosures. These housings allow you to take reliable relay control to rooftops, outdoor lighting poles, and pump houses while keeping the same straightforward wiring and dependable performance you trust indoors.
We offer a wide selection of NEMA 4/4X-rated products, including a weather-ready version of our classic RIBU1C: the RIBU1C-N4. We also carry other models built for harsh environments, so no matter which relay you need, there’s a rugged enclosure to match. When browsing our catalog, just look for “-N4” at the end of the product name to spot the models built to withstand the weather.
FAQ: NEMA Rated Relays and Enclosures
Q: What does a NEMA rating mean for a relay enclosure?
A: A NEMA rating indicates how well an enclosure protects electrical components from environmental factors such as dust, water, and corrosion. Higher numbers (like NEMA 4 or 4X) generally offer more protection than lower ratings (like NEMA 1).
Q: Do NEMA 4 and NEMA 4X enclosures perform the same?
A: Both protect against rain, sleet, snow, and splashing water. NEMA 4X adds corrosion resistance, making it ideal for coastal or industrial areas with harsh chemicals.
Q: Can a NEMA 4 enclosure be used indoors?
A: Yes. While designed for outdoor use, NEMA 4/4X enclosures also provide superior indoor protection in dusty or damp environments.
Q: Are relays inside NEMA enclosures different from standard relays?
A: The relay itself is typically the same; it’s the enclosure that adds environmental protection. This lets you use proven components in harsher settings without performance loss.
Q: How do I know which NEMA enclosure to choose?
A: Assess your environment’s exposure to moisture, dust, and chemicals. For mild indoor settings, NEMA 1 may suffice. For outdoor or corrosive areas, NEMA 4/4X is recommended.
Q: How do NEMA 1 and NEMA 4/4X enclosures differ in material or design?
A: NEMA 1 enclosures are typically lighter steel or plastic designed for basic indoor protection. NEMA 4/4X enclosures use heavier-gauge metals or corrosion-resistant materials (like stainless steel or polycarbonate) with sealed gaskets to keep water and dust out.
Get Tough Protection with NEMA 4/4X Enclosures
NEMA 4/4X enclosures are essential for protecting electrical devices in outdoor or harsh environments. They guard against rain, snow, ice, and corrosion, while still offering protection from dust and accidental contact, ensuring your equipment remains reliable and safe over time. Choosing the right enclosure helps prevent costly downtime and extends the lifespan of your building automation hardware.
From the classic RIBU1C-N4 to other “-N4” models in our lineup, these RIB relay products make expanding your building automation system outdoors simple and consistent. You get the weather resistance needed for tough environments while still enjoying the ease of installation that RIB relays are known for. Reach out to our experts today to get personalized guidance on the right NEMA 4/4X products for your application.
About Functional Devices, Inc.
Functional Devices, Inc., located in the United States of America, has been designing and manufacturing quality electronic devices since 1969. Our mission is to enhance lives in buildings and beyond. We do so by designing and manufacturing reliable, high-quality products for the building automation industry. Our suite of product offerings include RIB relays, current sensors, power controls, power supplies, transformers, lighting controls, and more.
We test 100% of our products, which leads to less than 1 out of every 16,000 products experiencing a failure in the field.
Simply put, we provide users of our various products confidence and peace of mind in every box.