How to Select the Right Cooling System with EXAIR’s Electrical Enclosure Heat Load Guide
Selecting the right cooling system for an industrial electrical enclosure requires accurate data rather than guesswork. Under-sizing a cooling unit leads to persistent overheating and component failure, while over-sizing wastes valuable compressed air energy. The EXAIR Cabinet Cooler Sizing Guide provides a structured framework to determine the exact cooling capacity required for your control panels. By accounting for the unique environmental and operational variables of your facility, this guide helps you choose a system that delivers optimal thermal protection.
The heat load calculation begins by mapping the enclosure’s physical dimensions and temperature differentials. Users must measure the cabinet’s width, height, and depth to calculate the total exposed surface area. Next, you must record the current internal and external air temperatures, alongside the maximum expected ambient temperature during the hottest months. Comparing these figures against your desired internal temperature—typically 95°F (35°C) for standard industrial electronics—establishes the temperature differential (ΔT) required to calculate external heat transfer.
A precise calculation requires evaluating four primary sources of heat: internal, external, fan, and solar loads. Internal heat represents the energy dissipated by active electronics such as variable frequency drives (VFDs) and transformers, often expressed in BTU/hr. External heat reflects the ambient thermal energy radiating through the cabinet walls from the surrounding factory floor. For outdoor installations, the guide accounts for solar heat gain based on the panel’s color and sun exposure, and evaluates any existing cabinet fans that must be sealed during installation.
Once all variables are gathered, the data can be submitted through the interactive EXAIR Cabinet Cooler System Calculator for instant configuration. This digital tool instantly processes your specifications to recommend a precise model number from EXAIR’s extensive catalog, which features cooling capacities ranging from 275 to 5,600 BTU/hr. Utilizing this guide ensures that your selected system matches your exact NEMA requirements and voltage preferences, providing a reliable engineering solution that protects your electronics and eliminates downtime
If you have questions about the Cabinet Cooler Systems Heat Load Guide, or anything regarding EXAIR and our products, please do not hesitate to reach out.
Jason Kirby
Application Engineer
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @EXAIR_jk
