Requirements for

Environmental Protection

Eltek Power Supply Systems

2038879
Information in this document is subject to change without notice and does not represent a commitment on
the part of Eltek.

No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means — electronic or
mechanical, including photocopying and recording — for any purpose without the explicit written permission
of Eltek.

Copyright ©: Eltek, 2016

Doc 2038879, Issue 3.0, 2016 June

Published: 2017-01-13
clha/frva/mafe

Doc 2038879, Issue 3.0, 2016 June, DRAFT6

Published: 2016-06-07
clha/frva/mafe

2 Requirements for Environmental Protection 2038879, Issue 3.0 2016-06

Doc 2038879, Issue 3.0, 2016 June, DRAFT6

Table of Contents
1. Introduction ............................................................................................ 4
2. General Environmental Considerations ............................................... 4
3. Cabinet Selection & Environmental Considerations ......................... 5
Free Air Cooling (Open Loop Cooling) with Fan & Filter ............................... 5
Over-Pressurized or Under-Pressurized Cabinets ......................................... 6
Standard Filter Class M5 (Mat or Pleated Type) ............................................ 6
Membrane Filters (HEPA Type), Filter Class E11 (EN1822) ......................... 7
Closed Loop (HEX or Air-Conditioner) Cooling .............................................. 7
Heat Exchanger (HEX) ................................................................................... 7
Air-Conditioner (ACU) .................................................................................... 8
Enclosure Material Selection Table ................................................................ 8
4. Installation in Buildings, Shelters, etc ................................................. 9
5. Humidity .................................................................................................. 9
6. Equipment Protection at Site, Before and During Installation .......... 9
7. Protection against Animals & Insects ................................................ 10
8. Follow Installation & Commissioning Guides ................................... 10
9. Adding Equipment to the Enclosure On Site .................................... 11
10. Follow the Maintenance Guide ........................................................... 12

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 1. Introduction
This document describes the environmental requirements & guidelines for protection of Eltek
rectifiers, inverters, controllers and other Eltek electronic devices and enclosures. The intention of
this document is to ensure that all Eltek equipment is selected, installed, operated and maintained
for maximum reliability and full utilization of the product’s lifetime and to meet the applicable
warranty terms for the products.

These guidelines are valid for Eltek employees, Eltek partner companies and customers using the
equipment. Please note that failure to follow the guidelines in this document could render the
warranty either partially, or fully void.

2. General Environmental Considerations

Eltek products are designed for storage, installation and operation in accordance with EN 60950-1 /
EN 62040-3, Pollution degree 2. In addition, the technical specification (ref. product data sheet)
limits the relative humidity in which the equipment is designed to operate to never exceed a specific
RH percentage (typically 90% RH or 95% RH) and is always non-condensing. This means the
equipment is designed to operate in environment equivalent to Pollution Degree 2 where only dry,
nonconductive pollution occurs.

When selecting the technical solution, all factors that will influence the general environmental
requirements on site must be considered. This includes, but is not limited to:

 Pollution from traffic, industry or other possible sources of pollution

 Salt (or other corrosive elements) due to proximity to sea or other sources
 Sand, pollen, dust or other elements being part of the natural environment at or in the
proximity of the site
 The full temperature range in which the equipment will operate, including the effect of
solar loading
 The full humidity level range in which the equipment will operate
 Seasonal weather and climatic conditions

Please, note that the reliability and lifetime of electronics depend heavily on the total load of
contaminations, humidity and temperature in which the equipment is operating. Contaminations,
humidity and constant operation in high temperature will (separately or combined) decrease product
reliability and lifetime. For further details refer to chapter 3 and 5.
Eltek strongly recommends that all these factors are considered when selecting the enclosure and
thermal management solution.

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 3. Cabinet Selection &
Environmental Considerations
Eltek outdoor enclosures are designed and verified to meet these mandatory environmental criteria
including:
 Dust and water: EN 60950, IP 55 or IP54
 Storage: EN 300 019-1-1 class 1.3
 Transport: EN 300 019-1-2 class 2.3
 Operation: EN 300 019-1-4 class 4.1

Eltek Indoor enclosures are designed and verified to meet these mandatory environmental criteria:
 Storage: EN 300-019-1-1 class 1.2
 Transport EN 300-019-1-2 class 2.3
 Operation EN 300-019-1.3 class 3.2

However, this does not mean that all cabinets can be used in any location without additional
consideration of the local environment on site. In addition to the guidelines detailed below, the
specifications referred to, and considerations detailed in chapter 2, must always be taken into
account.

Free Air Cooling (Open Loop Cooling)

with Fan & Filter
Free Air Cooling (Open Loop Cooling) systems with fan and filter(s) use the ambient air to cool the
equipment inside the cabinet. This solution requires regular and thorough inspection and
maintenance, due to the fact that the filters will become clogged after sometime operation. The
filters will have to be replaced from time to time. See chapter 10 for more details. Note that
temperature inside the cabinet will be higher than ambient temperature (positive delta-T) when
using this cooling option.

Please note that a Free Air Cooling (Open Loop Cooling) system always requires a filter solution
installed that is adapted to the air contamination level on site. If installed filter solution or filter
maintenance program does not offer appropriate protection against the actual contamination level
on site, the product reliability and lifetime will most likely be significantly reduced. This due to
inefficient protection against contaminations (and in some cases humidity) and/or elevated
temperature.

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 Over-Pressurized or Under-Pressurized Cabinets
For Free Air Cooling (Open Loop Cooling) system, there are two options for how the ventilation
flow can be designed.
The first option is to let the fan push air into the cabinet by creating an over-pressure, by placing the
fan on the air inlet. In this way, the warm exhaust air is pushed out via air outlet openings.
The other option is to let the fan create an under-pressure (vacuum), by placing the fan on the
exhaust side of the cabinet air flow, and hence suck the air out from the cabinet.

It is important to be aware of the disadvantages and risks that under-pressurized cabinets represent.
 Increased risk for water leakage, as water could be sucked in via cable inlets, etc.
 Increased risk of air pollution/contaminates, as these could be sucked in as well
 These risks will increase for any single major or minor opening in the cabinet due to
improper installation or wear and tear over time

Based on the above, it is Eltek’s general recommendation to design cabinets with an

over-pressurized ventilation solution. If an under-pressurized cabinet solution is being used, it is
very important to make sure that the cabinet has no openings/wholes where water and unfiltered air
could enter.

Standard Filter Class M5 (Mat or Pleated Type)

The M5 filter class was introduced in EN779:2012. The former name of this filter class was F5.
This is the recommended minimum filter class for Eltek equipment installed in outdoor cabinets or
installed in other areas exposed to contaminated air (such as industrial buildings, shelters,
basements, tunnels, etc.).
Recommended for use on sites with:
 Low or normal air pollution
 Low or normal humidity
 No presence of salt or other corrosive elements in any form

Should not be used on sites with:

 Moderate or high air pollution (due to high frequency of filter replacement or inappropriate
filtering)
 High humidity (due to risk of condensation)
 Locations that expose the equipment to salt or other corrosive elements (typically, coastal air
or areas where salt or other corrosive elements could come from other sources)

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 Membrane Filters (HEPA Type),
Filter Class E11 (EN1822)
Can be an alternative (if ACU or HEX cannot be used) on sites with:
 Moderate air pollution
 Locations that expose the equipment to salt or other corrosive elements (typically, coastal air
or areas where salt or other corrosive elements could come from other sources)

Should not be used on sites with:

 Locations that are exposed to high degrees of pollution, concentrations of corrosive
elements (e.g. close proximity to coastal areas or other corrosive elements) and or high
humidity
 In such environments, Eltek recommends to use ACU or HEX

Closed Loop (HEX or Air-Conditioner) Cooling

Closed loop cooling systems do not use the ambient air to cool the equipment inside the cabinet;
they only circulate the internal air. The cooling of the air inside the enclosure can be done by using
either ambient air in a sealed channel (HEX) or active components (ACU). This will hence protect
the equipment inside the cabinet from a corrosive and humid environment.
Note that temperature inside the cabinet will be higher than ambient temperature (positive delta-T)
when using HEX cooling option. The ACU option can provide a lower cabinet temperature than
ambient temperature (negative delta-T).

Heat Exchanger (HEX)

Recommended for use on locations with:
 Moderate to high air pollution
 Locations that expose the equipment to salt or other corrosive elements (typically coastal air,
or areas where salt or other corrosive elements could come from other sources)
 High humidity
 Moderate ambient temperature

Not recommended for use on sites with:

 High ambient temperature

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 Air-Conditioner (ACU)
Use of Air-Conditioner (ACU) provides, in most cases, the best solution in order to protect the
installed electronics against contaminated air, high temperature and high humidity, and hence
secure best possible reliability and lifetime utilization.
Recommended for use on locations with:
 Moderate to high air pollution
 Locations that expose the equipment to salt or other corrosive elements (typically coastal air,
or areas where salt or other corrosive elements could come from other sources)
 High humidity (be aware of condensation risk – see chapter 5 about humidity)
 Moderate to high ambient temperature
 Applications where the cabinet internal temperature is required to be below ambient
temperature (negative delta-T)

Enclosure Material Selection Table

Enclosure Material Specification Recommended Use

Painted, uncoated (black) steel Indoor or other protected areas
Painted, Aluzinc or galvanized coated steel Outdoor or in other exposed areas
Painted aluminium For locations that heavily expose the equipment for salt or
other corrosive elements, it is Eltek’s recommendation to
use painted aluminium in order to avoid any corrosion

Note:
Small traces of surface rust may be visible on the cut edges of non-painted parts made of Aluzinc or pre-galvanized steel. This is a
normal mechanical cutting/punching process phenomenon and will not limit the product lifetime.

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 4. Installation in Buildings, Shelters, etc
Installation in buildings, shelters, basements, tunnels, vessels or similar sites must be given the
same considerations as for installations in outdoor cabinets. This does not depend on whether the
equipment is installed in a cabinet or another technical construction. The specifications referred to
and considerations detailed in chapter 2 must always be taken into account.
Buildings (or other) with air condition or appropriate air filters installed offering “office
environment” (ref. EN 60950, pollution degree 2) will normally not require any additional
environmental protection, but it must always be considered if the existing solution is appropriate or
not, taking into account all the factors that could influence the environmental protection. Refer to
chapter 2 for further details.

5. Humidity
The presence of water and high humidity is an inherent problem with electronics, and should be a
significant consideration for any electrical installation. The technical specification (including
information on, but not limited to, product data sheets) limits the relative humidity in which the
equipment is designed to operate to never exceed a specific RH percentage (typically 90% RH or
95% RH) and must always be non-condensing.

It is mandatory that the technical solution, whether it is a cabinet, shelter, industrial building,
basement, tunnel, vessel or similar sites, provides an operational environment within these limits at
all times.

However, in order to create an optimal operational environment that will enhance product reliability
and lifetime, it is recommended to keep the RH below 70 % at all time. For the same reason, it is
also recommended to keep RH above 30%, in order to decrease risk of electrostatic discharge
(ESD).

6. Equipment Protection at Site,

Before and During Installation
On building & construction sites, dust, pollution, humidity, etc. might be a threat to all kinds of
electrical and electronic equipment, if it is not properly protected. It is mandatory to protect Eltek
equipment against the above threats at all times during the installation and commissioning phase. It
is recommended to keep the equipment inside the original packaging material for as long as
possible. When the original packaging material is removed, other means of protecting the
equipment must be used.
Please note that damages caused by contaminations or poor handling are not covered by Eltek’s
warranty.

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 7. Protection against Animals & Insects
Intrusion of animals or insects is potentially a serious threat for any electrical installation. They can
cause electrical shortage, and hence produce a breakdown of components or of the complete system.
They can also reduce the ventilation by obstructing the airflow, and hence might cause overheating
and loss of functions or of the complete system.
Below you find some basic points for general consideration. The list does not cover every situation
and is the minimum to be considered. Local conditions and situations must always be taken into
consideration, and other checkpoints should be added as appropriate.
Preventing such damages includes attention to the following topics (but is not limited to):
 Making sure that all cable inlets are properly sealed
 Making sure that filters are properly installed and maintained
 Making sure that any other opening into cabinet/enclosure/room is sealed/protected in
order to avoid intrusion from animals or insects

Please note that damages caused by animals or insects are not covered by Eltek’s warranty.

8. Follow Installation & Commissioning Guides

All Eltek equipment is electrically tested and visually inspected to secure delivery of high quality
products.
To secure a high quality product also after installation and commissioning, all equipment/cabinets
are delivered with a user manual (printed and/or electronically).
It is the customer’s responsibility that all people working on installation and commissioning have
the necessary technical knowhow and follow all the instructions in the manual. If the manual is
missing, please contact your local Eltek company.
Follow the details in the installation and commissioning guides. Also, read and follow the document
“Requirements for Surge Protection”, Eltek document number 2024623.
Please, note that failure to follow the guidelines given in this document could render the warranty
either partially, or fully void.

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 9. Adding Equipment to the Enclosure On Site
Some Eltek enclosures might be delivered with additional internal space, which can be used for
customer equipment. It is the customer’s responsibility that this equipment is designed for the
overall cabinet environmental specifications before integration.
Below are some basic non-exhaustive points for general consideration:
 Corrosion protection of the equipment (salt, humidity, air pollution)
 Temperature range of the equipment
 Cooling design of equipment (airflow path and available space for airflow)
 Mechanical design of equipment (mounting, shock and vibration, zone 4)
 Make sure you know the maximum cooling capacity of the cabinet. Do not add more
heat load into the cabinet than the maximum capacity

The above consists of general guidelines only. A proper analyses and evaluation should be
undertaken in all cases.

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 10. Follow the Maintenance Guide
To ensure that the expected design lifetime of the equipment is met, and to be within the warranty
terms of the product, the owner of the equipment must adapt and follow a complete maintenance
scheme. This scheme has to be tailored to match the local site and technical solution. Eltek
recommends general maintenance minimum once a year. This recommendation does not apply for
filter maintenance (see separate section below).
All Eltek equipment is delivered with a user manual (printed and/or electronically).
It is the customer’s responsibility that all people involved in making the maintenance scheme or
doing site maintenance have the necessary technical knowhow and follows the recommendations in
the manual. Please, note that the different topics in the manual have to be tailored by the customer
to match the local site conditions. If the manual is missing, please contact your local Eltek
company.
Failure to follow Eltek’s requirements, guidelines and recommendations may invalidate any
warranty claims. Below are a few non-exhaustive points for general consideration. Please do not
limit your total evaluation to the below points.
Cabinet
 Check that there are no physical damages to the exterior of cabinets (dents or scratches)
 Use proper touch-up paint to repair any scratches on painted surfaces of the cabinet
 Check that the door gasket has no visible damage
 Check that cabinet cable entry points (bottom and/or top) are sealed
 Check that the fixing bolts of the cabinet are torqued correctly
 Check that the door hinges open smoothly, add droplets of oil or grease if needed
 Check that there are no abnormal traces of dust or water inside the enclosure

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Filter Maintenance (where applicable)
Implementation of an air filter preventive maintenance program is one of the most important factors
to protect installed equipment, keep operational cost down and to keep the equipment running.

 Make sure to adapt the filter change interval to the local conditions
 It is recommended to inspect frequently in the first period after installation, in order to
understand and adapt to local conditions
 Dirty filters, where contaminants clearly can be seen on the inner side of the filter or
when filter clogged-alarm has been triggered, must be replaced with new filters.
Cleaning the filters in this state is not an option
 Use only original filters provided by Eltek or in accordance with technical specification
supplied by Eltek
 Use of non-original filters may render the warranty provided by Eltek either partially or
fully void

Read the manual or contact your local Eltek Company for further details.

Other Maintenance
 Remove any leaves or other items that may block the external airflow (in/out)
 Check that the fans are running without any abnormal noise

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