Tag: NEMA 4X

An Explanation of NEMA 12, 4 and 4X Enclosure Ratings

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EXAIR Cabinet Cooler Systems are rated to NEMA 12, 4, and 4X. But what does that actually mean?

NEMA stands for National Electrical Manufactures Association. This organization, founded in 1926, sets standards for the manufacture of safe and effective electrical products. It is an ANSI-accredited standards developer and, as such, has much credibility in the industries it serves. Many companies require or encourage the use of NEMA-rated equipment. Not having it may limit a company’s access to certain markets. In that testing, if required, is not too involved, achieving a rated unit is actually quite doable and, in the long run, worth it for safety-sake. NEMA-rated enclosures are about controlling a substance’s ability to either enter or exit an enclosure protecting electronics. Keeping you, and the electronics, safe is what this is all about. NEMA ratings are 1 through 13 with EXAIR’s cabinet cooler systems meeting NEMA 12, 4, and 4X.

So, what are NEMA 12, 4, and 4X? Simply stated:

  • NEMA 12 = resistant to dirt and oil
  • NEMA 4 = splash resistant
  • NEMA 4X = splash and corrosion resistant
    • To be rated NEMA 12, the enclosure must be built in such a way to prevent solid contaminants like air-born dust, dropping dirt, fibers, fly-off shavings, and lint from getting inside. It must also prevent dripping or slightly splashing water and oil and non-corrosive coolants from seeping, spraying, or being splashed into it.
    • NEMA 4 must be resistant to splashed or sprayed water and rain, sleet, or snow and not be damaged by ice forming on the outside. It must also prevent entry of solid contaminants like dust and dirt.
    • NEMA 4X is identical to NEMA 4 with the addition that the enclosure must be corrosion resistant.

How does this apply to EXAIR Cabinet Cooler Systems?

With our UL listed NEMA rated Cabinet Coolers, we can cool your cabinet and maintain its original enclosure integrity to protect your electronics just as needed. Our NEMA 12 cabinet cooler system is ideal for general industrial environments. Our NEMA 4 cabinet cooler system incorporates a low pressure relief valve for both the vortex tube and the cabinet air exhaust that closes and seals when the cooler is not operating to maintain the integrity of the NEMA 4 enclosure. Our NEMA 4X cabinet cooler system has the same low pressure relief valve as the NEMA 4 and is made of stainless steel, allowing for protection in corrosive and/or wash-down environments.

To further enhance their effectiveness, EXAIR offers thermostat controls to turn the units on and off as needed, which conserves compressed air. They are available with a simple thermostat (120V and 240V), an electronic temperature control or ETC thermostat (120V and 240V) which is adjustable from outside the enclosure and provides feedback of the internal temperature. Other models include a non-hazardous purge thermostat control, continuous operation, and high temperature versions that comply with NEMA 12, 4, and 4X ratings. We can meet cooling capacities (Btu/hr) at 100psig ranging from 275 to 5600. To assist in determining which system will work in your cabinet, a sizing guide is even available on our website.

Cabinet Cooler Family
EXAIR’s Cabinet Cooler Systems

If you have a cabinet that needs cooling and it is rated to NEMA 12, 4, or 4X, let us know how we can help. Chances are pretty good we can provide the cabinet cooling system you need.

John Pinchek
Application Engineer
johnpinchek@exair.com
@EXAIR_JP

What Is A NEMA Rating?

Published on by Brian FarnoLeave a comment

With the Summer heat upon us here in Ohio the inquiries for our Cabinet Cooler Systems are increasing by the day.  A question we always ask customers with Cabinet Cooler Sizing Guides is, “What NEMA Type is your enclosure?”  There are quite a few times where no one truly knows what a NEMA rating is. So what exactly is a NEMA rating?

NEMA is the National Electrical Manufacturers Association, one of the many standards they publish is the NEMA rating standard for electrical enclosures up to 1000 Volts.  This standard is where NEMA Types such as 12, 4, and 4X come from (you will also see an international standard reference as “IP”, more on that later).  It categorizes the enclosures by their ability to protect the internal components from things such as corrosion, dust, oil, even external air quality. These standards are reviewed every five years and the last review was done in 2013.  The reviews are generally based on improving safety, clarity of the standard, and testing methods.

So what NEMA ratings does EXAIR offer?  For our Cabinet Cooler Systems, EXAIR offers three very common NEMA types to try an offer a selection to fit the needs that we most commonly encounter.  The NEMA types and their descriptions are below.   For a full list of the Non-hazardous location NEMA enclosure types, click on this link.

EXAIR NEMA 12 Cabinet Cooler System w/ Side Mount Kit

Type 12 (IP54): General purpose, indoor use.  Protects against falling dirt and circulating dust, lint, fibers, and flyings.  Protects against ingress of dripping and splashing water. Rust-resistant Type 12 enclosures do not include knockouts.

 

EXAIR NEMA Type 4 Cabinet Cooler System
EXAIR NEMA Type 4 Cabinet Cooler System

Types 4, 4X (IP66): Water-tight, dust-tight, sleet-resistant.  Resistant to windblown dust.  Indoor or outdoor use.  Also provides protection against splashing and hose-directed water.  The “X” designation indicates corrosion-resistance.

EXAIR's High Temp Cabinet Cooler Systems

The EXAIR Cabinet Cooler Systems also reference an equivalent IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission), IP code.   This is a code from the IEC system which specifies the ingress protection which classifies and rates the degree of protection provided against intrusion (body parts such as hands and fingers), dust, accidental contact, and water by mechanical casings and electrical enclosures. They are a two digit number that represents the level of protection against physical objects and he ingress of water.   Coorelation between NEMA ratings and IP codes is not always possible.  EXAIR has ensured that we also meet the equivalent IP codes shown in the NEMA descriptions above.

If you have a hot enclosure and you are not sure how much cooling is needed or what the NEMA type is, contact us.  We will gladly help you gather the information needed to calculate the heat load requirements and help determine the correct NEMA rating.

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

Video Blog: EXAIR NEMA Type 4/4X Cabinet Cooler System Side Mount Kits

Published on by Russ BowmanLeave a comment

Here’s a short, informal video, showing how simple it is to install an EXAIR NEMA Type 4 or NEMA Type 4X Cabinet Cooler System using a Side Mount Kit.

Please feel free to contact us anytime with questions – we want to make sure you get the most out of our products!

Russ Bowman
Application Engineer
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Humidity and Dust vs. EXAIR Cabinet Cooler

Published on by Lee EvansLeave a comment

Often times, an end user or OEM will contact EXAIR for help with Cabinet Coolers. Most often the need comes from an installed cabinet experiencing overheating conditions.  But, there are a large number of applications seeking EXAIR Cabinet Coolers on the front end, before installation or even construction of the enclosure.

For example, an end user of our product overseas needed to cool a single circuit board to ensure continuous operation. Keeping the device cool and dry in an open environment would have proved difficult due to high local humidity.  So, an enclosure was constructed and an EXAIR Cabinet Cooler was used to not only regulate the air temperature, but also the stabilize relative humidity within the enclosure to 45%.

Cabinet Drawing

Another international end user sent me a number of schematics for a new installation.  The proposed enclosure is already in use in other locations, but is experiencing high rates of failure due to high levels of ambient dust.  Using the Cabinet Cooler Sizing Guide we were able to determine heat load and the proper Cabinet Cooler model number. A benefit beyond the cooling capacity of a Cabinet Cooler system, is the ability to place a positive purge on the enclosure. This purge is helpful in non-hazardous, dusty and dirty environments. The positive air flow into the enclosure prevents dust from entering (of course, any vents or filters will need to be sealed).

Whether the environment is humid or dusty, we have a suitable solution to cool an enclosure using EXAIR Cabinet Coolers. Contact an Application Engineer with any questions.

Lee Evans
Application Engineer
LeeEvans@EXAIR.com
@EXAIR_LE