2012 - PageSuite

mAINTENANCESOLUTIONS
Ideal wall-mount enclosures will offer thermal management capabilities and
accommodate a wide variety of applications. Courtesy: Hoffman
Along with selecting enclosures
to complement equipment size and
location, cabinet specifiers must also
consider the application challenges
and environmental conditions that can
compromise an enclosure’s integrity.
Exposure to extreme temperatures,
corrosive agents, or impact can damage
enclosures.
Wall-mount enclosures
Within industrial facilities, floor
space is valuable, and many companies
measure productivity and efficiency by
dividing the amount of floor space by
dollars generated. Consequently, installing
a full-size electronics enclosure can
take up valuable floor space that could
otherwise be designated for equipment
or machines and becomes detrimental to
plant productivity. Wall-mount cabinets
house and protect a variety of electronics
and networking devices, conveniently
mounting on walls or machines.
To accommodate the demand for networking
flexibility, wall-mount enclosures
can be used to extend the data center
via intermediate distribution frame
(IDF), which further supports remote
access points (AP) for wireless applications.
An IDF is a free-standing or
wall-mounted rack used to manage and
interconnect cables between end-user
devices and a main distribution frame
(MDF).
AP applications utilize dedicated
hardware devices that act as a central
transmitter and receiver for wireless signals.
By supporting both IDF and AP
networking applications, wall-mount
enclosures aid in extending networks to
remote locations to handle a broad scope
of activities, such as industrial controls,
access control, HVAC, monitoring, security/cameras,
communications, building
automation systems, and more.
When selecting the ideal wall-mount
solution, users should take multiple
factors into consideration, such as
space limitations, enclosure size, cable
management, and any thermal issues.
Wall-mount cabinets should provide
easy access to equipment. For instance,
single-door cabinets offer a cost-effective
solution for protecting, securing,
and cooling a host of equipment, while
double-hinged door cabinets facilitate
easy front and rear equipment access,
enhancing access to cabling and reducing
time to install and connect system
components.
Wall-mount cabinets are available in
standard sizes and with custom options
to support all types of networking and
industrial electronics—both 19-in. rackmounted
and traditional back panel
mounted. In addition to the enclosure
size, users must also consider how far
the cabinet will extend from the wall or
machine on which they intend to mount
the unit. To avoid collisions in public
aisle ways, cabinets should typically
extend less than 12 in., but requirements
can vary depending on application.
Cable management
Cable management is a crucial aspect
in cabinet selection. Proper, efficient
cable management provides organization
and support. For applications requiring
input #35 at www.plantengineering.com/information
82 • November 2012 plant engineering www.plantengineering.com