What Is a Control box?
A control box is a box that contains circuits and devices used to control electrical and mechanical equipment. It is also sometimes called a control panel or cabinet. However, a cabinet that does not contain control equipment, such as one that only contains instruments and breakers, is often not called a control box.
By housing the electrical and electronic devices that make up the control system inside a control box, these elements are protected from the outside environment and the risk of electric shock from accidental human contact is reduced.
Control boxes vary in shape and size depending on the system in which they are to be housed, but they are sold by various manufacturers with standardized dimensions to some extent.
Uses of Control Boxes
Control boxes contain electronic devices, such as sensors, motors, and other devices that control the operation of machines. They are used to control various types of equipment in factories, elevators, trains, and many other facilities around us.
Basically, electronic devices such as controllers are susceptible to external influences such as shocks and dust, so electronic devices that cannot be housed inside machinery and equipment are stored in control boxes outside the equipment.
Control boxes equipped with buttons, touch panels, and other input devices may be installed outside the machine, even in the case of small control devices, if the operator wants to control the device.
Features of Control Boxes
In addition to protecting the stored equipment from the outside environment and reducing the risk of electric shock from human contact, a control box may be required to perform a variety of other functions.
When installed outdoors without a roof or near a heat source, a control box with a cooling fan or cooler is used because the heat buildup may cause the electronic equipment inside to malfunction. Dustproof and waterproof control boxes are also used in food factories, etc., where they are easily exposed to dust and splashes of water. Control boxes with a structure that does not allow electromagnetic waves to penetrate the interior and stainless steel control boxes with excellent corrosion resistance are also used, depending on the site environment.
In addition, most control boxes are equipped with DIN rails, which are standardized rails that are arranged in a tiered configuration. This is so that the devices to be stored are placed at appropriate intervals and are easy to see. Programmable logic controllers (PLCs) and electromagnetic relays, which are often used in factories, are also compatible with DIN rails, making it easy to construct a system with a layout as designed by mounting each piece of equipment on the rail.