Quality & Performance

Weidmüller enclosures are often subject to aggressive environments which require a high degree of quality. Therefore our enclosures have been designed to ensure that they are resistant against exterior influences such as water and dust, against heavy impacts, vibrations as well as corrosion and the extreme influences of temperature along with performance over long term usage. Furthermore they have to be suitable for use in harsh environment applications, such as hazardous area use.

All components which are installed in harsh environment locations are subject to strict safety requirements. In every detail they have to be tested for functionality, reliability and resistance to the pre-existing on-site environmental conditions.

Because every enclosure is only as safe as its weakest component, Weidmüller consequently takes care that each single part is subject to the same high quality standard and does not pose a potential trouble spot. Intensive and carefully conducted tests according to international norms and standards provide the verification for the highest quality and functionality of our enclosure products.

IP-Ingress Protection Test

One of the most important functions of an enclosure is the protection it provides against exterior influences such as moisture and dust. Therefore the enclosures have to fulfill certain IP classes.

In the accredited Weidmüller laboratory the IP class will be tested according to DIN EN 60529.

In accordance with this, the Klippon® TB enclosures have an IP rating of IP66 and IP67. The first number “6” gives an indication of the degree of protection against ingress of dust.

For the IP6X testing the enclosure will be place for eight hours into a test chamber. Talcum powder will be held in suspense, whilst a vacuum is generated inside the enclosure. The IP6X class test is passed in an adequate way, when there are no dust deposits on the enclosure visible.

The second number “6” resp. “7” gives an indication of the degree of protection against ingress of water.

For the IPX6 test (dynamic test) the enclosure will be exposed to pressure of an intensive water jet (100l/min water volume), which is sprayed onto the enclosure from all directions for 3 minutes.

A completely different test is the IPX7 testing (static test), where the enclosure will be submerged for 30 minutes at a depth of 1 meter in water.

Both tests are successfully passed when the water did not have a detrimental effect on the enclosure. According to the internal Weidmüller test specification this means that no ingress of any water will be accepted.

For the American market the protection against ingress of water will be tested according to UL50E (hose down). Here the enclosure will be sprayed on all sides of the enclosure by a jet nozzle with a water volume of 240l/min.

Impact resistance test

During use it is possible that the enclosures will become subject to an impact on to outside surface.

This may not lead to any reduction of functionality of the enclosure. However, in order to guarantee the protection against any such impact, an IK impact resistance test will be conducted.  This is where a hammer will be dropped onto the enclosure from a drop height of 700mm and an impact energy of 7 Joule according to IEC 60079-0 (for Ex applications) respect. 10 Joule (IK09) according to DIN EN 50102 (for industrial applications).

For enclosure versions where either lid or gland plate screws exist, then these will be regularly and tightened on a diagonal procedural basis and accordinglto the manufacturer’s torque of 2,5 Nm.

Then the enclosure will be fixed on a rigid support as for normal use.

The test has been passed, when the enclosure continues to provide the IP code and the lid can still be opened and closed.

Vibration and Shock Test

During use the enclosures could be subject to extreme vibrations. To which degree the enclosure can withstand such vibrations can be identified by a vibration and shock test.

This test proves that the functionality of an enclosure is not affected, if any vibrations occur.

The Klippon® TB enclosures are predominantly tested according to the requirements of the rolling stock industry, these are defined in the norm DIN EN 61373 cat. 1B.

Salt spray test

Enclosures are often used in outdoor applications where they could easily come into contact with water in the form of rain or seawater. For these applications the resistance to corrosion has to be verified.

To simulate such a situation the enclosures undergo a corrosion test in a salt mist atmosphere.

This test according to DIN EN 9227 is  used to determine any weakness, porosities or damage arising from organic and inorganic coatings.

The Klippon® TB enclosure will specially be tested according to the resistance to corrosion for outdoor installation which is defined in the empty enclosure directive EN 62208.

Here the enclosures will be conditioned for 288 hours in a damp heat atmosphere of 40°C / 95% r.h., subsequently for 336 hours in salt mist according to DIN EN ISO 9227. After the test, the enclosures will be washed in running water for 5 minutes to exactly identify the affect of any possible corrosion.

This test has successfully been passed, when no ferrous rust on the enclosure can be determined.

Long time test according to IECEx

During use the enclosure can be subject to high and low temperatures as well as to extreme variations in temperature. The temperature range for which the enclosures still keep their functionality can be identified by a thermal stability and cold stability test.

1. Verification of thermal stability

According to the regulation IEC 60079-0 edition 2007 section 26.8 the enclosures must be stored in the following climatic conditions, over two steps

1. for 336h at T = 90°C and r.h. = 95%

2. for 336h at T = 125°C (test group IPX7)

3. for 336h at T = 155°C (test group IPX6)

2. Verification of cold stability

Afterwards the enclosures will be stored in cold conditions for 24 hours at -65°C according to regulation IEC 60079-0 edition 2007 section 26.9.

Subsequently the IK impact resistance test according to IEC 60079-0 with impact energy of 7 Joule will be repeated.

The long time test is successfully passed when the enclosures still fulfill their assured IP rating.

Computer tomography (CT)

In parallel with the development of the enclosures, it is possible to create two-dimensional radiographs and volume models of the enclosures in terms of computer tomography.

Welded connections can be visualised in a non-destructive way and possible leakages are immediately detectable. Relating to the new Klippon® TB enclosure range, this method has been used to identify potential leakages of the welded internal threaded sockets (Link to innovative welding of the internal thread sockets).