Enclosure for electrical equipment

A protective enclosure for electrical components, the enclosure comprising:

• a body defining a front opening, a first end opening with a first ledge, and a second end opening with a second ledge, wherein the body includes a front panel, a rear panel, and two side panels, all of which are formed at least in part by a single continuous material sheet;
• a door coupled to the body to selectively close the front opening;
• a first end cap provided to close the first end opening;
• a first plurality of apertures provided in the first ledge;
• a first gasket disposed between the first end cap and the first ledge, wherein a plurality of fasteners embedded into the first end cap engage with a plurality of corresponding clips assembled onto the first ledge at the locations of the first plurality of apertures so as to form a permanent, one-time-use closure that compresses the first gasket and maintains compression thereof in response to nothing more than movement of the first end cap toward the first ledge in a single installation direction perpendicular to the first ledge;
• a second end cap provided to close the second end opening;
• a second plurality of apertures provided in the second ledge;
• and
• a second gasket disposed between the second end cap and the second ledge, wherein a plurality of fasteners embedded into the second end cap engage with a plurality of corresponding clips assembled onto the second ledge at the locations of the second plurality of apertures so as to form a permanent, one-time-use closure that compresses the second gasket and maintains compression thereof in response to nothing more than movement of the second end cap toward the second ledge in a single installation direction perpendicular to the second ledge,
• wherein the first and second end openings are closed and sealed water-tight by the respective permanent, one-time-use closures of the first and second end caps.

A method of assembling a protective enclosure for electrical components, the method comprising:

• forming a body defining a front opening and an end opening, wherein the body includes a front panel, a rear panel, and two side panels;
• forming a ledge around the end opening, the ledge lying perpendicular to the front, rear, and side panels, the ledge having a plurality of apertures therein;
• attaching a plurality of clips to the ledge at the locations of the plurality of apertures;
• coupling a door to the body to selectively close the front opening;
• providing an end cap with a plurality of embedded fasteners protruding therefrom in an installation direction;
• affixing a gasket to one of the end cap and the ledge;
• and
• pressing the end cap in the installation direction to move the plurality of fasteners toward and through the plurality of apertures in the ledge to form a permanent, water-tight, one-time-use closure that compresses the gasket and maintains compression thereof in response to nothing more than the pressing of the end cap in the installation direction.