Control Panel Heat Dissipation Calculator

This calculator pertains to NEMA or IP rated control panels. These control panels may contain electrical terminations, start/stop controls, and at times more sophisticated control methods such as an HMI.  Most industrial applications will require sealed unvented control panels to protect the components housed inside.

To use this calculator appropriately one must first quantify the amount of heat generated by components inside. Once total heat is calculated, the calculator can be used to determine expected temperature rise based on the control panel size and type of enclosure. The graph can be read to determine expected temperature rise. Temperature rise can be mitigated by venting or air conditioning, depending on the amount of heat that must be displaced and site specific requirements.

(1) All information is provided in good faith. Punchlist Zero accepts no liability for damages of any kind, directly or indirectly caused by the use of this calculator.

(2) For additional assistance with electrical calculations, please purchase the NEC Code book or an Ugly’s reference book