IP65 Sealed Polycarbonate Enclosure — 115x90x55mm Black

Q: What does IP65 actually mean?
IP65 is a two-digit protection rating. The 6 means dust-tight, so nothing powder-fine gets in. The 5 means protected against water jets from any direction, like a hose. It is the standard rating for a sealed junction box in automotive or marine wiring where road spray, rain and dust are the main threats. Full immersion needs IP67 or higher.

Q: What goes inside an enclosure like this?
A small fuse block, a relay or two, a DC-DC controller, a battery monitor shunt, or a loom junction with a few connectors. Anything that needs to live outside the cabin and stay dry. Supply a mounting plate (acrylic or 3mm aluminium cut to fit) and screw the kit down using the internal PCB slots.

Q: Is this box waterproof?
It is weatherproof, not submersible. IP65 handles rain, mud and hose spray. Dropping it in a puddle or taking it underwater needs IP67 or higher (not this box). Keep cable entries at the bottom and use sealed glands to keep the rating.

Q: Does it work on a 12V or 24V system?
Both. The enclosure is non-conductive and has no voltage of its own; it just houses whatever is installed inside. Standard automotive 12V, dual-battery 24V and telecoms 48V DC are all fine.

Q: Can I use it for 240V AC mains wiring?
Not for AC mains. The enclosure meets IP65 for DC accessory use but is not EESS-registered as a 240V AC junction box, and mains wiring in Australia must be done by a licensed electrician. Elevate's own Licensed Electrical Contractor is EC17073 (WA Building & Energy) if that work is needed.

Q: How do I keep the IP65 rating when running wires in?
Use an IP-rated cable gland sized to the cable OD. Drill the body (not the lid) at the lowest wall so water pools cannot sit against the gland. Tighten the gland against the sealing nut inside, and block unused holes with a blanking gland rather than leaving them open.

Q: Does the lid come off?
Yes. Four M4 stainless screws thread into brass inserts in the body. Loosen all four and the lid lifts off cleanly, exposing the inside for wiring access. The gasket stays with the lid.

Q: What is the mounting flange for?
The flange gives two bolt points sticking out either side of the body, so the enclosure fixes to a bulkhead, firewall or canopy wall from outside without drilling through the sealed box. The flange holes take M5 bolts.

Q: What is included inside the box?
Just the enclosure and four lid screws. No fuse block, no relay base, no cable glands; buy and fit whatever accessory suits the job. Browse Elevate's fuse-block and relay-base range for compatible kit.

Q: What temperature range does it handle?
-40C to +125C. Covers Perth summer under-bonnet heat, high-country winter, Pilbara dust and desert thermal cycling. The polycarbonate itself softens near the top end, so keep the enclosure clear of direct exhaust-manifold contact.

Q: Does the polycarbonate yellow in sun?
Not quickly. The grade used for IP65 enclosures is UV-stabilised polycarbonate that tolerates years of outdoor sunlight before cosmetic yellowing. A roof-rack install or canopy-top mount is fine.

Q: How is this different from a cheap junction box?
The gasket design and screw layout. On a cheap box the lid screws pass through the gasket, breaking the seal every time it opens; on this enclosure the screws sit outside the gasket area, so the IP65 rating survives dozens of lid open/close cycles. The brass inserts in the body also stop the thread stripping.