5 Things to Look for in an Electrical Enclosure Cooling Manufacturer

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Unplanned downtime of an enclosure cooler can lead to outages and lost production, so it’s important to verify that enclosure cooling suppliers have got what it takes to keep equipment running efficiently. Here are five things to look for in an enclosure cooling manufacturer.

1. Variety of Options

It’s essential to verify that the manufacturer has a comprehensive range of cooling solutions able to meet all your needs. Their inventory should include low-cost filtered fan solutions, energy saving air to air heat exchangers, and enclosure air conditioners. In addition, they should provide alternatives that are designed to handle difficult environmental situations.

It’s crucial to maintain the electrical enclosure’s NEMA rating, so ensure that the manufacturer’s enclosure cooling units comply with these ratings. These should include fans for ventilating NEMA 1 and 3R enclosures as well as closed loop cooling solutions for NEMA 12 indoor enclosures, NEMA 4 outdoor enclosures, and NEMA 4X enclosures for difficult environments. If your location includes hazardous areas, make sure the manufacturer can supply units that are rated for these areas.

2. Product Quality

Look for high quality manufacture and a robust design that is able to take the bumps and knocks of a working environment. The cooling equipment housing should be fabricated to the same engineering standards as required for the manufacture of the electrical enclosure.

If the equipment is used in a harsh environment, a stainless steel housing will prevent corrosion and protect the unit’s appearance.

Other points to check for are:

  • Condensate evaporation systems which obviate the need for condensate drains

  • Energy-efficient design features

  • Simple maintenance requirements with easy access provided to maintenance points

3. Availability and Delivery

The ready availability of replacement cooling units and spares is a crucial factor. Check the vendor’s stock levels and lead times to make sure you won’t have a long delay when ordering critical spares. Ideally, the lead time for the delivery of spares and standard units should not exceed one week and a maximum of two weeks for units built to nonstandard specifications

4. Proper Approvals

In terms of OSHA regulations, all equipment that forms part of an electrical enclosure containing live equipment needs to be approved by a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory such as UL. The NRTL mark must be attached to the equipment so it’s easy to verify that the supplier complies with this requirement. Note that the CE mark is not recognized in the U.S., it only applies to the EU.

5. Local Representation

The cooling equipment supplier must be properly represented in the U.S. so that technical support is readily available. All documentation should be available in English. It’s advisable to confirm equipment resellers are able to provide technical sales support because a lack of support could cause issues when problems arise.

It’s recommended that where practical, U.S. manufacturers are supported. Not only does this help maintain healthy national economic growth, it also means that equipment is designed to comply with local conditions and that qualified technical support staff are available to respond to technical problems.

Thermal Edge

Thermal Edge manufactures a full range of enclosure cooling equipment that’s able to meet virtually every requirement. Their technical staff is on hand to help select the most appropriate cooling solution and their sales team covers the entire country.