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Telecom box design

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engmechs

Mechanical
Apr 22, 2005
80
Hi all,

My company was about to design telecom enclosures for power distribution unit & I am looking for info for it. Is there any guidelines or practical tips for this, such as structural & water/ dust protection requirements (NEMA 4X)?

Regards,

engmechs
 
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i SUGGEST YOU GO LOOK AT THE NETWORK INTERCONNECT BOX ON THE SIDE OF MOST PLACES THAT GET PHONE SERVICE AND (dang caps lock!!) and see if you can find the maker. Then hit up their site and see what their ad copy sez about covered certifications. Then follow up those certifications.

Keith Cress
Flamin Systems, Inc.-
 
Thanks Keith, for your suggestions. I did dig up some websites such as Elma, Magnetek, ...etc. They looked fairly good info source. Is there any documentation discussing about the box design?

engmechs
 
Here is another link for commerical testing protocol. Is this a military or commerical application?



Heckler
Sr. Mechanical Engineer
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NVIDIA Quadro FX 1400
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(In reference to David Beckham) "He can't kick with his left foot, he can't tackle, he can't head the ball and he doesn't score many goals. Apart from that, he's all right." -- George Best
 
Hi Heckler, thanks for the info. It is actually used for commerical application, & the NEBS stds are surely one of the complaince codes. One requirement is to pass an earthquake simulation test, with a peak to peak vibration amplitude of several inches ! Structural stength is one key factor here.

engmechs
 
The European "Ingress Protection" system per IEC 529 is gaining favor over the NEMA standard. If you look at HOFFMAN enclosures they may still be rated NEMA 4X which (I believe) is the same as an IP67 rating per IEC 529. Both systems protect the equipment from driving rain, airborne particulates (dust), saltfog, and other environmental factors. I would get smart before shopping and buy both standards. It's good to define what your protection levels have to be before designing or choosing something.




Tunalover
 
tunalover,

NEMA4X and IP68 are sort of equivalent. If your box meets one, it probably meets the other one.

I do not have a NEMA reference in front of me, but I believe NEMA4X is something like a 64GPM salt water through a 1" hose for half an hour with minimal water inside the box, and no corrosion. You should not be able to reach into the box with a 1/4" bar and touch live electronics.

The IP68 reference on my wall specifies complete dust protection, protection against continuous immersion, and you should not be able to contact anything hazardous with anything 1mm diameter. My reference says nothing about the depth of immersion, but I think it is 2m. You are allowed a little fluid penetration.

JHG
 
Thanks tunalover, & JHG, for the valuable info stated.

engmech
 
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