Category: Electrical Panels
Understanding Ingress Protection Ratings for Automated Equipment
Electrical devices on automated equipment can fail or malfunction if exposed to high levels of dust, dirt or liquid. Fortunately, enclosures for electrical devices and components generally carry an Ingress Protection rating, also called an IP rating, which is used to measure the resistance of the enclosure against the intrusion of solids and liquids. While […]
The Essentials of Industrial Control Panel Wiring
When it comes to industrial automation and control systems, the way industrial control panel wiring is laid out and managed plays a significant role in the performance, efficiency, safety and maintenance of the control panel and the equipment it operates. A thoughtful, well-organized wiring system can help increase the efficiency of the equipment, boost safety […]
Industrial Power Systems Best Practices for Automation
As manufacturing companies continue to add robotics and automation systems throughout their facilities, having a reliable industrial power system is becoming more and more critical to the success of electrical automation projects. This blog will discuss the importance of power quality for industrial automation and provide best practices for efficient and effective factory power systems. […]
A Deep Dive into Essential Control Panel Components
Control panels serve as the nervous system of industrial equipment as they are the central point of electrical distribution and control for machinery and processes in a manufacturing facility. Control panel components, such as fuses and circuit breakers, buttons, switches and other devices, enable operators to control, adjust and monitor the equipment that the control […]
Creating a Maintenance Strategy for Industrial Control Panels
Industrial control panels, which control and monitor electrical power distribution, as well as the safety of processes, are crucial to the reliable, safe and efficient operation of industrial automation equipment. Creating a preventive maintenance strategy for control panels can help minimize unplanned downtime, extend the life of the equipment and prevent failure and safety hazards. […]
Custom vs. Standard Industrial Control Panels
Industrial control panels impact safety and provide electrical supply and control to the machines and equipment that allow a business to successfully make its product, so it’s crucial to choose a control panel that meets the needs of the operation. While it can be overwhelming to consider all the available choices, the first step is […]
Troubleshooting Industrial Control Panels
Resolving Four Common Malfunctions in Industrial Control Panels Control panels vary by application, but they should always possess protective devices (circuit breakers and/or fuses), disconnecting switches, means for locking-out power sources, and means for safely bleeding stored energy. Typically, they also contain transformers, AC-DC power converters, motor starters, variable frequency drives (VFDs), servo motor drives, […]
Safe Manufacturers Insist on UL 508A Listed Industrial Control Panels
Industrial control panels are purpose-built to control nearly all machines and other equipment. Purchasing UL 508A Listed control panels helps ensure safety and provides several other noteworthy advantages. UL (Underwriters Laboratories) is a global safety science company and the largest independent testing laboratory in the U.S. Their mission is to test products and technologies for […]
Replacing an Aging Electrical Control Panel Boosts Safety, Reduces Costs
Although electrical control panels are an integral component in automated equipment as they include a combination of electrical devices that distribute power to control the mechanical functions of industrial machinery, most facilities put them in place and then largely ignore them. This can be a dangerous and expensive oversite. Replacing an aging control panel with […]
Understanding Control Panel Enclosure Ratings
As manufacturers increasingly rely on automated and mechanical equipment to more efficiently produce products, control panels provide a reliable and effective means to control this equipment. However, because control panels contain sensitive circuitry and electronic components and are often located in dirty, wet, corrosive, or hazardous factory environments, it’s imperative that the control panel enclosure […]