Introduction
To commence our Panel Essentials series, we’ve discussed some of the most fundamental elements of a control panel — DIN Rail, Wire & Cable Management and UL508A Design (these previous editions are linked at the end of this paper).
Having covered basic structural components and design, we can now go over the different types of electrical control products that bring your design to life. There are many important product features that will need to be considered such as environmental and current ratings, applications, certifications and of course cost. However, one critical non-negotiable is reliability in all key function areas of your control panel. To ensure reliability, it is important to have an understanding of the products in your panel.
Let’s now proceed with an overview of which products fall under certain key function areas. Use the heading links to access each product’s showcase page for a more in-depth view of features, benefits and options.