Tag: electrical panel cooling

Cabinet Coolers and Environmental Ratings

Published on by John Ball1 Comment

EXAIR manufactures Cabinet Coolers to keep your electrical components cool inside.  This will help to prevent any costly shutdowns or premature electrical failures due to overheating.  The EXAIR Cabinet Cooler System is a simple device that generates cold air with no moving parts, motors, condensers, or Freon.  They are maintenance-free with a long-life cycle, and installation is quick and easy.  But when mounting the system to your electrical panel, you want to make sure that the Cabinet Cooler meets or exceeds the integrity standard for that environment.  There are standards that categorize electrical panels to protect workers, shield the panels from the environment, and sustain the internal electrical components. 

Electrical panels come in all shapes, sizes, and colors and can be used in a variety of environments, including indoor, outdoor, and even hazardous locations.  Depending on the place and setting, you will need to determine the minimum requirements for the integrity of your electrical panel.  For example, you do not want to use an “indoor only” electrical enclosure for outside areas.  Also, you would not want a standard enclosure to be used in a hazardous area, as it can be very dangerous.  The major organizations that create these electrical standards are NEMA, UL, and IP.  In this blog, I will cover these organizations and how they use the rating system.

NEMA, or National Electrical Manufacturer Association, and UL, or Underwriters Laboratory, are generally used in North America.  The difference between these two organizations is that the NEMA ratings are self-certifying, while the UL requires testing by qualified inspectors, independent of the manufacturer, for compliance.  They use numbers and, in some instances, letters to indicate the type of environment in which the enclosure can operate. EXAIR Cabinet Cooler Systems are UL listed, so they have been tested and verified. 

IP, or Ingress Protection, is an international standard commonly used in Europe and established by the International Electrotechnical Commission, or IEC.  This organization also allows for self-certification.  They use two digits to define levels of integrity for electrical enclosures against intrusion from debris and liquid. The first digit ranges from 0 to 6, which specifies the protection rating for solids.  The second digit, which ranges from 0 to 9, specifies the protection rating for the ingress of water.  The higher the number, the better the protection.  The combination of these two numbers will determine the protection level of the enclosure against dust and water.  There is an equivalence between the NEMA ratings and the IP ratings, but it is up to the preference of the user to verify the protection requirement. 

EXAIR offers three main NEMA types for our Cabinet Cooler Systems, which are the most commonly found within most facilities.  We also offer two additional NEMA ratings that are designated strictly for hazardous locations: UL Classified and ATEX rated.  I will cover each one below.

NEMA 12 (IP54) Cabinet Coolers are rated for dust and oil tight. NEMA 12 cabinet coolers are ideal for general industrial environments where no liquids or corrosives are present and are located inside the facility.

NEMA 4 (IP66) Cabinet Coolers are rated for dust tight, oil tight, splash-resistant and indoor/outdoor service. These Cabinet Coolers incorporate a low-pressure relief valve to allow the internal hot air to escape as well as to close and seal when the cooler is not in operation.  This allows this Cabinet Cooler to maintain the integrity of a NEMA 4 enclosure.

NEMA 4X (IP66) Cabinet Coolers offer the same protection as NEMA 4 but are constructed of stainless steel for food service and corrosive environments.  EXAIR offers both 303SS and 316SS materials.

HazLoc Cabinet Coolers are designed for hazardous locations and are mounted to NEMA 7, 8, and 9 enclosures.  EXAIR catalogs these HazLoc Cabinet Coolers as NEMA 4 (IP66) or NEMA 4X (IP66), as mentioned above.  But their registration for UL classification is for Class I, Class II, and Class III hazardous areas, both Div 1 and Div 2.  The reason that they do not match the NEMA rating of the hazardous panels is because they require an X-type or Z-type purge system.  In combination, they will not sacrifice the integrity of the hazardous electrical panels. 

ATEX Cabinet Coolers have similar attributes to HazLoc Cabinet Coolers except this type of registration is popularly used in Europe.  These area classifications fall under the EN/IEC 60079-2 international standard for explosive zones.  It covers three zones in two hazardous areas; gas/liquid and dust.  The ATEX Cabinet Coolers can be used in Zone 2 for gas/liquid and Zone 22 for dust.  Like the HazLoc Cabinet Coolers, to keep their classification, the ATEX Cabinet Coolers require a Zone 2/22 purge system.  The ATEX terminology is as follows:

Gas – CE EX II 3 G Ex h IIC T3 Gc

Dust – CE EX II 3 D Ex h IIIC 200oC Dc

EXAIR offers a variety of Cabinet Coolers in stock with different cooling capacities, materials of construction, and operational locations.  We also offer them in 316SS, high temperature versions, and non-hazardous purge.  We do have a Cabinet Cooler System Sizing Guide to help determine the best product for your application or a Cabinet Cooler System Calculator to do it yourself.  For any hazardous location, we do recommend contacting us for clarification.  What could make it better? For our U.S. and Canadian customers, we are offering a promotion.  You will receive an AC Sensor, a $76.00 value, for free as a promotional item from now until the end of August 2024 with a qualified purchase.  How can you not give them a try?  If you have any questions, an Application Engineer at EXAIR can assist you.

John Ball
Application Engineer
Email: johnball@exair.com
Twitter: @EXAIR_jb

Why Do We Guarantee?

Published on by Al WooffittLeave a comment

We hear about all kinds of applications when working with customers. For many of them, there is an obvious solution. Your electrical panel is overheating – an EXAIR Cabinet Cooler is what you are looking for. If you’re experiencing static on an assembly line – a Gen4 static elimination product is what you need. If you’re trying to blowoff excess water from an extruded pipe, then a Super Air Wipe is the right solution.

There are many applications however, where the solution isn’t as obvious. We know that our products can help, but with the sheer number of variables there isn’t a way to plug everything into a formula and say that this will be the outcome. The end result needs to be found through testing. This is where EXAIR’s 30-day unconditional guarantee comes in. All of our stock, catalog products come with this guarantee. After purchasing one of these products, you have a month to put it through its paces; adjust the angle, adjust the operating pressure, swap out shims. If you are able to find the right conditions to solve your problem, then great! If not, we’ll take it back and issue full credit! You’re only responsible for the shipping to get it back to us.

Line Vac test

A popular application where testing is essential is with our Line Vacs. There are multiple variables at play: the bulk density of the material, the size of the material, is it abrasive?, the rate of conveyance desired, the distance needed to convey – both vertical and horizontal. We’re pretty good at getting you in the ballpark of which model will work best using the data we’ve found from our controlled in-house testing. But ultimately, to know exactly how our Line Vac will perform with your material, it needs to be hooked up. When you purchase from us, you have 30 days to do that risk-free.

At EXAIR, we want to ensure you are getting the best possible solution. Our 30-day unconditional guarantee is one way that we make that a reality. If you would like to discuss how our products can help with your application, give us a call!

Al Wooffitt
Application Engineer

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Environmental Considerations For Cabinet Cooler System Selection

Published on by Russ BowmanLeave a comment

An EXAIR Cabinet Cooler System is a durable, reliable solution for protecting panels with electrical and electronic components from heat damage. They install in minutes, and since they’re solely compressed air operated, there are no moving parts to wear or electrical components to burn out. If you supply it with clean compressed air (by installing the Filter Separator that’s included), it’ll run darn near indefinitely, maintenance free.

EXAIR Cabinet Cooler Systems come with the Cabinet Cooler itself (NEMA 12 – left, NEMA 4 – center, NEMA 4X – right), a Cold Air Hose Distribution Kit, Solenoid Valve & Thermostat, and an Automatic Drain Filter Separator.

We even make selection easy – you can fill out a Sizing Guide and submit the data, and an Application Engineer will use it to calculate the heat load and specify the right system for your panel. You can even call in the data – it only takes a minute to do the calculations, and we do it over the phone all the time. Or, for you control freaks Do-It-Yourself’ers, there’s a calculator on our website that’ll take your data and spit out an answer, right away.

It’s, of course, critical to make sure we get you a Cabinet Cooler System with a cooling capacity high enough to handle your heat load, but it’s just as critical to make sure we supply one that’s suitable for the environment in the area of installation. NEMA (National Electric Manufacturer’s Association, the primary trade association that advocates for the industry, and publishes standards for electrical products) delineates a number of ratings that must be complied with to keep anything detrimental in the environment from getting into the panel. While NEMA defines thirteen Non-Hazardous Location Types, EXAIR has three different designs that meet the requirements of almost any Non-Hazardous Location.

We’ve got UL Classified models for heat protection in hazardous locations as well, so you know.

NEMA 12 Cabinet Cooler products are for general industrial environments where no liquids or corrosives are present. They’re dust tight, oil tight, indoor duty.

NEMA 12 Cabinet Cooler Systems are available in cooling capacities from 275 – 5,600 Btu/hr. Side Mount Kits make for easy installation in tight quarters. On right, a Cabinet Cooler System in place for over 20 years still functions at rated capacity.

NEMA 4 Cabinet Cooler products have a low pressure relief valve that closes when the Cabinet Cooler isn’t operating to seal off against liquid ingress. They’re dust tight, oil tight, splash resistant, indoor/outdoor duty.

With their compact design, NEMA 4 Cabinet Cooler Systems can provide cooling for very small – or very large enclosures in spray down areas or outdoor installations. A Cold Muffler comes with all NEMA 4 & 4X Cabinet Coolers.

NEMA 4X Cabinet Coolers are made of 303SS for corrosion resistance. They offer the same environmental integrity as the NEMA 4 models. They’re also available in 316SS for applications requiring higher corrosion resistance.

NEMA 4X Cabinet Coolers are made of stainless steel for corrosive environments. 316SS is available for protection in particularly extreme environments (and when specified in food/pharma applications). High Temperature models can handle up to 200°F (93°C) ambient temperatures, indoors or outdoors.

If you’ve got an electrical panel with equipment that needs safe & reliable protection from heat, and the environment, we’ve got solutions, whatever that environment might be. To find out more, give me a call.

Russ Bowman, CCASS

Application Engineer
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UL and EXAIR

Published on by Jordan T ShouseLeave a comment

UL stands for Underwriter Laboratories, a third-party certification company that’s been around for over a century. UL was founded in 1894 and headquartered in Northbrook, IL. UL is a privately held company with over 14,000 employees and located in over 36 countries*. They certify products with the aim of making the world a safer place for both workers and consumers. Besides testing, they set industry standards to follow when innovating new products. 

EXAIR is UL recognized for our Static Eliminators, Cabinet Cooler Systems and Hazardous Cabinet Cooler Systems. The UL Component Recognized mark below is what you will see on our static eliminated products, including our GEN 4 Power Supplies, GEN 4 Ion Bars and Intellistat Ion Air Gun.

If a product or device carries one of these markings, it’s been evaluated for safety by top professionals in the field.**

This mark is seen least often because it is specifically used on component parts that are part of a larger product system. This component mark is used on a wide range of products, including, but not limited to, power supplies, industrial control equipment and many other products. You will notice the “C” and “US” on either side of the main logo indicating the product has been tested for compliance with both Canadian and US requirements.

EXAIR Cabinet Cooler Systems have the “Listed” UL marking indicating that the product meets the requirements and has passed the testing required to gain the mark for specific characteristics.

EXAIR Cabinet Cooler Systems have the following UL Marking indicating they are UL Listed for both Canada and USA requirements.

If a product or device carries one of these markings, it’s been evaluated for safety by top professionals in the field.

EXAIR has NEMA 12, 4 and 4X Cabinet Cooler Systems and each is UL Listed to maintain NEMA Integrity:

NEMA 12 (IP54) Cabinet Coolers: (Dust tight, oil tight) are ideal for general industrial environments where no liquids or corrosives are present.

NEMA 4 (IP66) Cabinet Coolers: (Dust tight, oil tight, splash resistant, indoor/outdoor service) incorporate a low pressure relief valve for both the vortex tube and cabinet exhaust. This valve closes and seals when the cooler is not in operation.

NEMA 4X (IP66) Cabinet Coolers: (offer the same protection as NEMA 4 but are constructed of stainless steel for food service and corrosive environments.

Note: some cabinet Coolers have thermostats that are UL Listed and Solenoids which are UL Recognized.

Our Hazardous Cabinet Cooling Systems have been tested by UL and meet the stringent UL requirements for service in use in Class I, Group A, B, C and D. Class II, Group E, F and G. and Class III. EXAIR Hazardous Cabinet Coolers have a UL Marking as shown below:

UL Classification for EXAIR Cabinet Cooler Systems

UL’s Marks for our Classification service appear on representative samples of products that UL has evaluated with respect to specific properties, a limited range of hazards or suitability for use under limited or special conditions. In the Classification service, UL determines that a manufacturer has demonstrated the ability to produce a product complying with UL’s requirements with respect to; specific risk, specific conditions, compliance to regulatory codes & standards, and/or other conditions as determined by UL.

All products carrying any UL mark are subjected to UL’s Follow-Up Services program to regularly confirm continued compliance with UL’s requirements.

If you have questions about our UL recognized products, please contact myself or any of our Application Engineers. We have someone here from M-F 7AM-4PM EST.

Jordan Shouse
Application Engineer

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