It comes as no surprise that heat has the tendency to ruin electronics! 

Proper cooling can increase the overall life of electronics and reduce capital expenses. Simply put, any type of thermal management will help a computer system run more smoothly. As a rule of thumb, the life expectancy of electronics is cut in half for every 18°F that they operate above room temperature. System integrators should always be aware that operating electronics in high or extremely elevated temperatures can void most manufacturer warranties. Thus, the correct thermal management is critical for a computer enclosure deployment in a manufacturing setting. 

Many factors affect the temperatures that electronics are exposed to on the inside of a pc enclosure. In the blog, ‘Could High Humidity be Hurting Your Electronics?,’ the author notes that “electronics are more delicate than you may think, and are susceptible to damage in high-humidity environments. It is important to keep relative humidity between 40-60% to keep electronics running efficiently.” Therefore, it is imperative to consider not only the electronics heat output, but also the environmental factors that will cause the ambient air temperature to be high.

The following are some examples of potential sources of heat: 

• Power Supplies

• Controllers, Drives, or Servers

• Computers

• Printers (Barcode or Desktop)

• Solar Gain Heat

• Ovens

• Foundry Equipment

Electronics, which are more powerful and robust than average off-the-shelf products, will most likely have a higher heat output. Because we live in a world where faster is better and processing capacity is extremely important, more powerful systems are being designed at a rapid pace. Powerful electronics will generate more heat and, as a result, will require some form of cooling, like a filtered fan system or air conditioner.

What are Common Consequences of Damaging Heat?

Heat build-up - on the inside of an industrial enclosure - can adversely affect controls and sensitive electronics. 

Below are a few examples of the adverse reactions of too much heat. 

• De-Rated Drive Performance

• Electronics Failure

• Productivity Loss

• High Component Replacement Costs

• Late Shipments

• Lost Revenue

• Customer Dissatisfaction

When searching for the right enclosure solution, speak with a knowledgeable enclosure expert to configure the best cooling solution based on a user’s specific application. When discussing the installation of electronics inside of an enclosure, thermal management should always be on the list of must-haves. At times, thermal management may be unnecessary, but it is always smart to run the numbers before deployment. High heat will damage electronics that were meant to be protected inside of an enclosure. Do not spend more money and time down the road, because of the lack of proper and tedious planning. Download the cooling requirement worksheet for the first step in creating the perfect environment for your electronics.

For More Information:

  -- 5 Ways to Keep Rack Enclosures Cool with Thermal Management

  -- Determining the Difference Between Filter Fan Systems for Computer Enclosures

  -- Regular Maintenance on Thermal Management is Important! 

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