Tips to Maximize Your Electrical Control Panel

From HVAC systems and air conditioning systems to large-scale industrial machinery, electrical control panels are the heart and soul of automated electrical equipment. They make it easy for operators to operate a piece of equipment. A well-designed and implemented control panel enhances performance and reduces costs by automating specific tasks. However, a poorly designed and maintained control panel leads to unscheduled downtime, disruptions, and costly repairs. In this article, we will outline tips and tricks to get the most out of your electrical control panel.

1.   Manage the temperature

Over 55% of electrical component failures are caused by heat, which arguably makes heat the greatest enemy of your electrical control panel. Preventing overheating is crucial to keeping your systems running and minimizing the risk of component failure. To prevent overheating, ensure the cooling system for your control panel is sized appropriately.

An undersized cooling system exposes the electrical components to high heat and puts them at high risk for failure. Conversely, an oversized cooling system leads to condensation problems and excessive moisture. The best way to ensure you get the right-sized cooling cabinet is to get it from an electric control panel supplier who understands the challenges of building and maintaining high-quality electrical equipment. Visit this page for more information.

You can also prevent overheating by installing a machine monitoring application or a temperature monitoring device that can alert you before the temperatures reach dangerous levels.

2.   Preventive maintenance

One way to ensure you get the most out of your control panel is by scheduling routine maintenance and cleaning. It helps to reduce the risk of failure, hazardous situations, and downtime. During scheduled maintenance, qualified personnel will inspect the panel for brittle wires, worn components, excessive dust and debris, and loose connections.

3.   Add Indication and interior lighting

Adding different types of lights to your control panel can also offer many benefits. Mounting exterior indication lights on the panel door offers a fast and quick way for the operator to get information at a glance. For example, indication lights can be implemented to denote system faults, battery life, when a process starts or stops, or whether a device is on or off.

Adding interior enclosure lights can also offer many benefits to maintenance personnel and operators who need to work inside the panel. Interior lights are particularly crucial where the control panels are installed in dark hallways and dimly lit environments. Interior lights help those working inside the control panels to see wires and components more easily.

4.   Proper device and wiring layout labeling

Wiring components in a carefully considered and organized manner makes the panel look cleaner and makes it easier to work on and maintain. To prevent a mess of hanging and tangled wires, always run wires vertically or horizontally instead of diagonally, utilize wire duct and covers, and layout your control panel in a way that promotes shorter wire runs. Additionally, implementing logical and consistent labeling of wires and components can further make it easier to work on and maintain the control panel.

Endnote

Implementing the above tips will help you get the most out of your control panel, avoid unnecessary downtimes and unnecessary costly repairs.