Key factors to consider when selecting cabinets for 19” mounted electronic equipment

30Oct

posted by: Alan Cook, Sales Director of Foremost Electronics,

Alan Cook, Sales Director of Foremost Electronics, recommends designers and systems integrators take into account seven key considerations when considering the selection of a suitable cabinet.

Selecting a suitable cabinet for any electronic system can be a challenge. Applications and environmental conditions are major influences on sourcing the correct product. Other than the large 19” datacomms and telecoms markets, and clean room or laboratory use, cabinets may be required to withstand or protect the installed equipment from extreme heat, high dust or other contaminant environments. They may also need to withstand radio-frequency/electromagnetic interference (RFI/EMI) and locations subject to high shock and vibration. To help select the best possible 19” electronics cabinet solution for a specific application, this article outlines seven essential design considerations.

1 – Design standards

Depending on the end system requirements, meeting appropriate design standards may be necessary. Standards for equipment safety and EMC compatibility are created and imposed by worldwide associations, government agencies and regulators. Standards result from technical agreements related to design specifications and environmental requirements that need to be fulfilled by a product or service. Some key design standards associated with electronics cabinets include the following:

IEC – International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) develops international standards for all electrical, electronic and related technologies. Adoption is voluntary, although they are often referenced in mandatory national laws or regulations worldwide. IEC 60297 (mechanical structures for electronic equipment – dimensions of mechanical structures of the 19-inch series) standard, provides crucial information for designing 19” cabinets – IEC 60297; IEC 60297-3-100 (19-inch Standard); IEC 60917-2-2 (25mm metric Standard) and ETS 300 119-2/-3 (European Telecommunication Standard)

RoHS Compliance – Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) originated in the European Union and restricts the use of six hazardous materials found in electrical and electronic products.

MIL-S-901D – A specific military test requirement designed for shipboard applications. Based on the type of equipment (essential or non-essential to the safety and combat-readiness of the ship), qualification testing is performed on a specified machine placed on a barge floating in a pond. Explosive charges are detonated at various distances and depths in the pond to impart shock upon the equipment.

Read the full article in the November issue of PBSI