Altronix WP5 18x16 NEMA-Rated Steel Enclosure
The Altronix WP5 is an 18-inch by 16-inch NEMA-rated steel enclosure designed to house and protect security and access control equipment in outdoor and challenging indoor environments. This is a compact, purpose-built mounting platform — not a general-purpose cabinet. The WP5 solves a specific problem: you need to deploy sensitive electronics (power supplies, interface modules, relay boards, access control readers) where weather, dust, or physical intrusion is a concern, but you don't have unlimited wall or pole space.
Key Features
- NEMA-rated construction: Complies with NEMA enclosure standards, meaning it will shed rain, resist dust ingress, and protect internal components from corrosion and environmental contamination. This matters because unprotected circuit boards fail fast in outdoor deployments — NEMA compliance is your insurance policy.
- 18" × 16" form factor: Compact enough to mount on a wall, pole, or equipment rack in space-constrained sites (parking lots, building perimeters, warehouse interiors) without dominating the installation footprint or drawing attention.
- Steel construction: Provides both physical security and thermal mass. Steel resists tampering better than plastic and dissipates heat from internal power supplies and relay modules more effectively — important if you're stacking multiple cards or running continuous-duty solenoids.
- Outdoor and indoor rated: Install it outside on a building facade or gate post, or inside a warehouse, server room, or electrical closet. Same enclosure works both ways.
- Lifetime Limited Warranty: Covers manufacturing defects for the life of the product. Standard Altronix backing — not a promotional gimmick. Matters when you're speccing infrastructure that will outlive your current project.
- Equipment mounting ready: Designed to accept DIN rail, terminal blocks, power distribution modules, and access control interfaces. Check the datasheet for internal layout and available knockouts.
Deployment Context
Use the WP5 when you're building out perimeter security, access control, or gate automation and need a weathertight home for power supplies, relay logic, or reader interface boards. Common scenarios: entry gate stations (housing 24VDC power, mag lock relay, reader interface), parking lot lighting control (power and logic), or building exterior access panels (card reader, door strike relay, battery backup). The 18×16 size bridges the gap between wall-mount power supplies (too small for complex setups) and large electrical cabinets (too bulky, overkill for simple deployments).
Integration and Mounting
The WP5 accepts standard DIN rail and terminal block configurations used across the access control and power infrastructure ecosystem. Mounting is straightforward — wall, pole, or internal rack installation depending on your site. Internal knockouts and cable entry points are designed for typical security wiring (12 AWG, 14 AWG, RJ-45). Verify your specific modules and wiring gauge fit the available space using the datasheet layout before ordering if you're running a dense installation.
When to Choose a Different Model
If you need significantly larger equipment capacity (multiple 24VDC supplies, expansion modules, redundant power systems), consider a larger Altronix enclosure in the same family. If your environment is fully indoor with no weather exposure and space is unlimited, a standard electrical cabinet may offer better cost-per-capacity. If you require IP67 (full submersion protection) rather than general NEMA weather resistance, confirm the specific NEMA rating of the WP5 against your site requirements.
