Solar Loading in Electronics: Critical Considerations for Manufacturers

The solar energy generated by the sun is the foundation of all life on Earth, an endless source of renewable power essential for an enjoyable day at the beach. Nonetheless, for manufacturers of outdoor electronics, it serves as a possible risk for devices that must be addressed. 

Solar heat and energy can easily raise the temperature within an enclosure and its components, leading to various problems. Selecting high-performance electronic enclosures aids in managing and reducing the impact of solar load on outdoor electronic housing. 

We'll quickly review the fundamentals of solar loading and then explore various options that Shinging offers its clients to address these issues.

Cooling Load, Solar Load, and Their Importance.

Solar load is a component of the broader idea of cooling load; thus, to comprehend solar load, we must first grasp the meaning of cooling load. 

Cooling load (known as heat gain) is the quantity of heat that needs to be eliminated from a space to maintain a comfortable temperature. Solar loading or solar heat gain is one of several elements that contributes to a device’s overall cooling load.

Compounding these challenges is the reality that with many devices, the internal heat load produced by the device’s function is also increasing the cooling load by elevating air temperatures within the enclosure. Individually or collectively, these elements can lead to a requirement for temperature regulation strategies for an enclosure.

Proper management of solar exposure is crucial for any structure that will undergo extended periods of direct sunlight, particularly outdoors. Enclosures for solar energy devices, naturally, get especially strong direct sunlight from the outdoors.

However, outdoor equipment typically needs to endure the elements to a greater extent, and depending on the climate, solar exposure can significantly contribute to that.

Determining the Solar Load of Your Enclosure.

To obtain a basic understanding of the solar load for your enclosure, you can utilize various enclosure cooling load calculators found online. 

You’ll require fundamental details, including the anticipated sizes and uses of your enclosure. 

Remember that these calculations will merely provide an estimate, and you must collaborate with your engineering team to determine the precise requirements of your devices.

A short list of elements that could influence your personal performance needs includes:

• The internal temperature your device must sustain.

• If a device will be exposed to direct or indirect sunlight, and how frequently.

• The active power consumption of the device.

• Parts of the device that will get the most sunlight (upper, lower, sides, etc.).

• Operating conditions regarding climate and surrounding temperatures for the device.

• Surface area of the enclosure that will receive sunlight. ·Substance from which the enclosure is made.

• Insulation material used in the enclosure

After understanding the type of solar load you'll face, you can begin to explore the various solutions offered.

How Can Solar Exposure Be Controlled?

Engineers and product designers employ numerous techniques to minimize solar heat absorption and avoid extreme temperature increases. We will briefly touch on several of them here. 

Some of the simplest and most efficient methods to control solar loading start with fundamental design choices. A typical instance is selecting an enclosure color that decreases the heat absorbed by the enclosure. 

Opting for a lighter shade like light gray or white instead of black or dark gray can greatly decrease the cooling load of a device's casing. 

The majority of our outdoor NEMA enclosures come in light colors as a standard choice. 

Another typical approach is to enhance an enclosure's heat dissipation ability by enlarging its surface area. 

A larger surface area facilitates heat dissipation by offering an expanded surface for heat transfer to occur. 

This method can manifest in various ways, such as utilizing slightly bigger enclosure dimensions or incorporating fin-shaped heat sinks to enhance surface area.

Numerous enclosure vent accessories are also offered to facilitate the airflow and cooling capabilities your devices might require, including:

• ·Air-driven systems including blowers, heat exchangers, air conditioning units, and cooling fans.

  
  

• ·Tailored ventilation openings created with Shinging’s CNC machining service.

Each of these provides its unique benefits for thermal regulation. The performance of enclosures and cooling systems depends on what best meets your specific requirements.

Shinging provides a range of well-regarded outdoor enclosures made from various materials, ensuring exceptional resistance to weather conditions.

• Our SK Series knockout enclosures featuring molded-in knockouts can assist in ventilation and simplify the addition of cooling modules. 

  
  

• Enclosures made of stainless steel for superior strength and longevity.

  
  

• Polycarbonate and steel enclosures with hinges for convenient access to internal parts.

  
  

• Aluminum housings made from diecast with inherent RFI/EMI protection.

Regardless of your enclosure requirements, Shinging can assist you in discovering the perfect solution. 

In the development of devices intended for hot and sunny environments (especially solar energy technologies), effective solar load management is essential for achieving favorable results. 

Shinging's adaptable solutions can streamline your cooling load approaches and provide you with superior electrical enclosures at attractive rates. Have inquiries? We would be happy to assist. Reach out to us via phone at +86 18939857433 or connect with us online.