Resource guide: Panel planning, best practices

Dec. 24, 2018
Control's monthly guide brings you invaluable industry information to stay up to date on the latest trends and developments.

Six video lessons

The website, "Designing and buildingĀ electrical control panels," features 14Ā videos and text lessons on cutting holes,Ā mounting components, power wiring,Ā mounting panels in enclosures, testingĀ and finishing, environmental ratings,Ā shielded cable, short-circuit rating calculations,Ā identifying components andĀ panel layout.

The Automation Store - TW ControlsĀ 

Panel chapter in PLC bookĀ 

This 51-page book, "Planning the panel,"Ā comes from a larger text about PLCs byĀ Prof. Ted Evans, and covers temperatureĀ and humidity, terminals, surge suppressorsĀ and bleed-off resistors, I/O wiring,Ā layouts, tap rules, PLC I/O loading, relaysĀ and regulations.

University of Toledo College of Engineering

DIN rails and wire ducts

The 25 short videos in this Education SeriesĀ begin with "Purposes of DIN rail andĀ wire duct" presented by Josh Bloom ofĀ RSP Supply. Other topics include panelĀ basics, planning, circuit breakers, solarĀ power, enclosure selection, I/O, PLCs,Ā communications, labeling, accessories,Ā testing, power distribution and best practices.

RSP Supply

Schematics and standards

The landing page, "Industrial control panel design guide:Ā schematics, standards,Ā design considerations and more,"Ā covers requirements, drawings and functionalĀ diagrams; includes an extensiveĀ table of regulatory standards and links;Ā and describes a variety of design considerations,Ā such as space requirements,Ā wire size and components, controls andĀ circuits, power supply conductors, over-currentĀ protection, operator devices,Ā labeling, and front panel faceplates.Ā 

MetalPhoto of Cincinatti

Five optimization keys

A 12-page whitepaper, "Control panelĀ optimization," covers space optimization,Ā noise mitigation, environmental protection,Ā security and safety.Ā The companyĀ also has a three-minute video, "BestĀ practices for laying out a control panel"Ā presented by Mike Berg, who includesĀ a review of the elements of a robust,Ā space-optimized panel.Ā 

Panduit

Related topics website

This website, "Control panels for equipment manufacturers," consists of definitions and links to numerous panel building-related topics. They include manufacturers, design basics, controls for beginners, UL 508 third-party safety approval, guide for OEMs, troubleshooting, NEMA enclosure ratings, labels and nameplates, and three-phase vs. single-phase power.

Automation Controls - OEM Panels

Wiring, heat, optimizationĀ 

These three videos, "The art of panel building" presented by Hank Bovene and René Heijma, European product specialists at Omron, use a discussion format to cover wiring, heat and optimization during design. The first here, and it includes links to the other two.

Omron Industrial Automation EMEAĀ 

Build for brewing series

The four videos, "Electric brewing supply—panel build" presented by Brian Huntley of Short Circuited Brewers, cover panel layout, wiring, door wiring, merging front and back panels and other issues.

Short Circuited Brewers

Basic design articles

An online article, "Control panel designĀ starts with the basics" by Dave Perkon,Ā technical editor, Control Design, containsĀ advice on design and using CAD programs,Ā but it also includes links to fourĀ related articles. Topics include panelĀ design for maintenance, best practicesĀ from experts, custom panels for a system integrator and electrical manufacturer,
and building in-house.

Control Design