Tag: Thermostat Control

NEMA Ratings: Environmental Considerations for Electrical Cabinets

Published on by EricKuhnash@EXAIR.comLeave a comment
NEMA 4 Cabinet Cooler

The first step to solving your overheating problem is to identify the NEMA integrity your enclosure will require. The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) uses a standard rating system defining the types of environments that electrical enclosures should be rated. EXAIR has 3 NEMA Ratings to consider before selecting the proper Cabinet Cooler.

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

NEMA 4 (IP66) Cabinet Coolers rated for dust tight, oil tight, splash resistant and indoor/outdoor service. These cabinet coolers incorporate a low pressure relief valve for both the vortex tube and cabinet exhaust. This valve closes and seals when the cooler is not operating to maintain the integrity of a NEMA 4 enclosure.

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

For additional reference, you will notice that each NEMA rating has an “IP” rating as well. Ingress Protection (IP) ratings are an international standard comparable to NEMA ratings. They are used to define levels of sealing effectiveness for electrical enclosures against intrusion from foreign bodies and moisture. The first digit after “IP”, which ranges from 1 – 6, specifies the protection rating from solids and the second digit, which ranges from 1 – 8, specifies the protection rating from water. The table below shows the ratings:

EXAIR has Cabinet Coolers from stock with a variety of cooling capacities in NEMA 12 (IP54), NEMA 4 (IP66) and NEMA 4X (IP66) ratings. Once you know the NEMA/IP rating of the cabinet cooler you need please utilize our Cabinet Cooler Sizing Guide or give any one of our Application Engineers a call as we are ready to help.

Eric Kuhnash
Application Engineer
E-mail: EricKuhnash@EXAIR.com
Twitter: @EXAIR_EK

Many Ways to $ave on Compressed Air Costs

Published on by Leave a comment

Using compressed air in the plant is common for many types of processes.  Typical uses are drying, cooling, cleaning and conveying. Compressed air does have a cost to consider, and there are many ways to keep the usage and the costs as low as possible.  The first step is to use an EXAIR Intelligent Compressed Air Product, which has been engineered to provide the most performance while using the least amount of compressed air. The next step is to control the use of the air, to only have it on when needed.

EXAIR offers the EFC – Electronic Flow Control.  It offers the most comprehensive method to maximize the efficiency of compressed air usage.  It combines a photoelectric sensor with a timing control that operates a solenoid valve to turn on and off the air as required. With 8 different program types, an on/off mode that works with any process can be programmed ensuring that the minimum amount of compressed air is used.  You can use the online EFC Savings Calculator to see how quickly the savings add up!

EFCp4
EFC – Electronic Flow Control

Another method would be to use a solenoid valve with some other method of control. Depending on the process, the solenoid could be energized via a machine control output, or as simple as an electrical push button station. EXAIR offers solenoid valves in a variety of flow rates (from 40 to 350 SCFM) and voltages (24 VDC, 120 VAC and 240 VAC) to match the air flow requirements of the products we provide, while integrating into the facility and available supply voltages.

For control of the Cabinet Cooler Systems, the ETC – Electronic Temperature Control, uses a thermocouple to measure cabinet temperature and cycle the system on and off to maintain a precise cabinet temperature, and provides a digital readout of the internal temperatures and on the fly adjustment.  Also available is the Thermostat Control models, which utilize an adjustable bimetallic thermostat to control the solenoid valve, also cycling the unit on and off as needed to maintain a set cabinet temperature.

ETC CC
ETC – Electronic Temperature Control

There are several manual methods that can be used to control the compressed air.  A simple valve can be used to turn the air off when not needed, whether at the end of the work day, at break time, or whenever the air isn’t required.  We offer several options, from a foot controlled valve, to a magnetic base with on/off valve, to a simple quarter turn ball valve.

footpedalvalve (2)dualstand (2) manual_valves (2)

 

To discuss your processes and how an EXAIR Intelligent Compressed Air Product can control the air supply and save you money, feel free to contact EXAIR and myself or one of our other Application Engineers can help you determine the best solution.

Brian Bergmann
Application Engineer

Send me an email
Find us on the Web
Like us on Facebook
Twitter: @EXAIR_BB