Enclosure Power Distribution
Enclosure power distribution is essential in overseeing electrical systems, largely in domains like industrial operations, where multiple power outputs must be managed. A power distribution enclosure kit comes with everything necessary to distribute power from an upstream input to multiple outputs efficiently and safely. These kits are designed to simplify the distribution of power to multiple loads—like motors and relays—especially in situations where low voltage (like 24V DC) and low power devices are used.
A power distribution system has a fundamental attribute: To take one input, from a single, dedicated source of electrical power, and route that power to several output channels. This arrangement is neat, it is safe, and, in many applications, it is the only sensible way to get power from a single source to the several devices that need it. To use a radio or a dry contact system in an application, one routes electrical power through a centralized power distribution enclosure that distributes that power in a way that is structured, easy to manage, and unlikely to cause any safety problems.
FAQs
What equipment and electrical components are found in UL listed power distribution enclosures?
UL listed power distribution enclosures typically contain equipment and electrical components such as circuit breakers, fuses, busbars, transformers, disconnect switches, and distribution panels, which manage and protect electrical power distribution in industrial and commercial systems.
Industrial Control Panels In Depth Look Part 1: Panel Distribution
Identification
Identify the type of power coming into the industrial electrical panel (three phase, 120 single phase, solar power, etc), where the power is entering (usually on the top of the panel) and properly label the power.
Protection
Power greater than 120 volts entering a panel should have an external disconnect. Power distributed throughout the panel should include branch and supplementary protection. Circuit breakers and fuses must always be sized correctly. For example, a 2 amp fuse would blow if 20 amps flowed through it. A 15 amp circuit breaker would not be used to protect a PLC or a network switch because too much current would be allowed to run through those devices causing them to prematurely fail.
Grounding
It is critical for every industrial control panel to have proper grounding. All devices should be grounded to a grounding bus. The grounding bus should be tied to the main ground coming into the panel. If there is DC negative within the panel, that should be tied to a DC negative bus which in turn is tied to the grounding bus.