Tag: electronic enclosure cooling

Hazardous Location Cabinet Coolers

Published on by jasonkirbyLeave a comment

HazLoc Cabinet Cooler Systems are engineered and certified for use in purged electrical enclosures within classified environments. These systems meet the requirements for Class I Division I, Groups A, B, C, and D, as well as Class II Division I Groups E, F, and G, and Class III areas. EXAIR’s HazLoc Cabinet Cooler Systems have passed extensive testing by UL, confirming their adherence to the stringent UL standards relevant to these specific environments.

Cabinet Cooler Systems provide a cost-effective and reliable method for cooling purged electric control panels across diverse settings. By employing Vortex Tube technology, these systems can produce cooling capacities of up to 5,600 BTU/Hr without the need for moving parts, making them a low-maintenance choice for cooling purged cabinets in hazardous locations.

EXAIR’s HazLoc Cabinet Cooler Systems stand out in the market due to their UL classification for Division I environments. These systems are designed for optimal efficiency with thermostatic controls and include UL-listed solenoids that are appropriate for hazardous locations. Engineered for easy installation on purged enclosures, EXAIR Cabinet Cooler Systems require minimal maintenance and are built to operate reliably under the most demanding industrial conditions.

EXAIR provides Hazardous Location Cabinet Cooler Systems in eight different cooling capacities, ranging from 1,000 BTU/Hr to 5,600 BTU/Hr. This extensive selection allows you to choose a system that best meets your cooling needs while reducing compressed air consumption. These systems effectively protect your electronic equipment from heat, dirt, and moisture, ensuring seamless operation of your processes. They serve as a cost-efficient alternative to bulky, high-maintenance coolant-based air conditioning systems and are designed for easy installation.

Components can fail, sensors may yield erroneous readings, controls might drift, and displays can become unreliable. EXAIR HazLoc Cabinet Coolers effectively mitigate these challenges, ensuring sustained productivity while avoiding expensive shutdowns and the replacement of components. Should you have any inquiries about HazLoc Cabinet Cooler Systems or any other EXAIR products, please feel free to contact us.

Jason Kirby
Application Engineer
Email: jasonkirby@exair.com
Twitter: @EXAIR_jk

Beat the Heat: Why EXAIR Cabinet Coolers are the Ultimate Industrial Fix – (Cabinet Cooler Promo)

Published on by Al WooffittLeave a comment

As the mercury rises, industrial facilities face a familiar foe: heat-related downtime. When sensitive electronics and control panels overheat, production grinds to a halt—often at the most inconvenient times. While fans or traditional air conditioners might seem like the go-to solutions, they often bring their own headaches, like clogged filters or mechanical failures.

Enter EXAIR Cabinet Cooler Systems, a low-cost and highly reliable alternative that uses nothing but compressed air to keep your critical components running cool and clean. And now through the end of August, with the purchase of these systems, you will receive a free AC Sensor — Model 7929.

How They Work: The Power of the Vortex

At the heart of every EXAIR Cabinet Cooler is a Vortex Tube. This clever piece of engineering converts a standard supply of compressed air into two streams: one hot and one cold.

  • Cold Air Injection: The cold air is discharged directly into the cabinet through a distribution kit, creating a pressurized environment.
  • Contaminant Exclusion: Because the cabinet is slightly pressurized, outside air—along with its dust, dirt, and oil—can never get in.
  • Heat Exhaust: The warm air inside the cabinet is displaced and vented out through the cooler body, leaving your electronics in a clean, temperature-controlled environment.

Maintenance-Free Reliability

One of the biggest advantages of EXAIR’s design is what it doesn’t have. There are no moving parts to wear out, no filters to clog, and no refrigerants (like Freon) to leak.

  • Simple Installation: These units can be installed in minutes through a standard electrical knockout.
  • Long Lifespan: With a clean, dry supply of compressed air, these coolers can run for decades—some have even been tested to work perfectly after 20 years of service.

Smart Cooling with Thermostat Control

While the coolers are incredibly effective, using compressed air continuously can be expensive. To maximize efficiency, most systems include a Thermostat Control.

  • Automated Operation: The thermostat (factory set at 95°F) acts as an on/off switch, activating the cooler only when the temperature reaches critical levels.
  • Digital Precision: For even tighter control, Electronic Temperature Controls (ETC) are available to maintain a constant temperature with a digital LED display.

A Solution for Every Environment

No two facilities are the same, which is why EXAIR offers several ratings to match your specific needs:

  • NEMA 12 (IP54): For dust-tight, oil-tight indoor industrial environments.
  • NEMA 4 (IP66): For splash-resistant indoor or outdoor use.
  • NEMA 4X: Corrosion-resistant 303 or 316 stainless steel for food service or aggressive chemical settings.
  • Hazardous Locations (HazLoc/ATEX): Specifically designed and certified for explosive environments containing gases or dust.
  • High Temperature Models: Capable of providing relief in ambient temperatures reaching up to 200°F (93°C).
Both the HazLoc (left) and ATEX Cabinet Cooler Systems are available from stock in NEMA 4 and NEMA 4X ratings.

Stop the Shutdowns

Don’t wait for a 100°F day to realize your cooling is insufficient. You can use the Cabinet Cooler System Calculator on EXAIR’s website to find the exact cooling capacity you need, with models ranging from 275 to 5,600 Btu/hr.

Al Wooffitt
Application Engineer

Send me an Email
Find us on the Web
Like us on Facebook
Twitter: @EXAIR_AW

Banner image: Image by stux from Pixabay

EXAIR Cabinet Cooler vs. Refrigerant-Based Panel Coolers: Which Is Right for Your Application?

Published on by Jordan T ShouseLeave a comment

Keeping electrical enclosures cool is essential for protecting components, avoiding downtime, and maintaining consistent performance. While both Cabinet Coolers and refrigerant-based panel air conditioners can get the job done, more manufacturers are shifting toward a simpler, more reliable solution like Cabinet Coolers from EXAIR.

Here’s a closer look at how they compare—and why Cabinet Coolers often come out ahead in real-world industrial environments.

What Is a Cabinet Cooler?

Compressed air goes in; cold air comes out of the Vortex Tube and is circulated through the enclosure. The Vortex Tube’s hot flow and the warm exhaust from the enclosure are vented through the Cabinet Cooler’s body.

What Is a Cabinet Cooler?

Cabinet Coolers use compressed air and a vortex tube to create a stream of cold air that circulates inside the enclosure. With no moving parts and a straightforward design, they offer dependable cooling without the complexity of traditional systems.

Why EXAIR Cabinet Coolers Stand Out:

  • Maintenance-free operation
  • No moving parts to fail, leading to long life
  • Compact, lightweight design
  • Installs in minutes
  • Thermostat control options to minimize air use

What Is a Refrigerant-Based Panel Cooler?

Refrigerant-based panel coolers function like a traditional air conditioner, using a compressor and refrigerant to remove heat from the enclosure.

While effective, they introduce added complexity—both in installation and long-term upkeep.

Where Cabinet Coolers Have the Advantage

1. Simplicity That Saves Time

Refrigerant systems require wiring, mounting, and clearance for airflow. Cabinet Coolers, on the other hand, install quickly through a standard knockout and are ready to run with minimal setup.

For operations that can’t afford long installation windows, this simplicity is a major advantage.

2. Virtually Zero Maintenance

One of the biggest hidden costs of refrigerant systems is maintenance—filters clog, fans wear out, and compressors eventually fail.

Cabinet Coolers eliminate those concerns entirely. With no moving parts, there’s nothing to service, replace, or break down.

3. Built for Harsh Environments

Industrial environments aren’t always clean. Dust, oil mist, humidity, and washdowns can quickly degrade traditional panel A/C units.

Cabinet Coolers excel here:

  • No ambient air is pulled into the enclosure
  • Sealed design keeps contaminants out
  • Performs reliably in dirty, wet, or high-vibration conditions

This is where many refrigerant-based systems struggle—and where Cabinet Coolers consistently prove their value.

4. Reliable, No-Downtime Operation

When a refrigerant unit fails, cooling stops—and repairs can be costly and time-consuming.

Cabinet Coolers offer a more rugged, dependable alternative. Their simple design means fewer failure points and more consistent performance over time. Cabinet cooler systems bought over 20 years ago are still in operation to this day.

5. Ideal for Targeted & Intermittent Cooling

Not every application needs a large, continuously running A/C unit. For moderate heat loads or intermittent cooling needs, Cabinet Coolers provide efficient, on-demand cooling—especially when paired with a thermostat control.

Where Refrigerant Systems Still Fit

To be fair, refrigerant-based panel coolers do have their place—particularly in applications with:

  • High, continuous heat loads
  • Large enclosures requiring significant BTU capacity
  • Environments where compressed air is limited or costly

But in many industrial settings, those conditions don’t outweigh the added complexity and maintenance burden. Not to mention the cost to repair and replace after a few years of service.

The Bottom Line

If your priority is reliability, low maintenance, and years of performance in tough environments, Cabinet Coolers from EXAIR offer a clear advantage.

They’re simple to install, built to last, and designed to keep your enclosures cool without the headaches that come with traditional refrigerant systems.

For many manufacturers, that combination isn’t just convenient—it’s a smarter long-term investment.

Jordan Shouse
Application Engineer
E: JordanShouse@exair.com
O: (513) 671‑3322
F: (513) 671‑3363
A: 11510 Goldcoast Dr Cincinnati OH 45249
www.exair.com

Find time on my calendar by scheduling a meeting here.

Utilizing EXAIR Accessories

Published on by jasonkirbyLeave a comment
Accessories

At EXAIR, we take great pride in our Intelligent Compressed Air Products, which are renowned for their efficiency and minimal maintenance requirements, thanks to their design featuring few or no moving parts. While we often highlight these advantages, we also do not want to overlook the importance of the accompanying accessories that enhance our products’ performance. These accessories play a crucial role in ensuring our compressed air solutions maintain their low maintenance and reduced noise levels, further solidifying their compliance with OSHA safety standards.

Compressed air filters and regulators are among the most essential accessories we offer, and we highly recommend their use with all our products, as well as with other brands. The Filter Separator effectively eliminates water, dirt, and rust from your compressed air system, while the 5-micron filter element prevents contaminants from clogging or damaging connected equipment. For more precise and additional filtration, an Oil Removal Filter should be installed downstream of the Filter Separator; it utilizes a 0.03-micron element to remove oil and solid particles. Our Pressure Regulators allow you to set the desired operating pressure, and we advise maintaining the minimum pressure necessary for optimal performance. This not only conserves air but also fine-tunes the efficiency of EXAIR products in various applications.

Good engineering practice calls for point of use filtration and moisture removal, such as that provided by EXAIR Filter Separators.
The Thermostat’s leads (left) are spliced into the Solenoid Valve’s ‘hot’ lead (bottom right), which essentially acts as the automatic temperature controlled ‘on/off’ switch for the Cabinet Cooler System. NEMA 4/4X versions include mounting hardware (top right).

We offer specialized accessories designed to enhance the performance of some of our products. For instance, our Line Vacs are complemented by the Line Vac Hose, while our Cabinet Coolers can be paired with Thermostats and Solenoid Valves. Additionally, we recommend Mufflers for optimal use with our Vortex Tubes. When it comes to our Air Knives, we provide several excellent options. The Universal Air Knife Mounting System offers a straightforward and dependable solution for mounting. For applications requiring longer knives or independent control of airflow sections, our Coupling Bracket Kits are ideal. Lastly, our Air Knife Plumbing Kits simplify the plumbing process for Air Knives exceeding 24 inches in length.

For those looking to connect Intelligent Compressed Air Products, we offer a range of compressed air hoses and fittings designed to enhance the convenience of installation. Coiled Hoses are an excellent match for our Safety Air Guns, providing greater mobility during operation. Additionally, our Compressed Air Hoses are frequently utilized with our Industrial Housekeeping products, ensuring that both the drum and dolly have the necessary reach for effective use.

Model 9256 6″ Stay Set Hose

If you are looking for an effective solution to mount or position your Air Nozzles, consider our Magnetic Bases, Stay Set Hoses, and Swivel Fittings, which can be combined to create a comprehensive setup.

If you have questions about our accessories, or anything regarding EXAIR and our products, please do not hesitate to reach out.

Jason Kirby
Application Engineer
Email: jasonkirby@exair.com
Twitter: @EXAIR_jk