Cabinet airflow stability
Airflow options for electrical enclosures, PLC panels, and automation cabinets.
Application Solution
Industrial Control Cabinet Cooling
Stable enclosure airflow for controls, drives, relays, and industrial electronics
Problem Space
Industry Challenges
Understanding the specific thermal and environmental demands of Industrial Control Cabinet Cooling environments is the foundation of every Herays solution.
Industrial control cabinets house PLCs, variable frequency drives, servo controllers, and power distribution equipment that generate sustained heat loads under continuous 24/7 operation. Unlike general-purpose electronics, these enclosures run in environments ranging from dusty factory floors to climate-controlled server rooms, and the fan must match that reality over years of uninterrupted operation.
The thermal challenge is rarely about peak temperature — it is about sustained heat removal. Key engineering requirements include:
- 24V or 48V DC operation — most industrial cabinets run a 24 VDC control bus; fans that operate directly off this rail eliminate the need for a separate 12V converter.
- High static pressure — filtered fan-and-louver assemblies restrict airflow significantly. A fan rated at 134 CFM open-frame may deliver only 60–70 CFM through a 10 mm mesh filter.
- Long service life (MTBF 50,000+ hours) — ball-bearing designs significantly outperform sleeve bearings in horizontal-mount or high-ambient-temperature installations.
- Wide operating temperature range — cabinets near furnaces or outdoor kiosks may see +55°C ambient. The fan must be rated for this, not just specified at 25°C.
- CE and RoHS compliance — standard requirements for equipment sold into the EU and most industrial markets globally.
The Herays HR1225 and HR1238 series are proven workhorses for control cabinet cooling, available in 12V, 24V, and 48V to match virtually any industrial control bus voltage without additional DC-DC conversion.
- HR1225 24V — 120×120×25 mm, 134 CFM, 13.9 mmH₂O static pressure. The most common drop-in size for standard DIN-rail cabinet ventilation slots.
- HR1225 48V — identical performance, runs directly off a 48V bus. Eliminates conversion losses in telecom-style power architectures.
- HR1238 12V (−SF) — 120×120×38 mm, 186 CFM. The deeper 38 mm frame delivers 40% more airflow, suited for high-density VFD cabinets or multi-drive enclosures. The −SF variant includes a tachometer signal wire for PLC-monitored fan-failure detection.
Sizing guide: Q (CFM) = P (W) × 3.16 / ΔT (°F). At a 15°C rise and 200 W dissipation you need approximately 23 CFM — a single HR1225 handles this comfortably. At 500 W with a 30% filter derating, consider the HR1238 or a dual-fan configuration.
Can I use a 12V fan on a 24V bus with a resistor? A dedicated 24V fan is better. Voltage regulators and resistors add failure points, affect performance across temperature ranges, and complicate cabinet safety certification.
When should I use a blower instead of an axial fan? Use an axial fan when you have a clear inlet-to-outlet airflow path. Switch to a centrifugal blower when airflow is ducted, baffled, or must overcome significant back-pressure from filters or restricted wiring channels.
Need help sizing a fan for a specific cabinet configuration? Contact Herays with your enclosure dimensions, power dissipation estimate, and ambient temperature.
Herays Approach
Our Solution
Precision-engineered DC fan technologies tailored to the performance and reliability requirements of Industrial Control Cabinet Cooling applications.
Why Herays
Key Features for Industrial Control Cabinet Cooling
Industrial voltage options
5V, 12V, 24V, and 48V DC options for different control architectures.
Long-duty reliability
Bearing and protection options for continuous industrial operation.
Product Selection
Recommended Products
Herays DC fan and blower products engineered to meet the performance requirements of Industrial Control Cabinet Cooling systems.
DC Axial Fan
DC Axial Fan
DC Axial Fan
DC Axial Fan
DC Axial Fan
DC Axial Fan
DC Axial Fan
DC Axial Fan
Application Engineering
Ready to find the right cooling solution for Industrial Control Cabinet Cooling?
Our application engineers are available to help you select the right product for your system requirements.