PECM Issue 51 2021 | Page 34

Look before it ’ s too late !

EDITOR ’ S CHOICE SUMMER ’ S COMING

RITTAL
Look before it ’ s too late !
By Karl Lycett – Rittal UK ’ s Product Manager for Climate Control
Even before summertime hits , we have already seen some good BBQ weather , with the mercury rising and letting us enjoy the great outdoors .
Great for you , but it doesn ’ t bode as well for your electrical equipment .
At this point in the year , there probably won ’ t be any alarms on your cooling equipment and therefore you ’ re mind wanders to other important issues on your site which need more ready attention . Climate Control can wait … Right ?
Wrong .. in fact , the opposite is true ; this is the best time of year to turn your mind to your enclosures , carry out a climate review , and start to understand what changes or improvements need to be made before it ’ s too late .
In a few months ’ time , things will be very different .. Fans and filters won ’ t be cutting it if the ambient temperature is higher than you require inside your enclosures ! While everything is settled down , it ’ s worth assessing any problem enclosures from last year and making the necessary changes , to ensure that when summer comes you are free to spend your time on tasks other than firefighting .
It ’ s important to remember that every degree above your set-point will be time removed from the life of your PLCs , variable
speed drives and transformers . Collectively , this can easily have a replacement value that tops £ 100k , even in a relatively small setup . If you replace only 2 % of that equipment each year because of burnt-out or damaged componentry , then the costs can quickly mount up and it ’ s an entirely unnecessary spend .

Are you COOL about the internal temperature of your enclosures ?

ENCLOSURES POWER DISTRIBUTION
CLIMATE CONTROL