Cabinet-style electric enclosures for simplified harsh environmental protection Theseenclosuresimproveaccessibilityandstillprotectagainstmoisture,contaminantsandtemperatureinharshenvironments.

PeterBrown

Enclosuresinelectricalsystemdesignareoftenmission-criticalcomponents—evenifitmightnotseemso.Consideringthesesystemshouseelectricalwiring,fiberopticdevices,microcontrollers,routers,switches,powersuppliesandothercomponents,theseenclosuresprotectvitalelectronicsthatkeepequipmentandelectronicsoperatingreliably.

Meticulouslyengineeredenclosureboxescanprotectthesecriticalsystemsagainsthightemperatures,moisture,humidityandotherharshenvironmentalconditionsthatmayotherwisecompromisetheseelectricalsystems.Problemssuchasoverheatingandmoisturewillshortentheoperationallifespanofelectricalequipment,creatingexpensiveserviceormanufacturingdisruptions,andpotentiallyelectricalhazardstopersonnel.

Figure1:Electricalenclosuresarecriticalinprotectingvitalelectronics.Source:Altech

TheGEOSlineofenclosuresfromAltechemploysmaterialsthatensurethelong-termreliabilityofallcomponentscontainedinsidetheenclosure.Theseelectricalenclosuresarenotonlyimpactresistant,

scratchresistantandshatterproof,butalsoaredesignedtoworkinruggedoutdoorenvironments,providingprotectionagainsttemperature,corrosion,ultravioletlightandweatherresistance.

Ingressprotectionandtemperaturecontrolarecommonfeaturesforsuchenclosures.However,akeychallengehaslongbeentheaccessibilityofcomponentswithintheenclosure,beitformachinerycontrolsorinterfaces,orcomponentmaintenanceandinspection.Ahigh-durabilityframe,hingeanddoorpanelprovidesoperatorsampleaccessibilitytotheenclosedcomponents.

WhiletheGEOSlineistargetedforoutdoorenclosures,itisalsosuitableforindoorapplications,suchasthosethatmightpresentIPchallengesduetodust,debrisormoisture.Theseenclosuresaresuitableformanyindustriesandapplications,rangingfromsolarandrenewableenergy,transportationandinfrastructureandagriculture,tofoodandbeverage,generalmanufacturingandindustry.

Figure2:Thecabinetdesignallowsworkerstoopenandclosetheenclosurewithouthavingtoremovedoors.Source:Altech

Ratings, specifications and features Altech’sGEOSenclosuresareinfullcompliancewithUL50,IEC62208andIEC61439aswellasotherrelevantinternationalstandards.

TheenclosuresareratedIP67.Theratingiscomprisedoftwonumbers.Thefirstnumberrangesfrom0to6measuringthedegreeofprotectionofthedeviceagainstsolidobjectssuchasdebrisandsand.A0ratingmeansthedevicehaslittletonoprotectionagainsttheseobjectsand6indicatestheobjectsarehighlysecuredagainstsolidobjects.Thesecondratingrangesfrom0to9measuringhowwelltheenclosureswithstandliquids.Aratingof0meansitisnotprotectedfromliquidswhilea9indicatesitcanwithstandhighpressurejetsathightemperature.AnoverallratingofIP67meanstheelectricalenclosuresaredusttightandshorttermimmersibleinwater. Figure3.Altech’sGEOSenclosures.Source:Altech

Intermsofresistancetoweather,theGEOSpolycarbonateenclosuresuseadrainprotectionsealingsystemtopreventcontaminantsfromgettinginside.Thiscouldbeanythingfrommoisture,dust,dirt,rain,snow,coldandheat.ThedrainsystemhelpskeepthehousingtightanddryinaccordancewithULType4Xand12Kstandards(meaningithasbeenapprovedforuseinU.S.,CanadaandEurope)bydischargingwaterbeforeitcanreachtheenclosure’selastomerseal.Theelectricalenclosuredivertsmoisturetothebacksideoftheenclosurebyusinganoverlappingcoverwithabuilt-indrainagechannelonthetopedgeoftheenclosure.Drainageholesarealsopossibleonallsidesoftheboxbase,whichcanbeopenedifnecessary,beforeorafterinstallation.

FivebasichousingsizesareavailableforGEOSenclosures,rangingupto15.75x19.69x8.9in.Thisallowsfordifferentinternaldimensionsandvolumes,andaccessoriesareavailableforcustomizationforadditionalvarietyandversatility.

Altech’sGEOSenclosurescanbeoperatedinelectricnetworkswithratedvoltageofupto1,000VAC/1,500VDC,wheretheshortcircuitcurrent(ICP)doesnotexceed10kA.ThereinforceddoubleinsulationinsidetheenclosuresallowforIECClass2electricprotection.

Airinsidetheenclosurecanheatupto55°Cduetopowerdissipatedbytheelectricaldevices,andtemperaturescanreachevenhigherwhenelectricdevicesandwiringareexposedtohightemperatures.Thiscanbeanissueforsealedenclosuresinenvironmentswithhightemperatureandhumiditybecausethewarmairinsidetheenclosuregraduallyabsorbsthewatervaporintheambientair.Whentemperaturesoutsidecool,thewatervaporinsidetheenclosurecancondense,collectingintheboxandpotentiallycausingdamage.

Figure4:Thecabinetenclosuresfeatureadrainprotectionsystemalongwithtwodifferentdepths,multiplemountingoptions,modularcomponentmountingsystem,optionaldrainknockoutandmore.Source:Altech

Tosolvethisissue,Altechoffersanoptionalairventilationelementforitselectricalenclosurestopreventcondensate,whilestillmaintainingahighlevelofprotection.Thesystemmixesairfrominsidetheenclosureconstantlywiththesurroundingairandtransportsthemoistureoutsidetheenclosure.Thisisespeciallyhelpfulinhumidenvironments.Theventilationelementsaremaintenancefreeandprovidedwithareplaceablefilterthattrapsparticleslargerthan10microns.

Cabinet-style advantages Altechoffersarecentlyinnovatedcabinet-styleaccessdoorforitselectricalenclosures.Withaheavy-dutydesign,theenclosuredoorsprovideexcellentprotection,butnotattheexpenseofaccessibility.Optionaltransparentdoorsprovideviewingwindows,allowingoperatorstocheckmeasurementsorvisuallyinspectcomponentswithoutopeningthebox.

Traditionalenclosuressometimesneedtobepartiallydisassembledtoaccessinternalcomponents,andtheworkermaybechallengedbythetightconfinesoftheenclosure.TheseareallchallengestheGEOSlineofelectricalenclosuresaddresses.

• Quicklyopenandaccessorcloseandsealtheenclosure• Fewerrestrictionsforinternalfittingsandcomponents• Tool-lessinternalmountingoptionsallowforeasyremovalofcomponents• Doorsprovidewideopeningangles,oftengreaterthan180°dependingoninstallation• Doorscanbelockedforaccessrestriction• Doorsareeasilyremovedorreversed• Transparentmaterialspermiteasymonitoringandinspection

Conclusion Forthoselookingtofindmoreadaptableandaccessibleelectricalenclosures,theAltechGEOScabinetenclosuresprovidethesameprotectionagainstliquidsandsolidsastraditionalelectricalenclosures,butgreatlysimplifymonitoringandmaintenanceofthecriticalcomponentscontainedwithin.