Enclosure Heating

Many outdoor enclosures – such as those for ATMs, temperature controllers, gauges and sensor boxes, and portable testing equipment – contain electronics that are at risk of shorting out from condensation or becoming inoperable when condensation inside the machine freezes.

Several kinds of heaters can warm the air in the enclosure to prevent this damage. The most common and space-effective are silicone rubber heaters, which you can order from stock or configure to order on our site. Others include finned strip heaters and tubular heaters. You can buy these heaters online at the pages below:

Silicone Rubber Heaters

Automatic Silicone Rubber Heater Configurator

Finned Strip Heaters

Tubular Heaters

Wattage Calculator

The wattage of the heater you need is determined by the total surface area of your enclosure and the temperature rise you need to produce. You can use this calculator to find the wattage you need. (Note: This calculator has a maximum temperature rise of 140°F or 78°C)

Step 1: Find your enclosure's total surface area by entering its dimensions here.

Step 2: Find your temperature rise – that is, the difference between your minimum and maximum temperature – and enter it below to see the wattage you'll need to heat your enclosure. Note that uninsulated surfaces require a much higher wattage of heat than insulated surfaces; for cost-efficacy, we almost always recommend insulating your enclosure.

Wattage required for insulated enclosures

Wattage required for uninsulated enclosures