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TOP 29ENCLOSURE COOLINGQUESTIONSASKED BYPROSPEC TIVETHERMAL EDGE CUSTOMERS 2015 Thermal Edge, Inc. 888.580.0202

Top 29 Enclosure Cooling Questions Asked By Prospective Thermal Edge CustomersAbout the AuthorsLISA BAKERLisa Baker is the Inside Sales Manager. When you need help determining the best cooling solutionfor your application, she can size your application and quote a recommended cooling solution.With eight years’ experience in solving customer cooling needs, Lisa can recommend solutions fordifficult environments such as hazardous location or corrosive applications, vibration issues, orpublic/remote applications needing secure enclosures. For replacing existing units, she can crossreference part numbers and size for mounting plates. She will provide formal quotes, literature,drawings - everything you need to make a fact based decision for important enclosure coolingsolutions.NOEL FERNANDEZNoel Fernandez is a Technical Support Manager with Thermal Edge Inc. He provides resourcesto customers, ensuring any questions they have about Thermal Edge products are answeredaccurately. Mr. Fernandez has more than 8 years’ experience in HVAC mechanical operationalperformance with advanced knowledge of the practices and procedures for HVACtroubleshooting, returns, and warranty claims.2

Top 29 Enclosure Cooling Questions Asked By Prospective Thermal Edge CustomersIntroductionThe early 1960s witnessed the advent of thefirst air conditioners and heat exchangers forelectrical equipment in enclosures. However,the importance of enclosure cooling solutionshas not been fully understood until recently.Modern electrical devices not only are morepowerful and efficient, but also dissipatemore of the heat that can raise the enclosuretemperature by a significant amount.Equipment manufacturers specify maximumallowable temperatures for their productsabove which performance, reliability, andlifespan are deteriorated. The emphasis on theuse of enclosure cooling solutions for electricalequipment has encouraged customers to comeforward with questions about choosing thebest fit for their applications. Here are some ofthe top questions that Thermal Edge is askedabout enclosure air conditioners by prospectivecustomers:3

Top 29 Enclosure Cooling Questions Asked By Prospective Thermal Edge CustomersPre-Sales QuestionsMUCH DOES AN ENCLOSURE AIR1 HOWCONDITIONER COST?The cost of an enclosure air conditioner variesbased on its cooling capacity, NEMA type, voltagespecifications, and the design profile. It can rangefrom 1,500 for a 120V, 1,000 BTUH air conditionerdesigned for a NEMA 12 enclosure, to 8,000 fora 480V, 20,000 BTUH model designed for a NEMA4X enclosure. Options and accessories for specificapplications can be added to the enclosure airconditioner at extra cost.2WHERE CAN I PURCHASE THERMAL EDGEENCLOSURE AIR CONDITIONERS?Thermal Edge sells enclosure air conditionersand other enclosure cooling solutions directly tocustomers as well as through several national andindependent distributors across the US. The ThermalEdge website can provide more information onhow to contact a technical sales representative tosize your enclosure air conditioner for the project’sapplication.ARE THE DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT4 WHATOF AN ENCLOSURE AIR CONDITIONER?The size of an enclosure air conditioner depends onits cooling capacity. The smallest air conditioner with1,000 BTUH capacity fits in a 17” x 7” x 7” space; onthe other end of the spectrum, Thermal Edge offersa 20,000 BTUH unit that fits in a space of 65.7” x 23” x15”. The former weighs 30 pounds; the latter 320.SHOULD THE AIR CONDITIONER5 HOWBE SIZED?Sizing an air conditioner requires the calculationof heat loads in the enclosure due to equipment,solar heat gain, heat due to ambient temperature,and heat from other equipment in the vicinity. Thedesign should take into consideration the size ofthe enclosure, the ambient temperature, enclosurematerial, color and insulation, and air flow conditionsin the location of the enclosure. The BTUH calculatorfrom Thermal Edge can simplify the process of sizingthe air conditioner for your application. Thermal Edgeoffers air conditioners in the range of 1,000 to 20,000BTUH, designed for use with various applications.DO THE UNIT FEATURES AND3 HOWFUNCTIONALITY COMPARE WITHCOMPETITORS’ PRODUCTS?Thermal Edge air conditioners have been designedwith energy efficiency and smaller footprint in mind,therefore, are smaller and consume from 30 to 50percent less energy than other units of comparablecooling capacity. Thermal Edge units also include acondensate evaporation system, a digital controller,and a thermal expansion valve as part of standarddesigns, whereas most competitors offer these aspaid options.4

Top 29 Enclosure Cooling Questions Asked By Prospective Thermal Edge CustomersApplication-Specific QuestionsTHE AIR CONDITIONER CORRODE6 WILLWHEN INSTALLED IN A POTENTIALLYHARMFUL ENVIRONMENT?Thermal Edge air conditioners are provided withdifferent corrosion protection options for use inpotentially harmful locations. The AXX and BXXpackages are available for use with NEMA types 12,4 and 4X and offer protection for the condenser andevaporator coils against acids, solvents, salt, andchemicals. The CXX option is a more comprehensivecorrosion protection package that covers all the coilsand the brazed fittings. Selection of stainless steel(NEMA type 4X) models is strongly advised.THERMAL EDGE PRODUCE AIR7 DOESCONDITIONERS FOR USE IN HAZARDOUSLOCATIONS?This is all going to change when we get ATEX andIECeX certification later this year! Thermal Edgemakes enclosure air conditioners specifically forhazardous duty. They are designed for exposure toClass 1, Division 2, and Groups B, C, and D. The designconforms to the standard requirements of ANSI/NFPA70, NEC and CAN/CSA-C22.1, and CEC, and exceedsthe specifications of Zone 2 T5 rating. These systemsare available with cooling capacities from 2,000 to20,000 BTUH.ARE THE OPTIONS FOR AN8 WHATENCLOSURE THAT IS SUBJECT TOFREQUENT WASHDOWN (WASH-DOWN)OR SPRAYING?In washdown (wash-down) and spraying situationswith high-pressure hoses and water or chemicalsolutions, Thermal Edge provides enclosure airconditioners with a seam-welded housings for usewith a NEMA 4 or 4X enclosure. The design of thehousings minimizes accumulation of dust and mold;sloped housing roofs prevent liquid accumulationsas well. Enclosure air conditioners used in foodprocessing plants can include filter hoods for theirstandard filters that offer additional protectionagainst washdown (wash-down). Rugged stainlesssteel filters are also options designed to work infood processing plants where frequent washdowns )wash-down) and spraying happen; these filters haveextended capacity and are superior to aluminumfilters in their ability to withstand chlorine.THE AC STILL BE ABLE9 WOULDTO FUNCTION OPTIMALLY IF THEENVIRONMENT HAS A HIGH LEVEL OFPOLLUTANTS (DUST AND PARTICULATEMATTER)?Many of Thermal Edge’s products are being usedin environments that are subject to dust from coal,wood, flour, and other contaminants. The productsare equipped with optional 2-inch deep pleated250-micron filters that protect the condenser coil andfan from potentially damaging particulate matterwith 94 percent efficiency. The 2-inch-filters have 400percent more capacity than standard filters so theydo not have to be serviced as often.KIND OF REFRIGERANT IS USED10 WHATIN THE AC? IS IT TOXIC? WHAT ARE THEIMPLICATIONS IF IT LEAKS, ESPECIALLY IN AFOOD PROCESSING PLANT?Different models of enclosure air conditioners usedifferent refrigerants; the CS and NE series useR134a and R422d, and the HC series uses R438a.Environmental Protection Agency reports state thatthe toxicity for all three refrigerants is very low. Therehave been no recorded effects of exposure to thesechemicals in trace amounts to humans and animals.Because refrigerant vapors are lighter than air, there islittle chance that they mix with food. Material safetydata sheets (MSDS) are available with procedures forhandling or working with the refrigerants in a safemanner, and include information such as physicaldata (melting point, boiling point, flash point, etc.),toxicity, health effects, first aid, reactivity, storage,disposal, protective equipment, and spill-handlingprocedures.5

Top 29 Enclosure Cooling Questions Asked By Prospective Thermal Edge CustomersApplication-Specific Questions (cont.)CAN THERMAL EDGE PRODUCTS11 HOWDEAL WITH TEMPERATURE EXTREMES?The Ambient package options for Thermal Edgeair conditioners protect the compressor andoptimize the system for operation at temperatureextremes (below 50 F and above 125 F). The LowAmbient Temperature package applies heat withinthe compressor and protects it from damage dueto stalling or starting from a non-optimal lowtemperature state. The condenser fan switches offto build up the heat inside the unit, thus allowingrapid warm-up to optimal conditions. The HighAmbient Temperature package optimizes the systemto perform efficiently at high ambient conditions.The standard maximum ambient temperature foroperation is 125 or 131 F, but most models can becustomized to operate at 140 F.CAN A UNIT BE PROTECTED AGAINST12 HOWVANDALISM?Outdoor applications are prone to theft andvandalism. Thermal Edge has a range of enclosure airconditioner options designed for secure applications.The remote controller option relocates the digitalcontroller from the front of the air conditioner toinside the enclosure. The controller is attached toan eight foot cable and has a universal mountingbracket for easy installation. Security filter framesare available with or without protective louvers thatrequire removal of four screws to access the filters,instead of the standard sliding filter frames.STEPS CAN BE TAKEN TO PROTECT13 WHATAIR CONDITIONERS AGAINST VIBRATION?Thermal Edge provides easy solutions to protecttheir air conditioners in applications subjectto vibrations. The Vibration package replacesvulnerable refrigerant lines with flexible shockabsorbing lines; rubber bushings are installedto reduce stress from vibration on copper joints.High-quality silver solder is used in brazed joints.DOES THERMAL EDGE ADDRESS14 HOWCRITICAL APPLICATIONS IN WHICHFAILURE IS NOT AN OPTION?The Redundant System option is available forapplications that are critical to a business. Twoself-contained air conditioners share the coolingload for the application and alternate operationso that efficient cooling is provided. In the eventof failure of one air conditioner, the cooling loadwill be borne by the remaining unit. In the eventextra cooling is needed, both air conditioners willoperate.6