Choosing the material for the container or cabinet is one of the electrical panel design steps that we have seen on our blog and to which particular attention must be paid, especially if there is a need to install a filtered ventilation system. In fact, there are applications in which the electrical panel is protected with plastic or ABS cabinets, but the prevailing opinion is often that the robustness of sheet metal covers is clearly superior to that of plastic alternatives. Actually, this is not always the case!
Advantages and disadvantages of ABS plastic material
Compared to metal cabinet, ABS material offers the advantage of resistance to corrosive loads, as well as resistance to alkalis, oils and salts without additional coating of the casing surface, and a higher maximum impact resistance (IK), thanks also to the external walls that are approximately 30% thicker in some models.
ABS plastic electrical cabinets allow a weight saving of approximately 50%, with an enclosure size comparable to that of a sheet steel cabinet, with advantages in terms of logistics, handling and assembly. On the other hand, they have little shielding with regards to electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), for which sheet metal or stainless steel cabinets offer better performance.
Material thickness and ventilation
The wall thicknesses of an electrical cabinet made of plastic are therefore often significantly higher than those of an electrical cabinet made of metal. If the cabinet must be equipped with filtered forced ventilation systems, such as filter fan units, problems arise related to the snap fixing system, a peculiar characteristic of this family of products, which, for our FF series, limits the maximum thicknesses allowed (max 4 mm for the FF20 series).
Solution for electrical cabinets with greater thickness
Fandis has solved this problem by proposing the GF series as a solution, filter groups and filters that can be mounted on greater thicknesses. In fact, for their fixing to the cabinet wall, the GF series is equipped with a jack system operated by screws. The speed of the snap-on assembly of the FF series is therefore missing, but on the other hand it allows assembly on thicknesses up to 8 mm.
Furthermore, in the event that the wall of the electrical cabinet was composed, for example, of a double panel with insulation between the two panels, therefore with thicknesses greater than 8 mm, or of an ABS wall where the thicknesses can reach even 10/15 mm, it is possible to intervene on the jacks by simply cutting the part of the fixing system and increasing the permitted thickness up to 16 mm, as we show you in the image below.
Also, replacing the filter will remain very easy and quick, thanks to the tilting system of the protection grill, which does not require the use of tools.
The product range is available in three sizes GF12 (150×150 mm), GF15 (250×250 mm) and GF20 (325×325 mm) and various power supply voltages.
To find out more about all our enclosure products, keep browsing our blog, visit our website fandis.com or send an email to support@fandis.com. Our staff will answer you as soon as possible.
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