Cooling cabinets are designed to keep electrical equipment cool and safe from moisture. Cooling cabinets must be appropriately sized for the environment where it will be housed and the heat load of the equipment. Check out these following five common mistakes to avoid when investing in a cooling cabinet!
1. Don’t Buy An Oversized Air Conditioner
The most common error people make is buying a giant air conditioner to eliminate overheating inside enclosures. The bad part is that this method often works too well. When your air conditioning unit doesn’t fit your cabinet, the temperature drops way too quickly. The quick drop in temperature makes it difficult to control humidity efficiently, and your compressor will cycle frequently. Oversized air conditioners cause the temperatures inside the enclosure to swing violently. Drastic changes in temperature cost you extra money in energy costs and have the potential to damage the equipment inside the cabinets.
2. Stay Away From Ventilated Enclosures
Cabinet’s with ventilation openings allow hot air to get inside the enclosure which can cause problems. The incoming hot air forces your air conditioning unit to run for longer periods which intensifies wear and tear. When cabinet ventilation alone cannot maintain your enclosure’s interior temperature at a reasonable level, you turn to air conditioning units. However, it’s important to seal off the ventilation openings as you’re no longer using the ventilation method. When hot air is allowed to enter your enclosures, it’s challenging and energy inefficient to control the temperature properly.
3. Don’t Go For The Cheapest Option
When you buy a cabinet cooler, you’re investing in protecting equipment that’s important to your company. No one wants to pay more than necessary, however, you’ll create more problems for yourself if you buy a cabinet that can’t handle your needs. Cooling units that need to overcompensate to cool your equipment by running all the time are at risk of overheating, damaging your equipment and costing you thousands in repair. When looking at cooling cabinets consider the power consumption, durability, customer service and thermal capacity.
4. Don’t Update Your Equipment Without Ensuring Your Air Conditioning Unit Can Handle It
The capacity of your cooling cabinet absolutely needs to match the heat load. If you add new equipment to an existing cabinet, you risk potentially offsetting the balance between heat load and cooling capacity. Again, cabinets that aren’t up to the job are at risk for overheating and causing other problems that can create costly repairs. Before adding new equipment to your cooling cabinet, consult with a company that specializes in selling cabinet coolers.
5. Establish A Regular Maintenance Schedule For Your Cooling Cabinet
Preventative maintenance is the best way to protect your investment in a cabinet cooler. The majority of air conditioner failures are brought on by neglect and issues that can be easily solved with preventative maintenance. Some air conditioners may boast that they’re designed for unattended operation, however, it’s still important to keep the air filters clean and perform regular checkups. Something as simple as forgetting to change your air filters causes temperatures in the condenser, evaporator, and compressor to rise which can cause your unit to overheat. During your regular checks keep an eye out for open doors, loose equipment, and air leaks all of which can interfere with proper operation.
To summarize, cooling cabinets are one of the best ways to protect and keep your electrical equipment cool. When used properly, cooling cabinets protect you from having to deal with unexpected equipment outages and help extend your equipment’s life. Use the tips in this blog post to help you find a cooling cabinet suitable for your needs!