Control Panel Earthing

Most of the Control panel-manufactures used to connect all the panel doors to the Earth bar provided inside the panels. Some clients demand for earthling rear panel covers. Is there any logic behind this demand? It is an added safety to earth the rear covers of panels also. Generally we do not do this as rear covers are screwed permanently and as such while we access the rear covers, the panel would be made dead and hence no danger. The standards and rules say that each touchable metallic parts should be earthed, so the rear cover, even screwed, can be touchable it should be earthed.

Electricity Consumption by the Control System

Electricity Consumption by the Control System is an important factor in energy efficiency terms. A 400Ampere breaker consumes about 200 units of energy in an year! similarly the 5W indication lamp consumes about 50 units an year. So the ON OFF indication on a panel consumes 100 units an year. A control panel normally contain several indication lamps, coils etc. ( I am not considering the energy consumed by the long control cables). So it is important to address this problem while you design control circuits and control panels. On simple step towards energy efficiency of control panels is by selecting energy efficient components.

LT SWITCHBOARD–Low Tension Power Control Centre

LT SWITCHBOARD–Low Tension Power Control Centre is used to control power flow at low voltage level (415 Volt) three phase 3/4 wire systems. There are power distribution boards, Power Generation Control Boards, Feeder Control Boards and Motor Control Panels come under this category. I short these are system/panels which are used for 415 V (phase to phase) , for electrical distribution and motor control, in any type of industries. The boards are fabricated and comply with IEC 60439-1 as well as with derived national standards NF EN 60 439-1, VDE 0660 Part 5, DIN 41-488, BS 5486, NBN C63 439 and CEI Italy 542 concerning the construction of type-tested assemblies (TTA). Types of LT SWITCH BOARD – Low Tension Power Control Centre are:

PCC-Power Control Centre
PDB-Power Distribution
MPDB-Main Power Distribution Board

MCC-Motor Control
ACDB-Alternating Current Distribution Board

DCDB-Direct Current Distribution Board