b"What toConsider in Industrial Control Panel DesignUnderstanding the fundamentals of industrial control panel design can help you ensure that your panel matches your specific needs and decreases the risk of costly mistakes during your project. When designing a custom control panel, there are a number of key aspects to consider to ensure your panel operates properly, is safe to use, and remains reliable. Every facet of your production process, equipment, and plant environment must be carefully considered when designing an industrial control panel. This knowledge is necessary when determining what type of enclosure is needed, the available space to install the control panel, what the electrical requirements are, and what hardware and software components are needed to achieve your desired functionality. While each custom control panel is tailored to a specific purpose and application, the majority of them have a similar overall blueprint. RS Components have been helping designers & machine builders shape the future and below we highlight some areas which we believe can help you automate the future.Enclosure Type and Sizing Power and Circuit ProtectionDetermining the enclosure type and size for your controlAnother crucial step in designing a control panel is panel is an important step in the design process.determining your power requirements. Conducting full-load When choosing the enclosure type, it is essentials to evaluatecalculations will help you determine how many amps will the environment that the panel will be located in.need to be supplied to the panel. Based on the voltage of the power supplied by your facility, you may need to include a For example, a panel that will be exposed to corrosivetransformer in your panel to convert the voltage to 120V AC substances will need a fully sealed stainless-steel enclosure,and/or a power supply to convert to 24V DC.while a panel that is installed in an area with high ambientYou will need to keep in mind the types of equipment you'll temperature may require a ventilation fan or air conditioner.be operating. For example, if your panel will be controlling Furthermore, a panel that is being mounted to a machine,motors, you may need to include contactors, overload relays, pedestal, or on a wall will use a different style enclosure thanor motor starters to protect your motor from pulling too much a panel that will be free-standing. electrical current and overheating.Once the enclosure type has been selected, the next step isDetermining correct wire sizes to ensure delivery of the to determine the right size based on the space required torequired load current, as well as adding the necessary circuit install and wire the intended control panel components.protection are crucial aspects of the electrical design of your panel. Circuit protection components include circuit breakers, surge protectors, and fuses, and are essential for creating consistency and preventing damage to your wires and components from excessive voltages or currents. 24"