SPECIFYING ENCLOSURES AND TUNING KNOBS FOR TODAY’S BUILDING SERVICES ELECTRONICS

CONTROL YOUR ENVIRONMENT

Luxurious smart homes and offices cosset their human occupants with the most intelligent building control and security systems. This cutting-edge technology must perform 24/7, be intuitive to operate and still look great day after day – despite heavy use by people in a hurry.

For all that to happen, the system’s touchpoints, network nodes and control centres must be housed in robust enclosures that are elegant and a pleasure to use. Everything must work together in synergy – empowering monitoring and data logging, optimising control, and ensuring safety in automated operations.

A broad spectrum of applications includes time recording and access control, network technology for communication and monitoring, peripheral and interface equipment, controllers (transmitters and receivers), building automation, HVAC, control technology for lifts and conveyors, technical equipment for utilities, control panels for photovoltaic systems, and occupational health and safety solutions.

Safety, comfort and versatility are the watchwords of this technology and its enclosures – whether they’re destined for indoors, protected outdoor areas or harsh environments with the threat of impact or dust/water ingress.

VIDEO: INTRODUCING OKW PRODUCTS FOR BUILDING SERVICES

PRODUCT RANGE OVERVIEW

OKW’s huge range of products includes standard and customisable enclosures and tuning knobs for all aspects of building services and security technology. Here are some of our popular models for this rapidly expanding area of electronics…

NEW SOLID BOX FOR MAXIMUM PROTECTION

SOLID-BOX is our newest plastic enclosure and also our toughest. These wall-mount and desktop housings have IK 08 impact protection plus IP 66 and IP 67 ratings for protection against temporary flooding and immersion in shallow water.

Mounting points on the rear of sizes 145 and 175 match VESA MIS-D 75/100 hole patterns, enabling SOLID-BOX to be fitted to support arms and brackets for easy operation of a touch screen or keypad mounted in the recessed lid.

The enclosures can be installed ‘lid closed’, protecting the seal and electronics. Flush-fitting trims conceal all the fixing screws, and there are deep recesses on the long sides to protect interfaces and cable glands.

View SOLID-BOX range >>

STYLISH SMART-PANEL FOR MODERN CONTROL UNITS

SMART-PANEL is a discreet, low-profile enclosure that fits standard flush-mounted/cavity wall boxes – making it ideal for small touch screen controllers. Its slimline design ensures that only a narrow frame surrounds the user interface.

Screwless assembly makes SMART-PANEL quick to install. It also deters tampering because a special tool kit (accessory) is required to reopen the housing. The enclosures are now available in three sizes thanks to the addition of new S114 (114 x 114 x 21.3mm).

As Martin Nußberger of polyform Industrie Design put it: “The differentiated interplay of the finishes, polished and finely structured, the materials used…show off the quality of your product to best advantage. Nothing is revealed about how this enclosure is screwed on to the wall, no fixing points, no joints.”

View the SMART-PANEL range >>

DIATEC LOW-PROFILE WALL-MOUNT AND DESKTOP ENCLOSURES

With smooth, timeless curves, low-profile DIATEC is an attractive choice for wall-mounted control panels – whether wired or battery powered. Applications include home automation, photovoltaic solar installations and air quality monitoring.

These modern, flat ABS enclosures have a large central control panel for a touch screen, keypad or display, along with a recessed area for interfaces and cable glands. Hinged lids (accessories) are available in opaque ABS, translucent PC or transparent PC.

Snap-on side panels allow DIATEC to be installed without having to disassemble the top panel. The base has invisible knockouts for wall fixings. Inside, there are screw pillars for PCBs, and slot-in panels (accessory) to separate the electronics and terminal areas. Other accessories include wall suspension elements, anti-slide feet for desktop use, battery clips (2 x N, 2 x AA, 2 x AAA) and a plug-in contact (1 x 9 V).

View the DIATEC range >>

NET-BOX – SLIM WALL-MOUNT ENCLOSURES FOR CONTROL UNITS

These gently curved enclosures have long been specified for building control, data systems engineering and much more. Connectors and cables are hidden under the removable front lid – and the underside opening can be closed off with an infill cover (accessory) to provide more capacity.

Assembly is swift and simple thanks to the clever three-part design. There are no visible fixing screws at the front – just two on the underside of the lid. The enclosures are supplied with Torx screws to help stop tampering.

NET-BOX is moulded from an ASA+PC blend (UL 94 V-0) so it is strong and UV stable. Sealing kits (accessories) provide optional IP 65 ingress protection. Other accessories include anti-slide feet for desktop use.

View the NET-BOX range >>

MINI-DATA-BOX – FAST-FIT POLE-MOUNT ENCLOSURES

Smart little MINI-DATA-BOX (IP 65) is very quick to install because of its flanges (though you can specify the enclosures without them). These flanges have apertures that enable each unit to be either cable tied to a pole or screwed to a flat surface.

MINI-DATA-BOX might be small but it’s moulded from ASA+PC (UL 94 V-0) with an all-round tongue and groove joint so it’s tough – making it perfect for important sensors. And the ‘diamond cut’ lid adds to the aesthetics, so the enclosures won’t look out of place in a smart home or office. Torx assembly screws deter tampering.

With four plan sizes (40 x 40 mm to 70 x 50 mm) and two heights (15mm, 20 mm), there are 40 different standard enclosures to choose from. New to the flanged range is the two-colour option of traffic white (RAL 9016) top with a traffic grey A (RAL 7042) base. This complements the original traffic white (RAL 9016) or anthracite grey (RAL 7016) standard colours.

View the MINI-DATA-BOX range >>

EASYTEC – OKW’s ORIGINAL FAST-FIT SENSOR ENCLOSURES

Before MINI-DATA-BOX, there was EASYTEC – again with flanges for screws or cable ties, but this time there’s no flangeless option. Rounded corners and subtle lid bevelling ensure excellent ergonomics. PCBs can be mounted in either the top or base. Assembly is with Torx screws.

EASYTEC is bigger than MINI-DATA-BOX. The EASYTEC range comprises four plan sizes, each in two heights. Sizes range from 101 x 50 x 22 mm to 172 x 93 x 46 mm. Again, all the enclosures are moulded from ASA+PC (UL 94 V-0) but this time in just one standard colour – off-white (RAL 9002).

View the EASYTEC range >>

PROTEC CONTROL CENTRE ENCLOSURES FOR WALLS AND DESKTOPS

PROTEC (IP 65) has a large operating area that slopes at 20° for comfortable viewing of a display or operation of controls. This main area has a generous edge-to-edge recess with plenty of space for a touch screen or membrane keypad.

At the rear is a deep recess which enables the enclosures to be offered in three versions:

• Version I – the deep recess is left open to accommodate and protect connectors, interfaces, switches and cables.
• Version II – as Version I but with a flush snap-on cover for the recessed interface area.
• Version III – as Version I but with a deep cover for the recessed interface area. This provides extra space for the electronics, cabling and connections.

All the enclosures are moulded from ASA+PC (UL 94 V-0) in off-white (RAL 9002) as standard. Again, assembly is with Torx screws.

View the PROTEC range >>

RAILTEC DIN RAIL ENCLOSURES FOR IN-CABINET ELECTRONICS

OKW offers not one but two ranges of DIN rail enclosures: RAILTEC B and C. They are dependable, versatile units for time controllers, sensors, relays and signal distributors in control cabinets or supply boxes.

Collectively, these two ranges offer solutions for TH35, TH15 and G32 rails in module widths of 1 to 12. Specify complete enclosures or individual components with accessories. The PCB terminal blocks and plug headers (accessories) are offered in 5.0/5.08 pitch.

View OKW DIN rail enclosures >>

AWARD-WINNING CONTROL-KNOBS FOR MENU-DRIVEN ELECTRONICS

Any tuning knob at the heart of a menu-driven interface should be exemplary – and OKW’s CONTROL-KNOBS have an iF Product Design Award to prove it. Specify these high-quality ø 36 mm and ø 46 mm collet knobs for rotary touch/click interfaces.

CONTROL-KNOBS feature a hard polycarbonate inner core with a soft-touch grooved TPE outer for anti-slip operation and added comfort. They can be specified with/without a pointer line on the side for fine scaling and with/without optional LED illumination. SMD LED technology (5 V) saves energy; RGB LEDs allow individual illumination and colours.

View the CONTROL-KNOBS range >>

NEW BROCHURE: OKW PRODUCTS FOR BUILDING SERVICES AND SECURITY

Find out more about OKW enclosures and tuning knobs for advanced building services and security technology. Download our new 16-page brochure and see our full range of smart solutions for this sector.

Discover great enclosures for wall-mount, desktop, handheld and wearable electronics, along with all our ranges of tuning knobs. View examples of fully customised enclosures – see how your products could look in an OKW housing.

Download the brochure >>

GET EXPERT TECHNICAL ADVICE

Contact OKW for expert advice on specifying standard or customised enclosures and tuning knobs for building services and security electronics. Request a sample to see OKW’s high quality for yourself.