58 ELECTRIC.IE • The Magazine & Website for the Irish Electrical Industry • Rittal We all struggle to work effectively when we feel too hot, and, unsurprisingly, the same is true of electrical equipment. It's critical to protect electrical enclosures from overheating, but especially if you are siting them outdoors where they are exposed to the elements, and more specifically the sun. Excessive heat can reduce the lifespan of electrical equipment, cause them to unexpectedly fail and even pose a safety hazard if the temperature becomes too high. Choosing the wrong electrical enclosure cooling solution can have a devastating impact, and the result thereof may be timely and expensive to rectify. With this in mind, here’s a guide to managing the temperature of your outdoor electrical enclosure. Factors That Affect Enclosure Temperature There are various factors that can influence how warm your enclosure gets, which in turn might affect the most appropriate form of cooling. Most electrical equipment will come with a What’s The Best Type Of Cooling For Your Outdoor Electrical Enclosures? suggested maximum operating temperature that you should avoid exceeding and this figure should be considered in the choice of cooling equipment. When choosing a cooling solution for an electrical enclosure, there are several factors which will need to be considered. These include: • Enclosure Size. The size of your enclosure can affect the effectiveness of different cooling methods. Larger enclosures may require more powerful cooling methods to deal with larger pocket of air we are keeping cool, while smaller enclosures may only require natural convection cooling to maintain an equilibrium. • Equipment Density. The amount of electrical equipment you are putting inside of your enclosure will have an impact on the right type of cooling. The more that is placed in a small space will result in a higher level of heat needing to be dissipated and may require
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