What Electrical Control Panels Are Used For?
An electrical control panel is a protective enclosure, usually a plastic case or metallic box that contains several key electrical components which control and monitor many different mechanical processes within a factory. They are normally energised, electronically controlled systems which require regular maintenance, with scheduled maintenance and status-based monitoring often being the best ways to ensure they are in good working order. The electrical control panel also acts as a communication device between different sections within the factory, allowing for the transfer of information and instructions, and allowing for feedback to occur from other units in the factory. Electrical control panels can also be used to regulate thermal loads within a factory, and to track and manage factory safety and health requirements. This overview of the roles and uses of an electrical control panel will help clarify what it is and why you need one in your factory.
Factory Safety and Health Requirements. All factories need to adhere to regulations regarding electrical control panels. These regulations are set out by the European Union, who also dictates many national laws across the globe. There are major safety and health requirements regarding the operation of electrical control panels in general, including a wide range of products which fall under these requirements, such as communication devices, industrial machinery, power supplies and machines and lighting. These safety and health requirements are addressed in multiple documents and manuals and need to be followed to the letter. This is why you need to regularly test and retest these documents as certain standards are amended from time to time.
Terms Used: The term ‘control panel’ is a relatively modern term, and has only been in use since the 1980’s. Prior to that time, electrical control panels were called ‘combi-systems’ or ‘systems and units’. The electrical panel components used in manufacturing process and the ones used in manufacturing processes differ significantly. Some terms used are continuous feed systems, controlled units, system feeders, etc. To give you an idea of what these terms mean, I’ll mention some of the terms commonly used in this article.
Continuous Feed System: This is a great example of a continuously changing electrical control panel system. In this system the electrical panel is connected to a power supply, meaning that when one plug is removed the power supply doesn’t alter as soon as the next is plugged in. Therefore, when a power supply is plugged in, say for example the 120v power supply, then the 120v power supply will be controlled by the electrical control panel, and when the power supply changes then so does the corresponding plug in (as noted before, the power supply can change from time to time). These types of systems are very useful in factories where multiple plugs could be used, but only one outlet is required.
Short Circuit Alarm: A short circuit is defined as an interruption of a normal or standby power supply, due to thermal or voltage overload. In a standard electrical control panel, the short circuit is detected and handled by the Fuses located in the front cover. The Fuses can trip if the temperature inside the enclosure is extremely hot or extremely cold. Therefore, extreme care should be taken when installing the Fuses and be careful that the unit is placed in an area that has adequate ventilation.
Main Power Supply: When looking at electrical control panel components, you will see that they generally come in a variety of sizes. These sizes can be single, double or four tripple, etc. Typically these units are installed in Fixtures. For example, you would have a single outlet for your television, a pair for your VCR and CD player and a fourth for your main power supply. Obviously this means that if one of these units is damaged or destroyed then you need a new one.
Flux: An Electrical Control Panel or Fuse will also include Flux. This is the amount of current carried by the wire or cable to its specified terminal point. A high quality Industrial Electrical Control Panel or IEC will have a high tolerance rating for flux, which enables it to operate smoothly under heavy load conditions.
If you wish to purchase an Industrial Electrical Control Panel then you will need to find a good electrical power distributor. A good distributor will have trained personnel who are able to help you choose the right unit for your business. Some distributors will offer package deals which include installation, wiring, motors and all of the accessories you need to successfully run your business. Therefore, it is worthwhile contacting your local electrician to discuss your requirements and to recommend the best supplier.