Power systems for outdoor conditions - "out of the box"
Power systems for outdoor conditions - "out of the box"
Many of the power systems for outdoor conditions (power supplies, converters and chargers) are usually in a cabinet built for this purpose.
But the power components are also adapted to this especially if it is a question of harsh environmental conditions, such as high or low working temperature,
Moisture and even resistance to shocks (shook's), if it is a mobile system.
For this purpose, power supplies and converters with high efficiency, adapted cooling capabilities and resistance to extreme temperatures (high and low) have been built in recent years.
One of the common adaptations is cooling through connection to surfaces. Such cooling requires suppliers cooled by a heatsink attached to the power unit.
Such a heatsink increases the cooled area by ribs or a large surface.
Sometimes the cooling is done by a cooling liquid that passes through the heatsink through piping and creates a circulation of the liquid so that the heat is transferred to the place that cools the liquid.
PHP-3500 series that allows the use of water cooling and also receiving wide output voltages 24VDC up to
400VDC
Dealing with the challenge of outdoor systems sometimes requires expensive solutions when it is not possible to operate the power systems without ventilation.
One of the solutions is an air-conditioned outdoor closet.
Such a solution is not only expensive because such an outdoor cabinet is very expensive compared to normal outdoor cabinets,
but also require air conditioning which also consumes electricity and increases the cost of energy consumption.
Also, the higher the energy consumption of the systems, the more air conditioning is required due to the heat emission
of the power supplies (there is never 100% efficiency) and the costs are also higher accordingly.
A solution of cooling through air conditioning is especially common when the systems in the cabinet are backed up by batteries that are sensitive to high temperatures.
One of the ways to deal with the heat emission of the power units is to leave those power units outside the power cabinets.
The power supplies and chargers are usually the units that emit the most heat, despite the technological improvements and the significant improvement in efficiency compared to the past.
Therefore, they can be isolated from the rest of the system components.
To this end, the power supply manufacturers designed and built power supply units designed for outdoor installation in harsh conditions. Such power supplies
Allows installation in any site and any weather conditions with high impermeability level IP64, IP65, IP67, IP68.
One of the leading manufacturers in the field is Meanwell, which has created complete series in a wide range of suppliers and output voltages.
From low voltages of 12VDC to high output voltages of 400VDC.
Meanwell's HEP-2300 series with various options for connections and connectors that are resistant to outdoor conditions IP66, IP67
In such an application, batteries can be placed inside a waterproof and resistant case when the charger itself is outside the case and connected with a cable resistant to outdoor conditions.
The components and systems that are sensitive to high working temperature will not be affected by the heat emitted from the power supplies and power components,
but will still be completely protected from the moisture conditions that can be found in the installation environment.
Installation options for both wall and stand without the need for a sealed case
Sometimes the requirements in the field do not require significant hardening of the power unit and there is no need for complete sealing or cooling at all.
In conditions where resistance is not particularly high in humid conditions, since the installation conditions allow it,
You can find much simpler and cheaper solutions, but very effective.
Meanwell's ERP series for simple installation with roofing conditions and water splash resistance
Relatively simple power supplies such as the Meanwell ERP series that is protected from moisture by an epoxy coating of the electrical circuit
and ventilation openings that do not allow water to enter in case of splashes around the power supply unit. This installation requires
It is called minimal that in many of the installations of LED lighting signage or security systems in buildings, already exists in any case.
In this way, the solution is already much cheaper and simpler, especially when there are no additional components such as batteries or other electronic systems that are sensitive to environmental conditions.
Written by: Haim Meles