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Written by Scott Mulholland, Product Manager- Industrial Components
The UK has always had a preoccupation with weather. When conversations run dry, it is a useful topic to be able to reach for. Perhaps its part of the British disposition to have a little moan about the weather with our peers. It can be strangely comforting to agree that it's ‘way too hot’ or ‘brass monkeys’ or ‘raining cats and dogs’. Maybe one of the reasons that there is always something to talk about, regarding the weather, is that its so changeable. The News is only too happy to recite ‘the hottest May in living memory’ or the ‘Coldest January for 100 years’. This just highlights the many facets of the weather and the different challenges we face when we need to take power, signals and data outside.
At Phoenix Contact, we want to make life easier for you. We’ve had many decades' of experience in developing components & systems for harsh environments. In these environments, our outdoor cabling and connectors come into their own.
There are a significant amount of tests that we subject our products to,giving you the confidence in the integrity of your installation. It is often far too simplistic to say ‘well, the connections have a high IP (ingress protection) rating so we’re covered’.
Ingress of water, dust, steam jets etc is important to consider, yes, but there are so many other external influences that can impede your installation’s performance. Thats why each and every component we design undergoes a rigorous series of tests:
Electrical & Mechanical Tests |
Climate Tests |
Other Tests |
---|---|---|
Impact Test |
IP67, IP68. IP69K |
Visual Inspection |
Resistance Test |
Kesternich Test- Acid environment / Chemical corrosion |
Dimensional accuracy |
Insulation resistance |
Salt spray test |
Polarisation test |
Current carrying capacity |
Rapid temperature change |
Chemical resistance |
Electrical strength |
Constant humid heat |
Resistance to liquids (e.g. mineral oils, acids etc) |
Jacket retention tests |
Dry heat |
 |
Strain relief test |
Corrosive gases |
Flammability |
Vibration test |
Weather test (UV light) |
LABS test |
Shock test |
Resistance to ozone |
 |
Drop test |
 |
 |
Broadband noise (EMC) |
 |
 |
Insertion and withdrawal forces |
 |
 |
Torsion |
 |
 |
Strain relief |
 |
 |
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We can see how harsh and thorough these tests are in this video.
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Our experience in developing means by which you can take your power, data and signals outdoors can be seen in one of our power distribution system for harsh environments.
It's great that we test to our components nth degree, but those tests really come of value when you start to look at how we’ve incorporated those components into connection systems or families such as our Heavycon Heavy duty connectors or our QPD power distribution series.
See the Heavycon EVO range of products at RS
Our QPD installation range stands for Quickon Power Distribution, Quickon being our insulation displacement method of wire termination.Uitilising insulation displacement termination technology drastically reduces the installation time (as the conductors do not have to be prepared or ferruled) whilst making the end termination fast, secure, vibration proof and above all, simple in its execution.
This short video explains the system and concept.
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And just to summarise the benefits of the QPD system in the video you’ve just seen:
- Long lifetime for the components
- Reliable & robust
- Shock & vibration proof
- IP66/68/69K
- Flame resistant
- High voltage & current
- Flexible system
- Highly resistant against chemicals
- Temperature range -40°C … +100°C
- UV & Ozone resistant
The QPD installation system is equally at home indoors as well. The benefit of this is that you don’t have to hand over from an indoor system/installation to an outdoor one. QPD is suited to both environments. Typical applications include, lighting, HVAC, conveyor systems to name but a few.
See the QPD range of products at RS
In addition to our QPD installation system, we have an extensive outdoor M12 cable and connector portfolio (again, tested using the same stringent approach).
Now we’re all getting used to going outside again, let Phoenix Contact take the stress out of choosing a product that’s up to the job.
For more information, contact Scott on 07908 583375 or email:Â smulholland@phoenixcontact.com