MAKERELE 18 Din Rail Power Distribution Box Circuit Breaker Protector Cover Electrical Distribution Boxes Lid Gray with Terminal and DIN Rail for Miniature Circuit Breaker

Why I chose the Makerele 18‑way DIN box

I picked up the Makerele 18‑way DIN box to tame a tangle of low‑voltage and light‑duty AC circuits for an outdoor equipment pad. I wanted something compact, weather‑resistant, and easy to service without pulling covers every time I needed to check status LEDs or breaker positions. On paper, this enclosure checked a lot of boxes: IP65 rating, a clear hinged door, included 35 mm DIN rail and terminal, wall‑mount-ready, and room for 18 miniature circuit breakers (MCBs). After installing and living with it for a while, here’s how it held up.

Build quality and weather protection

The enclosure body is a non‑metallic, insulated shell that’s thicker than most budget DIN boxes I’ve used. It’s rigid enough that it doesn’t flex when you torque down cable glands, and it shrugs off UV and moisture well. I pressure‑rinsed it and left it through a few storms; the gasketed clear door kept the interior dry. IP65 is realistic here—as long as you use proper glands and don’t compromise the seal with poorly deburred holes.

The clear polycarbonate door is the main convenience feature. Being able to check breaker positions and see indicator lights without opening the enclosure is a time‑saver. The latch snaps positively and the hinge alignment was true on my unit. That said, the small plastic geometry that forms the hinge pins and the inner cover clips feels delicate. If you tend to swing doors open forcefully, slow down—this is utility‑grade plastic, not industrial cast metal. Treat it with a bit of care and it behaves.

Hardware is straightforward: stainless self‑tapping screws for wall mounting and an included DIN rail section. The screws bite well into masonry anchors or studs; I mounted directly to a backer board without issue.

Layout, capacity, and working space

This is an 18‑module width enclosure sized around 365 × 200 × 108 mm. In practice, that’s a nice sweet spot for small sub‑assemblies: a handful of 1P MCBs, a surge module, maybe a relay or two. If your design involves large wire gauges or devices deeper than standard MCBs, plan carefully. The internal depth is modest; taller accessories can crowd the cover if they sit proud on the rail.

Cable management is workable. There are multiple knockouts on the sides and bottom, and the included dust plugs are handy for temporarily sealing unused entries during build‑out. Once populated, the box is tidy and the clear door makes status checks painless. I appreciated the included terminal for neutral/ground distribution on a compact harness, though I ultimately replaced it with a larger bar to suit my layout.

For current capacity, I’d frame this enclosure as ideal for control circuits, low‑power distribution, and as a disconnect/segmentation point—not a heavy‑duty branch panel. With multiple 20–30A circuits, the conductor bend radius and termination space start to feel tight. It’s not about panel heating so much as the physical room to dress larger conductors cleanly.

Installation experience

Out of the box, installation is refreshingly simple. The base has molded stand‑offs that keep screw heads outside the sealed cavity, so you can mount it without compromising the gasket. The DIN rail drops into fixed supports; alignment is square and consistent.

Where I had to slow down was the knockouts. They’re formed cleanly, but several line up over internal reinforcing ribs. If you try to “pop” them like thin conduit knockouts, you’ll deform the wall. My best results came from treating every entry as a drilled hole rather than a knockout:

• Mark your gland centers.
• Pilot with 3–4 mm.
• Step with a quality step bit or hole saw to your gland size (M16/M20/M25, etc.).
• Clear any interfering rib segments with a flush cutter or a small rotary burr.
• Deburr inside and out so the gasket seats flat.

Do it this way and you’ll get crisp, round entries with full gasket compression, preserving the IP rating. I used nylon M20 glands on 12 mm jacketed cable and got a watertight seal with no drama.

The included DIN rail is serviceable but on the lighter side. It’s fine for a row of MCBs, but if you’re mounting relays with beefy plug bases or a heavy power supply, consider swapping in a thicker steel rail section. It’s a two‑minute change that stiffens the whole assembly.

Compatibility and everyday use

The opening and inner trim are sized for standard miniature circuit breakers and similar 18 mm‑wide DIN modules. My Eaton/CH‑form factor MCBs snapped in securely, and the trim plate aligned with the toggles for a clean front look. I also mounted a pair of DIN relays and a small DC supply. With that mix, the cover closed without touching hardware, but I did have to keep taller accessories toward the bottom rail position to keep the clearance cushion.

A tip: if you’re using anything taller than a typical MCB (certain surge protectors, relay carriers, or deep smart modules), mock up the assembly before you cut holes. Depth tolerance is the limiting factor in this enclosure more than width.

In day‑to‑day use, the clear door is the hero feature. Being able to confirm which circuits are energized or whether a relay is latched without opening the enclosure is great for quick checks, especially outdoors or in dusty spaces. The gasket has stayed supple, and the latch still feels confident after a few months of opens/closes.

Safety and compliance notes

This is a robust, weather‑resistant box, but you should confirm local code and listing requirements before making it a permanent part of a permitted installation. If an inspector or spec requires a particular listing on the enclosure as an assembly, plan accordingly. For labs, low‑voltage control, small solar auxiliaries, RV/van builds, network gear distribution, and other light‑duty setups with appropriate upstream protection, it’s a practical and tidy solution. Just be disciplined about:

• Using listed cable glands sized correctly for your cable OD.
• Properly bonding/grounding per your system design.
• Keeping conductor fill within comfortable limits for the available space.
• Strain‑relieving heavier harnesses so the door opens freely.

What I liked

• Compact, practical size with a real IP65 seal when built correctly.
• Clear hinged door makes inspections fast and reduces unnecessary opening.
• Non‑corrosive insulated body feels solid and resists UV/weather.
• Straightforward mounting; includes DIN rail, terminal, and stainless hardware.
• Great value for organizing 18‑module control and light power circuits.

What could be better

• Knockouts are best treated as drill guides; expect to cut rather than “pop” them.
• Internal ribs can intersect entry points and need trimming during layout.
• Included DIN rail is a bit light; fine for MCBs, but I prefer a heavier rail for mixed loads.
• Depth is modest; tall modules and bulky wiring can crowd the cover if not planned.
• Plastic hinges and inner cover clips feel delicate—handle gently.

Practical tips for a smoother build

• Replace the DIN rail with a thicker section if you’re mounting heavy devices.
• Use quality step bits and deburr thoroughly to preserve gasket integrity.
• Lay out your components on the rail outside the box first, close the door over it, and check clearance before committing to hole locations.
• Label breaker positions on the inner trim; the clear door makes those labels visible and saves time later.
• Add adhesive cable tie bases along the side walls for neat harness routing without drilling extra holes.

The bottom line

The Makerele 18‑way DIN box hits a useful middle ground: more polished and weather‑ready than generic project enclosures, yet compact and easy to work with for small distributions and control builds. Its strengths are the IP65 sealing, the transparent door, and a straightforward installation that doesn’t require a pile of extra parts. Its limitations show up when you push it with oversized devices or heavy gauge conductors; the depth and cable entry design demand a bit of care and the right tools.

Would I recommend it? Yes—with context. If you need an affordable, weather‑resistant enclosure for standard DIN‑rail MCBs and light‑duty modules, and you’re comfortable drilling clean entries and planning your layout, it’s a reliable, tidy solution. For installations with large conductors, oversized surge gear, or stringent listing requirements, I’d step up to a deeper, heavier‑duty enclosure or a model specifically certified for your application. Used within its sweet spot, this box is a time‑saver that keeps small systems organized and easy to maintain.