About, Types, Ratings
About Control Cabinets:
According to AB Electrical, an electrical control panel comprises a set of electrical devices that monitor, control, or even change the flow of electricity through a mechanical system. Each panel has several components and is customized to a particular equipment arrangement which varies greatly across industries. These control panels are enclosed within an electrical enclosure or cabinet referred to as an Electrical Control Cabinet or, simply, Control Cabinet.
Control cabinets are generally made of stainless steel or aluminum. The size of the control cabinet can vary based on the size of the process it is associated with. The cabinet itself is generally divided into multiple sections to house each particular sub-unit of the control panel. All cabinets have a back panel made of steel which allows for custom drilling of mounting holes for various sections of the control panel. Other key elements of the cabinet include metal rails and wiring ducts. Metal rails are screwed onto the back panel and are used to mount circuit-breakers as well as other electrical equipment. Wiring ducts not only allow the panel to be sub-divided into sections but also help the wiring inside the cabinet to be better organized and concealed.
Control Cabinet Types & Ratings:
Cabinets are generally referred to for the nature of their mounting – that is, wall-mounted, floor-mounted, or free-standing – as well as their safety rating. As with other electrical enclosures, rating standards determined by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) and National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) are also a way of referring to a particular control cabinet. UL or NEMA Ratings for a particular cabinet help with determining whether a particular cabinet can be used indoors or outdoors, is waterproof, is dustproof, and can withstand a hazardous condition such as an explosion.
Industrial control cabinets, generally, are wall-mounted and have NEMA 3R or NEMA 4X rating. A NEMA 3R cabinet is one that can be used indoors or outdoors, provides protection against dust and other particulate matter, water (including rain, sleet, and snow), and would remain safe in the case of external formation of snow on the body of the cabinet. In addition to these features, a NEMA 4X cabinet provides additional protection from corrosion as well as hosed, directed water as well.