Tag: cabinet cooler systems

EXAIR’s Cabinet Coolers Provide Heat Protection 24/7

Published on by Russ BowmanLeave a comment

I had the pleasure of speaking with the Maintenance Manager at a manufacturing plant for a global automotive supplier earlier this week. They have a whole factory floor full of machinery that operates from PLC controls. The space is not climate controlled, and the temperature broke 100°F the day before. This triggered some high temperature warnings on several control panels, but that was the worst thing that happened…luckily.

It should go without saying that the automotive industry is a big deal in the United States…maybe even a bigger deal here in the Middle Atlantic region, and a HUGE deal for those of us within a few hour’s drive of Detroit, Michigan…the home of the Big Three.  Disruptions in their supply chains can affect not only the final production of automobiles, but also other suppliers, vendors, and service providers in separate “links” of that chain.  So, if my caller has a breakdown and can’t ship parts, many other suppliers’ lines may be slowed or stopped, because if Detroit can’t make cars without one supplier’s parts right now, they won’t need the others’ parts right now either.  That means reliability is paramount.

Even in extremely aggressive environments, an EXAIR Cabinet Cooler System is a durable, reliable heat protection solution for your sensitive electronics and controls.

This is a “textbook” situation for EXAIR Cabinet Cooler Systems.  They’re installed in minutes, have no moving parts, and require only a supply of compressed air for operation.  If that air is clean & dry, they’ll operate darn near indefinitely, maintenance free.  Thermostat Control turns them off & on as needed.  I’ve talked to more than a few users who were (pleasantly) surprised when a Cabinet Cooler System activated on the first hot day in the spring, after not seeing it come on at all, after that last hot day near the end of the previous summer.

Back to the situation at hand – the Maintenance Manager had gathered Sizing Guide data for a couple of enclosures.  You can submit it through our website, or email it in, but it only takes a minute; we do it over the phone all the time.  So I did, and quoted the appropriate Cabinet Cooler Systems, which were ordered soon after.  They were installed the next day, with a promise of more to come.

EXAIR Cabinet Cooler Systems are widely recognized as an ideal solution for electrical & electronic panel heat protection.

As if quick, easy, and reliable heat protection for sensitive and critical electronics isn’t enough, we’re sweetening the pot this summer:  order any EXAIR CAbinet Cooler System by July 31, 2018, and we will include a FREE AC Sensor, suitable for testing breakers, receptacles, switches, fuses, junction boxes, power cords – if it’s got (or should) have AC voltage going through it, the AC Sensor will light up and sound off (or not) to let you know for sure.

Click here for full details on this promotion!

If you have electrical or electronic equipment enclosures that need heat protection, EXAIR has the solution.  Call me.

EXAIR Cabinet Cooler System Keep Electrical Enclosures Cool

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The IP Code, otherwise known as ‘Ingress Protection’, ratings are defined in the international standard EN 60529 (or European IEC 60529.) Similar to NEMA ratings by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association, the IP ratings are used define the level of sealing effectiveness of enclosures against penetration from foreign matter and water/moisture.  The ratings for an enclosure are determined by actual testing.

The IP number is composed of the letters ‘IP’, two numbers and possibly one or two letters.  The first number refers to the protection level against solids, and the second number to the liquid protection level. The higher the  number, the greater the protection level. The optional letter codes relate to protection of persons against access to hazards within the cabinet, and any other special notice.

Below tables show the possible protection ratings and the description-

IP Table

Example – IP54 – IP – Code Letters, 1st Numeral is 5, 2nd Numeral is 4

An enclosure with an IP rating of this designation, IP54 –

  • 5 – Equipment within enclosure is protected from ingress dust of a limited quantity, such that no interference of performance is caused
  • 4 – Equipment within enclosure should have no harmful effects due to water splashed against the enclosure from any angle

Here at EXAIR we work with IP ratings everyday.  The Cabinet Cooler System line of products are made to keep electrical enclosures cool inside, while maintaining the integrity of the enclosure IP Code rating.

If you would like to talk about IP or NEMA ratings and the Cabinet Cooler Systems or any of the EXAIR Intelligent Compressed Air® Products, feel free to contact EXAIR and myself or one of our Application Engineers can help you determine the best solution.

Brian Bergmann
Application Engineer

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20 Year Old Cabinet Cooling System Still Working Today

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Recently, I had dinner with some family that I hadn’t seen in a quite a while.  As part of catching up and reminiscing about old times, the discussion went to professions and ‘what are you doing now?’  I told my uncle that I was doing Application Engineering for EXAIR Corporation, and he asked about what we do. I responded that we manufacture an extensive array of Intelligent Compressed Air Products, and then gave a few specifics, like Air Knives, Line Vacs, and Cabinet Cooler Systems. Since my uncle had worked in the chemical process and research industry for many years, he was at least familiar with the products I had mentioned.  He then shared stories about the facility he works at, and because I had worked there many years ago in college (driving a forklift), he knew I would appreciate hearing about all the changes in the last quarter decade.  Eventually, the evening came to and end and we went our separate ways.

Very soon after I received a text message with the below photo attached. Sure enough, my uncle had come across an EXAIR Cabinet Cooler System installed in his facility.  Based on the photo, I identified it as a NEMA 12 model, with a cooling capacity of 275 or 550 BTU/hr. When I did an order history search, I confirmed it was a model 4208 (550 BTU/hr) and found it had shipped in August of 1995, and that my uncle’s name was listed as the order contact, since he placed the order.

Small World!

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Model 4208, NEMA 12 Cabinet Cooler System, Installed in 1995 – Still Working Today

Speaking of small worlds, the model 4208 and it’s little brother model 4204, are perfect for small cabinet enclosures that have a minor amounts of internal heat generation, such as a power supply, or moderate outside heat transfer.  Capable of producing 550 BTU/hr and 275 BTU/hr of cooling while using just 8 and 4 SCFM of 100 PSIG compressed air, the EXAIR Cabinet Cooler Systems offer a great way to keep cabinets cool and worry free, as evidenced by over 20 years of operation.  Just provide clean air (a simple 5 micron water/dirt filter is recommended) and it will operate worry free for a long time.

EXAIR manufactures Cabinet Cooler Systems from 275 to 5600 BTU/hr, for NEMA 12, NEMA 4 and NEMA 4X enclosures. They are available in Continuous Operation, (2) Types of Thermostat Control, special designs for High Temperature environments, and a Non- Hazardous Purge. Materials of construction include aluminum, stainless steel, and type 316 stainless steel.

To discuss your application and how an EXAIR Cabinet Cooler System would help out, feel free to contact EXAIR and one of our Application Engineers can help you determine the best solution.

Brian Bergmann
Application Engineer

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Twitter: @EXAIR_BB

EXAIR’s Cabinet Cooler Systems Cool Electrical Enclosures

Published on by Brian FarnoLeave a comment

One of the main focuses for Cabinet Cooler Systems is to cool electrical enclosures that are overheating due to inadequate cooling, failing air conditioners, or heat exchangers that are not performing due to high ambient conditions.  Another focus is the fact that the Cabinet Cooler Systems don’t require refrigerant based coolants, or fans that can move dirty ambient air into the cabinet. This is the portion I would like to focus on today.

If there are vents on the enclosure then these are sometimes covered with a filter media that is an easily forgotten maintenance item –  sometimes they are even removed.  This is an issue as it starts to allow the contaminants from the surrounding area to begin to enter the inside of an enclosure.  In case you have never seen a circuit board that is covered in oil mist and metal chips, it is terrifying to see a maintenance person that is trying to troubleshoot the machine for failures.  Not only does this present a fire hazard but it also presents the internals of the panel with a strong probability of failure.

Another item I have personally seen fail in the field are small fans mounted within enclosure vents to help circulate air through the enclosure.  This is a great idea if the ambient environment is climate controlled and has no dirt or debris in the air.   Even in a facility that is climate controlled there is still potential for airborne debris, dust, and contaminants to enter the cabinets. These are merely accelerated into the cabinet by the fan and distributed throughout the entire enclosure instead of just coming in and covering the area just inside of the vent.

The solution to all the problems above which can easily save thousands of dollars worth of damaged circuit boards or drives is an EXAIR Cabinet Cooler System.  The Cabinet Coolers will all provide a slight positive air flow within the enclosure and will help to keep those external ambient conditions out of the cabinet and away from valuable electronics.  Even with our thermostatically controlled systems (which turn on and off as needed to maintain internal temperature AND save air) we offer a Non-Hazardous Purge option which will permit a 1 SCFM flow of air through the Cabinet Cooler to always keep a slight positive pressure within the enclosure. When the cabinet needs to be cooled, it will open the solenoid valve and provide the full rate of cooling from the Cabinet Cooler System.  The Non-Hazardous Purge function is available for all three NEMA types of Cabinet Cooler Systems, 12, 4, and 4X.

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If you would like to discuss the other benefits of utilizing EXAIR Cabinet Cooler Systems and which model is right for your enclosure, please contact us.

Brian Farno
Application Engineer Manager
BrianFarno@EXAIR.com
@EXAIR_BF