To Cool or Not to Cool…
“Do I need to add cooling to my computer enclosure?”
The answer is yes. Incorporating enclosure cooling can lengthen the system life and increase control line reliability. The accumulation of heat in a computer enclosure is potentially damaging to the electronics inside of the cabinet.
Overheating will shorten the life expectancy of the costly electronic components you are trying to protect. It is important that system designers and engineers be aware of temperatureimplications prior to implementing an enclosure system on a manufacturing line.
4 Types of Enclosure Cooling Systems
- Filtered Fan Systems
- Ideal for very basic cooling needs in relatively clean environments
Temperature outside the enclosure is within normal operating range of your equipment and humidity is not a factor- Takes cooler outside air and blows throughout enclosure forcing excess heat through exhaust filter
- Heat Exchangers
- Ideal for light duty industrial applications
- Can withstand minimal temperature above ambient temperature
- Maintains a sealed system that matches the type rating of the heat exchanger (NEMA 12, 4 or 4X)
- Vortex Coolers
- Ideal for cooling smaller industrial enclosures where compressed air is available
- Closed loop system that can maintain a NEMA 12, 4 or 4X rating
- Creates environment cooler than the ambient temperature
- Air Conditioners
- Ideal for areas where temperatures are in excess of normal operating of your equipment (usually 95°F or higher)
- Closed loop system that can maintain a NEMA 12, 3R, 4 or 4X rating
- Creates an environment cooler than the ambient temperature
- Creates reliable system and improves equipment life cycle
Don’t forget about cooling!! Many system integrators tend to load enclosures with electronics and fail to consider the amount of heat the electronics can produce in a sealed NEMA rated enclosure. Extend the lifetime of your electronics by choosing the RIGHT enclosure thermal management prior to implementation.
For help sizing and selecting the correct thermal management, download the ITSENCLOSURES cooling requirement worksheet. Click Here
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