White or light gray cases reflect the most sunlight (Impact Cases)
Leave a transit case in the sun and the interior can get hot enough to kill electronic components. Inlets and outlets for convection mitigate the problem if the ambient air is cool enough. But, they may draw in dust and moisture. Active cooling – thermoelectric or air conditioner – is an alternative but incurs installation, weight and extra costs. Continue reading →
Any time you’re buying a case to hold powered-up electrical equipment, cooling should be a top concern. Without it, signals degrade and electronic components are likely to fail. Convective airflow (letting cool air in at the bottom and warm air leave from the top) might be appropriate for low ambient temperature, dust-free conditions. But most applications need a more sophisticated solution. Continue reading →
We’re all familiar with electrical heating, but cooling by electricity? Here’s a primer to get you up to speed.
The Thermoelectric Effect
Most engineers are familiar with the thermocouple. A pair of dissimilar electrical conductors are arranged in parallel and joined at each end. Continue reading →
High temperatures shorten the life of electronic components. That’s why cooling is essential. And, as designers continue to increase the power density of modern systems, the problem is getting worse. So, to avoid premature failure when electronics are mounted in a transit case, proper cooling is paramount.
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