Device for housing communication and electronic equipment using positive temperature coefficient material

An enclosure adapted for housing equipment comprising a cellular telephone base station, the equipment including a receiver, a filter, an amplifier and a transmitter, the enclosure comprising:

• a housing having a plurality of sidewalls defining an internal cavity and an enclosed ambient, the internal cavity being adapted for receiving the equipment in communication with the ambient;
• at least one heater assembly mounted within the internal cavity adjacent the equipment and in open communication with the ambient for maintaining the ambient at a temperature at or above the minimum operating temperature of the equipment when the equipment is housed outdoors, the at least one heater assembly comprising a plurality of plates of PTC material, wherein each plate of PTC material is separated from another plate of PTC material by an insulating material, the plurality of plates of PTC material and insulating material being disposed between a pair of electrodes connected to a power source,
• wherein the at least one heater assembly is actuated continuously during operation of the equipment and is self-regulating such that the equipment is maintained at a temperature equal to or above the minimum operating temperature of the equipment while the equipment is operated in the outdoors, without manual operation of the at least one heater assembly.