Consulting-Specifying Engineer - February 2008 - (Page 47)

Equipment Lifecycles Electrical enclosures: not just a box anymore Consider environment and the electrical equipment’s size and protection needs to accurately and cost-effectively determine the correct enclosure. BY GLEN KAMPA, Program Manager, Hoffman, Anoka, Minn. T he ideal electrical enclosure should install and remove easily, protect valuable equipment, allow the housed components to be accessed easily, and resist environmental hazards. The key steps in determining the best enclosure include assessing the building’s environment, the electrical equipment’s protection and size requirements, and the accessibility needed for time- and cost-efficient maintenance and service. By identifying the required demands, engineers can simply and accurately specify an optimal electrical enclosure to provide dependable protection and long operational life. The most important step is to consider the enclosure’s environment. First, in order to determine the resistance needed, evaluate the environmental contaminants that could potentially harm the electronics and/or enclosure, including dust, dirt, and other debris; water in washdown environments; and harsh chemicals and UV light. The temperature both inside and outside of the enclosure is a key environmental factor to consider as well. Plus, invisible hazards such as electromagnetic or radio frequency interference also can obstruct equipment operation, and busy industrial environments may result in accidental impact or shock, damaging improperly protected electrical components. Because some components are more susceptible to damage than others, note whether the application involves sensitive electronics—requiring significant protection—or more 1 Environmental factors 2 Protection levels 3 Enclosure properties Dirt/dust/debris UV light Corrosion resistance Liquid/debris Minimum Space/installation dimensions limitations Moisture EMI/RFI interference Harsh chemicals Panel/door Mounting design for wiring configurations accessibility Enclosed contact protections Physical contact Electrical enclosures come in a wide range of standard, modified, and custom options to protect electronic and electrical controls in industrial, data communication, and commercial construction applications. Selection is based on the application’s demands, including environmental factors such as temperature, necessary levels of protection, and space and size requirements. Source: Hoffman Consulting-Specifying Engineer • FEBRUARY 2008 47

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Consulting-Specifying Engineer - February 2008 Contents Viewpoint News M/E Roundtable How To Write Control Sequences Mentoring Engineers: Myths, Motivations, and Models Keep Young Electrical Engineers Grounded Protecting a Vulnerable Population Codes & Standards Case Study New Products Equipment Lifecycles Advertisers Index Green Space

Consulting-Specifying Engineer - February 2008

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