In the complex and dynamic world of electrical systems, electrical cabinets can’t be ignored. Doesn’t matter in which sector you working, you will encounter an electric cabinet there. And, if you are also going to install an electric cabinet and want to know if would it be really useful or not. Then have a seat! This article will cover electrical enclosures in complete detail covering its basics, components, types, uses, and many more. So, keep learning!
Figure no 1 Electric cabinet
1) What is an electric cabinet?
“An electric cabinet is an electrical jacket or an enclosure that acts as a protective housing for the electronic components and systems.”
Practical cabinets are usually constructed from metal, plastic or fibreglass. The electric cabinet’s most pertinent use is to provide safety for the electrical equipment. Moreover, acts as a barrier for dust, moisture, and impact among other factors.
An electric cabinet typically houses various electrical constituents including switches, circuit breakers and other distributing electric components. Safety is also applauded in these types of cabinets with lockable doors preventing unauthorized users.
Figure no 2 Electric enclosure
Moreover, this helps restrict the risk of electric shock or short circuits. No individual can have involuntary or haphazard touch with the live electrical parts. Even when factories take such precautionary measures and install electric cabinets, those are typically grounded to avoid any unsafe conditions.
Electric cabinets are present in various places, such as residential, commercial, and industrial sectors. Their sizes range depending on the intricacy as well as the extent of the electrical system they are designed to accommodate.
2) What are the components of an electric cabinet?
The components of an electric cabinet in most cases depend on the purpose of the cabinet. But usually, there are some features that are typical of electric cabinets of many electric circuits.
i) Circuit Breakers: A circuit breaker is a switch that can fault the current of specific electrical appliances. Hence, those appliances may operate under a normal switch. Faulty electrical systems can result towards overcurrent or short-current scenarios.
ii) Terminal Blocks: E-TB or more commonly terminal block is used to join the different wires that are in the cabinet in an orderly fashion. They make it possible to connect electrical conductors in an orderly fashion to avoid wiring chaos.
iii) Relays: A relay refers to an electrical switch, which is movable in nature and is used to control a circuit. They permit one circuit to take over another. Hence, providing a control mechanism for other subsystems. Hence, simplifying the complexity of electrical drives.
Figure no 3 Components of an electric cabinet
iv) Power Supply Units: This is the part of the equipment that supplies internal power to the various devices in the cabinet. They take care of the fact that the load connected is not in excess in terms of voltage and current. Thereby, allowing the system to work efficiently.
v) Wiring and Cables: Proper wiring is also essential in an electric cabinet. Wires and cables link the different constituent elements of the electrical cabinets enabling it to function as a single entity. In turn, the maintenance and troubleshooting activities become easy as the labelled and organized wires are easy to reach and ascertain.
vi) DIN Rails: DIN rails are simply metal bars along which various devices such as circuit breakers, relays, terminal blocks etc., are mounted. They assist in arranging the components of the cabinet and simplify the process of mounting.
vii) Enclosure Door: The enclosure door acts as a protective shield. It forms a physical separation from the outside environment for the inner electrical parts of the enclosure. It is usually lockable if the cabinet is operable to restrict unauthorized personnel from accessing internal components.
3) What are the types of electric cabinets?
There are many types of electric cabinets, let’s discuss the most prominent ones;
a) Compact enclosure SEA: These enclosures are powder coated providing high corrosion resistance. The rear faces of these cabinets have holes making them able to adjust on a wall. Moreover, they have perforated mounting strips in the door for fast attachment. They have IP66 waterproof protection grade.
Figure no 4 Compact enclosure
b) Ul Stainless Steel Wallmounting Enclosure: These cabinets have high-temperature resistance (-40℃ to+80℃) and strong elasticity. They have galvanized bottom plates for bolt fixation. Apart from this, these boxes have multi-layer protection to prevent dust entrance.
Figure no 5 Wall-mounting enclosure
c) Ul Wall Mounting Enclosure: These cabinets have standard thread covering holes, thus helping in an easy process. Moreover, it also makes them eco-friendly. These cabinets have standard powder coating making them uniform in colour and saturation.
Figure no 6 Wall-mounting UI cabinet
d) SPT IP66 Metal Wall Mounting Control Panel Enclosure: These wall mount electrical cabinets are made of steel having waterproof protection grade as IP66. These cabinets are available in pebble grey colour. Moreover, they are best suited for outdoor installation. Apart from this, they have a professional innovative lock system with double teeth cylinder. This feature makes locking and unlocking a piece of cake.
Figure no 7 Metal enclosure
e) Electrical Enclosure With Inner Door: These cabinets have gained a 4X NEMA rating. They are made of steel and have waterproof grade protection of IP66. The panel designing is so creative and is also available in pebble grey colour. Moreover, best suited for outdoor applications. They have an extra internal door that provides ultra protection to the system inside.
Figure no 8 Enclosure with inner door
f) Outdoor Weatherproof Steel Enclosure Box With Rain Roof: These enclosures have PU foaming sealing strips making them more protective. They have multiple protection grooves that don’t let dustr or any external material to neter the cabinet.
Figure no 9 Waterproof enclosure
4) What are the uses of an electric cabinet?
An electric cabinet finds several useful applications in various settings.
- House electric components: Its most basic function is to support such electrical components and keep them organised and safe within an enclosure. It protects the components by keeping dust, moisture, and unexpected shocks which can upset the electrical systems.
- Power distribution: Electric cabinets are used mainly for power supply to various parts of the building. It regulates the distribution of electrical energy resources within the industrial, commercial and residential houses.
- In operating system: These serve in automating processes concerned with production, machinery, and even building management systems. Having these units in the electric cabinet helps root the control systems effectively.
- Safety: They also help maintain safety and control risk. They help isolate the hazards posed by the electrical equipment to an individual in order to minimize the risk of electric shock. On top of this, the cabinet is comprised of fuses and automatically reset circuit protection devices. It helps manage the electrical load to prevent damage by overloads or short circuits. Thereby, protecting the appliance and even the structure.
Figure no 10 uses of Electric Cabinet
- Telecommunication system: Electric cabinets are important in the workplace. They are a need for telecommunication cabinets in mobile telephone networks. Such a cabinet serves to consolidate cables, switches and other active and passive network devices. Thus, enhancing the organization and maintenance of the whole network.
- The backbone of the industrial electric system: In addition, electric cabinets are also used in industries to encase control and electric parts of the motors and constituents of the machines. This makes it possible to operate industrial machines with ease and order, thus cutting back on idle time and improving output capacity.
5) How to choose a reliable electric cabinet?
It is very necessary that one choose the right electric cabinet since this determines the security and efficiency of the electricity system. There are some factors to think through in making such a decision.
- Material: First, think about the composition of the cabinet. The cabinets for electrical reasons are manufactured from metals, plastics or fibreglass. A metal cabinet- preferably stainless steel or aluminium- is proved to be more sturdy and provides a higher resistance to mechanical impact. Where the conditions are not as harsh, plastic or even fibreglass can be used as these materials are light and do not rust.
- Size: Size is also a very important point. The cabinet should not only be large enough to contain all the parts that are needed for the time being. But, it should also have provisions for any future expansion if required. Filling the cabinet above its maximal supported capacity may cause difficulties in operation and maintenance as well as overheating or other electrical failures.
- IP rating: Consider a cabinet with an appropriate IP rating (Ingress Protection). This rating assesses the level of protection the cabinet provides against dirt and moisture. When components are used outdoors or in extreme conditions, a higher rating is required in order to keep the components safe from the environment.
- Ventilation: The ventilation of the cabinet is also important. Proper ventilation avoids high temperatures, particularly in cabinets containing heating equipment power supplies or motor controllers. Some cabinets have internal fans or exhaust vents that help cool the temperature as well.
- Protection: What do you think about the cabinet features concerning security? Where there are such cabinets, there are usually lockable doors that restrict unauthorized access, thus safeguarding the equipment and people.
We feel glad to share that you can avail all of the above described attributes from Saipwell. Saipwell is one of the professional electrical enclosure manufacturers, offering cabinets in innovative designs with good IP protection grading. Moreover, our cabinets are temperature and rust-resistant, hence providing durability. Moreover, you can visit our website Saipwell for further assistance.
6) Final words
In other words, the purpose of the electric cabinet is for a protective enclosure to help store and arrange electric accessories such as circuit breaks, relays, and wiring alone. It protects the internal equipment from the external environment.
Electric cabinets are extensively employed in the sectors of power distribution, automation systems and telecommunication infrastructure and aid in the management and control of electrical systems. It also prevents overloads and short circuits to help enhance the system by housing such devices to aid in the normal functioning of vital electrical parts.
