Proper heat dispersal is crucial for protecting the components and wiring in an electrical control panel. Available NEMA ratings for Aluminum enclosures include 3, 3R, 4, 4X, 12, and 13. Aluminum also offers natural EMI/RFI shielding to prevent interference and is resistant to corrosion. Stainless Steel enclosures are offered in 3, 3R, 4, 4X, 12, and 13 NEMA ratings.Īluminum is a durable material that is also able to withstand high temperatures. However, stainless steel is also heavy and typically more expensive than alternative materials. Stainless steel is well suited for wet environments and is also fire resistant. Polycarbonate plastic is suitable for both indoor and outdoor applications and is available in a range of NEMA ratings, including 1, 2, 4, 4X, 12, and 13. Polycarbonate plastic is an inexpensive and versatile material with high impact resistance. Mild steel enclosures are offered in NEMA 1, 3, 4, 6, 12, and 13 ratings. Mild steel is a common material used for electrical enclosures and protects controls from wet, non-corrosive environments. This includes mild steel, stainless steel, polycarbonate plastic, and aluminum. Enclosures can be built with a range of different materials and corresponding NEMA ratings. Selecting the right enclosure type for your electrical control panel’s environment or application is essential for ensuring safe and reliable operation. Additionally, labels should be adhered in a clearly visible location on the front of a device, as well as each end of a wire. For example, a circuit breaker label may always start with CB, while a power supply label would start with PS. Utilizing a consistent and logical syntax, such as an abbreviated prefix for each component type, will make identifying components and wires easier. To make it easier to identify and troubleshoot components or wiring issues, it’s good practice to always label each wire and device in an electrical control panel. Keeping the e-stop separated from other interfaces ensures easy accessibility in an emergency and also prevents accidental engagement when interacting with the panel. Allotting extra blank space in the panel may also be beneficial to allow for future expansion.įinally, to promote safer operation, Process Solutions always places the emergency-stop (e-stop) button in a highly visible location on the panel door away from other buttons or interfaces. To address this challenge, Process Solutions utilizes 3D CAD software to model each panel layout to ensure proper sizing and eliminate the possibility of unforeseen component collisions after assembly. Selecting the right size enclosure will ensure all components fit properly and prevent collisions with door-mounted devices when closing the enclosure door. Properly sizing your enclosure is another important aspect of control panel design. Utilizing wireway also ensures wires always run horizontally or vertically and prevents them from hanging in front of components or tangling. Furthermore, components are often placed inside banks created by wireway to allow for short and clean wire runs. We then group drives together in another portion of the panel, and typically place the PLC near the top of the panel. For example, at Process Solutions, we often group circuit protection components in one portion of the panel or near the necessary devices. Panel Organization and SizingĪ well-organized panel has components laid out in a logical order based on function and electrical requirements. Following these best practices for electrical control panels will lead to safer operation, easier maintenance, and room for future expansion. Responsible for providing electrical flow and automating the control of machinery and lines, control panels must be engineered and built to operate in industrial conditions reliably. Electrical control panels are an essential element of industrial automation and modern manufacturing.
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