What is an electrical control panel?
To achieve their diverse process goals, industrial equipment and machinery require specified functions and organised control. Within industrial equipment, these activities are carried out through electrical control panels.
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An electrical control panel, in its most basic form, is a collection of electrical devices that use electrical power to manage the different mechanical operations of industrial equipment or machinery. An electrical control panel is divided into two parts: the panel structure and the electronic parts.
Components of the electrical control panel
Panel Structure
An electrical control panel is made out of an enclosure and a back panel, comparable to a breaker box in a home or place of business.
- Enclosures
The enclosure is a metal box that comes in many different of sizes and is often composed of aluminium or stainless steel. In most industrial applications, the size of the enclosure is determined by the number of doors (typically one or two). The enclosure will have a UL safety rating (often 508A), an IP rating, and/or a NEMA classification. These listings assist users in identifying properties such as:
- Indoor/outdoor application
- Waterproofing/resistance
- Proofing against dust/solid contaminants
- Rating for hazardous conditions
- Rating for being explosion-safe
For simple identification and reference, these distinct classes should be printed on a metal plate and mounted to the enclosure. You must collaborate with a leading APFC panels manufacturer in Chandigarh and Mohali that deliver quality product and service.
- Back Panel
A rear panel is a metal sheet that is positioned inside the enclosure and serves as structural support for DIN rail installation and wire duct. DIN metal rails have specified dimensions and are used to install electrical equipment. Wiring ducts help with wire routing and management while also reducing electrical noise between devices within the box.
- Electronic Parts
Within an electrical panel enclosure, there are eight main sorts of electrical components that define and arrange the panel’s diverse functions. These elements are as follows:
- Main circuit breaker
This is analogous to turning off the main electricity panel running into a house or workplace. In most industrial applications, main circuit breakers handle voltages ranging from 120V to 480V.
- Surge Arresters
This part prevents overvoltage from harming the electrical components inside the panel caused by lightning strikes or utility power surges.
- Transformers
Transformers may lower voltage to 120V for various components depending on the incoming voltage or step down the voltage to 24V in cases when the incoming power is 120V.
- Terminal elements
These blocks aid in the organisation and distribution of wires from numerous sources to various electrical equipment.
- Programmable Logic Controller (PLC)
This is effectively a CPU that is housed within the control panel. This device is the control panel’s brain, monitoring and controlling the numerous mechanical operations. It will incorporate numerous inputs and outputs to and from the industrial equipment’s automated operations.
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- Contactors and Relays
These on/off switches regulate automated functions based on PLC orders. Smaller relays are used to control things such as lighting and fans. Larger relays, known as contacts, regulate more sophisticated operations such as motors.
- Network Switches
The control panel’s communication hub and network switches permit communication between the PLC and the numerous network compatible devices on the network.
- Human-Machine Interface (HMI)
These components enable the operator to monitor or control certain functions of the machinery. Video displays, joysticks, buttons, switches, and keyboards are examples of common HMIs.
Electrical control panels are critical components of industrial automation. They enable businesses to design, plan, and accomplish production targets by providing higher-level monitoring and control of the many activities of production machines.
Balaji Power has long-standing experience and expertise in designing and building electrical control panels for businesses such as Food and beverages, Oil and natural gas, Pharmaceutical, Power generating and power distribution, Manufacturing, Handling fluids, Material Handling and more.
Balaji Power, a top electrical control panel manufacturer in Chandigarh offers new installations as well as updates to current systems For further information about electrical control panel solutions, please contact us.
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