LED’s Light Up Rittal Enclosures
June 5, 2017
For many years, fluorescent technology was the only option for the internal lighting of industrial enclosures. The function of lighting is, of course, to provide sufficient illumination for tasks at hand. Light brightness is measured in lumens, which is a rating of the amount of light emitted, as opposed to wattage, which defines the amount of energy used while emitting the light. LED lights are so energy-efficient that we can no longer rely upon wattage levels to indicate a light’s brightness. LED lights produce same brightness as incandescent or fluorescent sources using much less energy.
Illumination levels available from industrial enclosure lighting ranges from 400 to 1,200 lumens. The higher the lumens, the more brightness throughout an enclosure. The cover enclosing the cabinet light can also help disperse the light rays. Light covers can range in style from simple clear plastic to Fresnel covers that employ a prism effect to spread the light over a larger task surface.
All lighting systems are designed to fit in standard industrial enclosures ranging in length from 10 to 17 in. And UL certification on LED lights is important. The enclosure LED lights can be UL listed under a UL IFAM category code for LED surface-mounted luminaires, or classified as Recognized components under category code NITW2. Here NITW is the UL product category for industrial control panels. The suffix “2” on the category code NITW indicates a recognized part.
LED lighting will emerge as the industry standard for lighting industrial enclosures worldwide. With rising concerns about energy efficiency and recycling restrictions, LED lighting will become the long-term, economical choice.
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