Designing Outdoor Computer Enclosures for Embedded Systems
As technology continues to integrate into every aspect of industry and infrastructure, both embedded systems and industrial displays are being deployed in challenging outdoor environments. To ensure optimal performance and reliability under adverse weather conditions and harsh environments prone to shock and vibration, an outdoor computer requires suitable enclosures to protect them from the elements. Selecting or designing the right enclosure involves understanding protection standards such as NEMA and IP ratings, choosing materials that offer rugged durability and resistance to corrosion, and incorporating effective thermal management to maintain the system within its required operating temperature range. For applications like kiosks, digital signage, and industrial HMI systems, protecting the user interface is as crucial as the embedded system itself. Both of our industrial monitors and industrial all-in-one computers already provide an integrated solution ready for install inside the cabinet.
Waterproof Outdoor Computer Enclosures
When designing or purchasing outdoor enclosures, ensuring the enclosure’s ability to protect internal components from environmental factors is crucial. Choosing the right level of protection, whether against weather, submersion, or high-pressure washdowns, depends on the specific demands of the deployment environment. In less demanding scenarios, weather-resistant enclosures provide sufficient defense against rain, dust, and light snow while remaining cost-effective. For more extreme or unpredictable conditions, such as frequent exposure to heavy rain, temporary submersion, or high-pressure cleaning, fully waterproof enclosures are essential. Our range of waterproof computers offer a turn-key solution for out-of-the-box installations outdoors.
Two widely adopted standards by industrial computing manufacturers, the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) ratings and International Protection (IP) ratings, help evaluate and specify the required level of protection for these enclosures.
IP Ratings
IP ratings are internationally recognized and use a two-digit code to classify an enclosure's resistance to solid particles and liquids. The first digit indicates protection against solids, while the second digit specifies resistance to water ingress. Common IP ratings for outdoor computers and cabinet enclosures include: IP65: Dust-tight and capable of withstanding water jets from any direction, making it suitable for many outdoor industrial applications. IP66: Dust-proof and protected from strong water jets in washdown applications. IP67: Dust-tight and capable of being submerged in water up to 1 meter for 30 minutes, ensuring protection in more extreme conditions. IP69K: The computer is dust-proof and protected from water ingress during high-pressure and high-temperature steam cleaning Read more about ingress protection ratings.
NEMA Ratings
NEMA ratings, predominantly used in North America, categorise outdoor computer enclosures based on their ability to protect against dust, water, corrosion, and other environmental hazards. These ratings provide comprehensive insights into an enclosure's suitability for specific outdoor conditions. Key NEMA ratings for outdoor enclosures include: NEMA 3 & NEMA 3R: Suitable for general outdoor use, offering ingress protection against rain and light snow while providing basic durability. NEMA 4 & NEMA 4X: Designed for increased protection against water, including hose-directed sprays, with NEMA 4X also offering added corrosion resistance, making it ideal for marine or chemical-heavy environments. NEMA 6 & NEMA 6P: Providing temporary or prolonged waterproof protection against submersion, a NEMA 6 or NEMA 6P computer enclosure is suitable for maritime industries.
Thermal Management
Effective thermal management is crucial when installing embedded systems, which often operate continuously and generate significant heat. To combat heat build-up and maintain the outdoor computer’s reliability and longevity in the field, several strategies can be employed when designing and installing your outdoor computer cabinet.
Active Cooling with Fans
Incorporating fans into the enclosure helps actively dissipate heat by creating airflow across internal components. This is particularly effective for high-power embedded systems that generate substantial heat. Proper placement of intake and exhaust fans ensures consistent airflow, while filtered vents protect against dust and debris infiltration. For outdoor applications, weatherproof fans and sealed designs are essential to maintain ingress protection.
Oversized Cabinets
Using an oversized enclosure provides additional internal space, reducing heat concentration and allowing better airflow around components. This strategy minimizes the risk of localized hotspots, especially when combined with passive cooling elements like vents or heat sinks. The extra space also accommodates future upgrades or additional components without compromising thermal performance.
Conduction Cooling
Conduction cooling involves directly transferring heat from internal components to the enclosure itself, which acts as a heat sink. By mating heat-generating components like CPUs or GPUs to the enclosure walls using thermal pads or heat pipes, heat can be efficiently conducted away from the system. Aluminium is an excellent material for this approach due to its high thermal conductivity and lightweight properties, enabling the enclosure to effectively dissipate heat to the outside environment. Learn more about the types of edge computers which utilise conduction cooling for integration inside confined, sealed, and waterproof enclosures.
Optimising Enclosure Placement
Mounting an outdoor computer enclosure out of direct sunlight is a highly effective strategy for reducing heat build-up and maintaining optimal internal temperatures. Direct sunlight can significantly increase the external and internal temperatures of an enclosure, especially in metal cases, leading to thermal stress on the embedded system. Shaded installations and reflective coatings help significantly reduce the amount of heat absorbed from sunlight.
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