What Is an Electric Automation Panel & Why Do You Need One?

An Electrical Automation Panel is simply a combination of devices that use electrical power to control the various mechanical functions of industrial equipment. An electrical control panel includes two main categories, which are a panel structure and electrical components. It consists of a lot of electronic systems which are used for the betterment of the power factor.

Any industrial equipment and machinery require defined and ordered functions and control to achieve their pre-assigned goals. Electrical automation panels carry out these functions within manufacturing equipment. An understanding of what they are spotlights their critical importance to the industry. Shrinath Electric deals in distribution of electrical automation panels.

The Panel structure of the Electric Automation Panel

Any electrical panel manufacturer will tell you that the structure of any electric automation panel is a combination of two things, an enclosure and a back panel which is similar to a breaker box in a home or an office.

The Panel structure of the Electric Automation Panel

The structure of any electric automation panel is a combination of two things, an enclosure and a back panel which is similar to a breaker box in a home or an office.

Enclosures

The enclosure is nothing but a metal box with different sizes depending upon the query and is typically made of aluminium or stainless steel. The number of getaways (usually one or two) needed on the enclosure determines its size in almost all industrial applications.

As a manufacturer of electrical automation panels, a chamber generally comes with a UL safety rating (508A is typical), an IP rating, and a NEMA classification. These listings help users determine properties such as:

• Waterproof/water resistance
• Indoor/outdoor use

-Hazardous conditions rating

• Dust/solid contaminants proofing
• Explosion-proof rating

Note: The classifications mentioned above should be printed by all manufacturers of electrical panels on a metal plate and attached for easy identification and reference.

Back Panels

A back panel is a sheet made of metal mounted in the enclosure that provides complete structural support for rail mounting and wiring ducts. The metal rails feature standardized dimensions. It also provides a mounting structure for electrical devices. Wiring ducts provide routings and organization of wires while also assisting in controlling electrical noise between devices.

Electrical automation panel and it’s component

There are a total of eight types of electrical components that exist in an electrical automation panel. It defines and organizes the several different functions carried out by the electric panel. These components include:

Main circuit breaker: It is a disconnection of the main electrical panel. The main circuit breakers distributed by Shrinath Electric handle voltage between 120V–480V for most industrial applications.

Surge arresters: The component that prevents lightning strikes prevents utility power surges, damaging the electrical components inside the panel due to overvoltage.

Transformers: In a device, when there is an abundance of incoming voltage, the transformers may reduce voltage to 120V for different components, or it might step down voltage upto 24V in instances where incoming power is around 120V.

Terminal blocks: Terminal blocks help to organize and distribute the array of wires coming from various sources to different electrical devices.

Programmable Logic Controller (PLC): Basically, it is typically a CPU contained inside the control panel. PLC is nothing but the brains of the control panel, providing functions like monitoring and control of the mechanical processes. It includes various inputs and outputs to and from mechanized tasks of the production machinery.

Relays and contactors: These are nothing but on/off switches that controls mechanized functions based on commands from the PLC. More miniature relays control functions like lights, fans and larger relays, called contacts, control more advanced machines like motors.

Network switches: This is the message hub of the control panel. Here the network switches facilitate communication between the PLC and the various compatible machines on the production line.

Human Machine Interface (HMI): HMI allows an operator to control certain functions of the machinery. Common HMIs incorporate joysticks, video monitors, switches, and keyboards.

The need of Electric Automation Panel

The design of a customized electric automation panel will depend upon the complexity of the machine it operates. For example, compositions can include a simple electrical relay operation or a more complicated PLC system with individual or multiple PLC networks with IIoT or SCADA integrations. Indicators that your organization will need is a custom panel design that should include a need for more advanced operation of various production operations, more cohesive, universal control of operations, and improved HMI.

Maintenance is another crucial consideration that you should consider if you are purchasing Electric Automation panels. Maintenance is a critical element in any electrical panel design. Maintenance elements should include:

• Properly labelled components, terminals and wiring.

• Capacity to monitor the status and performance of the various electrical connections.

• Control of dust and small particles within the enclosure

The perfect electric automation panel should contain the above mentioned components Absence of any element might not get the desired results. To help with tht Shrinath Electric has been distributing and providing best in class panels.

Srinath Electric primarily deals in switchgear trading viz, Mcb, Acb, relays, contactors, Electrical and automation panel, etc,