How to select the material of the cabinet body of the incoming line cabinet?

   When selecting the material of the cabinet body of the incoming line cabinet, factors such as **electrical 

performance, mechanical strength, protection level, environmental adaptability, and cost** need to be

 comprehensively considered. The following are the characteristics of common materials and selection

 suggestions:

### I. Common Cabinet Body Materials and Their Characteristics

#### 1. Cold-Rolled Steel Plate (SPCC)

- **Advantages**:

  - Low cost, easy to process and form, suitable for complex structures (such as punching and bending).

  - The surface can be sprayed or galvanized, with good anti-corrosion performance (the service life in 

an indoor environment is more than 10 years).

  - High mechanical strength (strong load-bearing capacity when the thickness is 1.5-2.0mm).

- **Disadvantages**:

  - Prone to rust when not treated, not suitable for high-humidity or corrosive environments.

- **Applicable Scenarios**: **Conventional indoor environments** (such as power distribution rooms and 

computer rooms), with a protection level of IP30-IP40.

#### 2. Stainless Steel (304/316)

- **Advantages**:

  - **Extremely strong corrosion resistance** (resistant to acids, alkalis, and salt spray), suitable for outdoor

 or chemical environments.

  - No need for surface treatment, beautiful, durable, and good grounding performance.

  - High strength and strong impact resistance.

- **Disadvantages**:

  - High cost (about 3-5 times that of cold-rolled plates), and heavy weight.

- **Applicable Scenarios**: **Outdoor, humid or corrosive environments** (such as coastal areas and chemical 

plants), with a protection level of IP54-IP65.

#### 3. Aluminum Alloy

- **Advantages**:

  - Lightweight and high-strength, with a weight only one-third of that of steel, making it easy to install 

and transport.

  - Good electrical conductivity, corrosion resistance (surface oxidation treatment is required), suitable for

 scenarios sensitive to weight.

- **Disadvantages**:

  - The mechanical strength is lower than that of steel, not suitable for heavy equipment or environments 

with strong vibrations.

- **Applicable Scenarios**: **Small equipment, mobile power distribution cabinets, or scenarios with weight

 requirements**.

#### 4. Galvalume Steel Plate

- **Advantages**:

  - The corrosion resistance is better than that of cold-rolled plates (the coating contains 55% aluminum and

 43.4% zinc), with high cost performance.

  - Weldable, easy to process, suitable for complex structures.

- **Disadvantages**:

  - General high-temperature resistance (≤150°C), and there are many restrictions on surface treatment.

- **Applicable Scenarios**: **Semi-outdoor or humid environments** (such as underground garages and 

temporary power distribution points).

#### 5. SMC Composite Material

- **Advantages**:

  - **Excellent insulation performance** (non-conductive), fireproof and flame-retardant (flame-retardant 

grade V-0), and corrosion-resistant.

  - Lightweight, anti-aging (service life of more than 20 years), suitable for special environments.

- **Disadvantages**:

  - Low strength, unable to directly install heavy components (a steel frame needs to be added inside).

- **Applicable Scenarios**: **Environments requiring insulation** (such as mines and explosive places) or

 **small outdoor power distribution cabinets**.

#### 6. Hot-Rolled Steel Plate (SHCC)

- **Advantages**:

  - Large thickness (≥3.0mm), strong load-bearing capacity, suitable for large cabinets.

  - Low cost, suitable for flat structures.

- **Disadvantages**:

  - Rough surface, difficult to process complex shapes, and prone to rust.

- **Applicable Scenarios**: **Large cabinet frames that are not exposed** (corrosion prevention treatment 

is required).

### II. Key Principles for Selection

1. **Environment Priority**:

   - **Dry indoor environment**: Cold-rolled steel plate (sprayed plastic), economical and practical.

   - **Outdoor/humid environment**: Stainless steel (304) or SMC composite material, anti-corrosion.

   - **Corrosive gas environment**: 316 stainless steel or aluminum alloy (surface oxidation treatment).

2. **Matching of Protection Levels**:

   - IP30-IP40 (indoor): Cold-rolled plate or galvalume steel plate.

   - IP54-IP65 (outdoor): Stainless steel or SMC composite material.

3. **Electrical Safety**:

   - For cabinets that need to be grounded: Give priority to metal materials (such as cold-rolled plates and 

stainless steel) to ensure the continuity of grounding.

   - For insulation requirements: Select SMC composite material to avoid the risk of electric leakage.

4. **Cost Control**:

   - Limited budget: Cold-rolled plate (accounting for more than 80% of the market).

   - High-end projects: Stainless steel or aluminum alloy, taking into account both performance and 

appearance.

### III. Recommendations for Typical Scenarios

### IV. Precautions

1. **Matching of Materials and Components**:

   - The metal cabinet body needs to be reliably connected to the grounding system (grounding resistance 

≤4Ω), and the non-metal cabinet body needs to have a built-in grounding copper busbar.

2. **Surface Treatment**:

   - Cold-rolled plates/hot-rolled plates need to be sprayed with epoxy resin or galvanized, and the salt spray

 test ≥720 hours (outdoor).

3. **Thickness Requirements**:

   - The thickness of the main frame ≥2.0mm, and the thickness of the door panel ≥1.5mm to ensure structural 

stability.

Through the above analysis, the most suitable cabinet body material can be selected according to specific 

needs, balancing safety, durability, and economy.