ARCA enclosures by Fibox
In english: Advantages of cabinets made of reinforced polycarbonate
Cabinets made of metal are considered as the best protective solutions for electric, control or communication systems. This particularly rings true when they are mounted outdoors and exposed to environmental factors. However, the ARCA series of cabinets made of reinforced polycarbonate appears to be a real and appealing alternative to the above-mentioned solutions. Fibox is a company specialising in manufacturing diverse types of enclosures incorporated in industrial automation, electric engineering, telecommunications and power engineering systems. Innovative solutions from this supplier are always characterised by durability, and their designs meet diverse customers’ needs. We have recently presented a comprehensive overview of the Fibox product range, and now we would like to tell you a bit more about a specific group of products, i.e. ARCA series of cabinets.
This article covers the following issues:
· Advantages of polycarbonate cabinets
· Solutions included in the ARCA series
· Tailoring cabinet design to specific applications
· More and less typical Fibox cabinet applications
Characteristics of the ARCA series of cabinets
The ARCA series is a range of wall-mounted enclosures designed to protect electric and electronic equipment in harsh environmental conditions (also those mounted outdoors). The range of possible applications of these products is very broad and requires a separate description (which we include below). Let us first highlight their key advantages, i.e. a wide selection of versions, attractive prices, relatively low weight and ease of customisation, all that combined with a long service life. It should also be emphasised that the manufacturer offers a range of accessories to facilitate enclosure customisation to various specific application needs.
Material and design
The ARCA enclosures are manufactured by injection moulding, from glass-reinforced polycarbonate. They do not dry out and delaminate when exposed to sunlight (UV radiation), as is the case with structures made of ABS or similar plastics. Another advantage of polycarbonate is its 100% recyclability (if it is disposed of in a proper way). Even in a very long-term perspective, ARCA enclosures will not contribute to the mass of waste characterised by long biodegradability time.
Plastic enclosures also offer several additional advantages:
· their weight amounts to about half that of comparable steel products (easier to handle and mount at heights);
· body walls are electrically insulated (insulation of 1500 V as defined by Directive 2006/95/EC), while remaining permeable to radio waves** (remote control, Wi-Fi/Bluetooth/GPS communication);
· polycarbonate is resistant to corrosion and water, which facilitates manufacturing of perfectly fitting parts at a low cost, which translates into a high degree of protection (IP66 rating) and an affordable price. Note that ARCA enclosures are also equal to their
counterparts made of soft metal in terms of their mechanical resistance. They demonstrate the highest degree of impact resistance, i.e. IK10 (impact energy up to 20 J). It is possible thanks to combining glass-enriched polycarbonate with structural solutions such as double walls and corner reinforcement features.
Versions, sizes and modification capabilities
The ARCA enclosures come in the following sizes: from 300 x 200 x 150 mm to 800 x 600 x 300 mm. Thus, they can be used both to protect controllers, switchgear or control panels, and to create less complex installation points (e.g. a cabinet for a single fuse or environmental sensor). These cabinets come with doors secured by either levers or locks that can be opened with a universal tool (in 1 or 2 points). For models equipped with a handle, a lock key insert can be purchased to further protect their interior against unauthorised access. Selected models come with glazed doors facilitating monitoring of the equipment placed inside. ARCA302015N Enclosures CLIARCA405E Accessories MPPARCA2030 Mounting plates PMK-ARCA30 Assembly elements
Mounting and customisation elements
Apart from complete cabinets, the ARCA product series also encompasses enclosure customisation and mounting accessories. Several solutions can be identified within this product group. Perhaps the most important ones are mounting plates placed inside the cabinet base to attach components without compromising its structural integrity. These are made from sheet steel, either solid, pre-punched or perforated. A plate is designed to be mounted using the holes matching the sleeves incorporated into the cabinet structure. Other related accessories include frames with DIN rails facilitating ARCA product customisation aimed at installing typical network elements (overcurrent circuit breakers, residual current circuit breakers, power supplies, relays, etc.). The above-mentioned products are delivered with covers securing live components (standard dimensions, the same as in typical distribution cabinets).
Kits used to mount ARCA cabinets on poles are another example of important accessories. They consist of a set of screws, stiffening profiles, spacers and metal clamps. Moreover, Fibox also provides door opening limiters, wall-mounting brackets, corner supports, replaceable hinges and canopies.
Applications
A huge advantage of plastics is that they are easy to customise. Obviously, making additional holes will unseal the enclosure, but this is not a problem as long as the installer uses re-sealing elements (e.g. cable glands). The above-mentioned accessories and ease of customisation are obvious advantages which make it possible to tailor an ARCA enclosure to almost any specific application. Obviously, the most typical applications are related to power supply circuits for electric and power installations. Nevertheless, since the cabinet interior can be freely customised, their applications also include automation systems in the broadest possible context, i.e.: machinery controllers, HVAC system controllers, alarm systems (fire alarm, anti-intrusion systems). Plastics are permeable for radio signals, so the presented solutions are ideal for the protection of industrial and consumer IoT devices, such as remote sensors and controllers. They are also perfect solutions for PV systems, automated agricultural irrigation systems, as well as protective elements for temporary connections at construction sites. It can be easily stated that ARCA cabinet applications are in fact more limited by their users’ imagination than by their mechanical characteristics.
Text prepared by Transfer Multisort Elektronik Sp. z o.o.
https://tme.eu/dk/en/pages/library-articles/52618/arca-enclosures-by-fibox
