Outdoor Power Supply

[[email protected]]

I have been graced with the task of finding an outdoor power supply and
am hoping that I can get a few ideas here. We are tying to use as many
off the shelf parts as possible to keep costs down. Here are the
requirements.

110v AC in
24v DC out (filtered)
600MA
UL rated

I need to feed a control box within a NEMA 4 enclosure. The ideal
solution would allow the unit to be pluggged into a GFIC protected
outlet with a "constant use" cover. All I seem to be able to find are
the "wall mount" type and they are too large for a standard outdoor
receptacle and cover.

An outdoor rated adapter with a feed cord and output cord is proving to
be pretty hard to find.

I hope that someone can help in my very frustrating quest.

Thanks,

Steve

 

[[email protected]]

I have been graced with the task of finding an outdoor power supply and
am hoping that I can get a few ideas here. We are tying to use as many
off the shelf parts as possible to keep costs down. Here are the
requirements.

110v AC in
24v DC out (filtered)
600MA
UL rated

I need to feed a control box within a NEMA 4 enclosure. The ideal
solution would allow the unit to be pluggged into a GFIC protected
outlet with a "constant use" cover. All I seem to be able to find are
the "wall mount" type and they are too large for a standard outdoor
receptacle and cover.

An outdoor rated adapter with a feed cord and output cord is proving to
be pretty hard to find.

I'd use a bare pc board type ac-dc power supply mounted inside the NEMA
enclosure with a line cord added.

Jim

 

[Rich Grise]

I have been graced with the task of finding an outdoor power supply and
am hoping that I can get a few ideas here. We are tying to use as many
off the shelf parts as possible to keep costs down. Here are the
requirements.

110v AC in
24v DC out (filtered)
600MA
UL rated

I need to feed a control box within a NEMA 4 enclosure. The ideal
solution would allow the unit to be pluggged into a GFIC protected
outlet with a "constant use" cover. All I seem to be able to find are
the "wall mount" type and they are too large for a standard outdoor
receptacle and cover.

An outdoor rated adapter with a feed cord and output cord is proving to
be pretty hard to find.

I hope that someone can help in my very frustrating quest.

I've seen switching wall-warts that can handle that kind of power in a
package the size of a pack of cigarettes. How big is a NEMA-4?

Thanks,
Rich

 

[JeffM]

How big is a NEMA-4?

Rich Grise

NEMA-4 is a weatherproofness spec.
If you pony up the bucks, they'll make one any size you want.

 

[Rene Tschaggelar]

NEMA-4 is a weatherproofness spec.
If you pony up the bucks, they'll make one any size you want.

Ok, and what does it mean ?
Dripping water ?
Spray water ?
hosed water ?
submersed 1m ?

Rene

 

[[email protected]]

Here are the NEMA Specs:

NEMA 1 - Indoor use with some protection against contact with enclosed
equipment.
NEMA 2 - Indoor use with some protection against minimal amounts of
falling water or dirt.
NEMA 3 - Outdoor use with some protection against windblown dust, rain
or sleet.
NEMA 3R - Outdoor use with some protection against falling rain or
sleet.
NEMA 4 - Indoor or Outdoor use with some protection against windblown
dust or rain, splashing or hose directed water.
NEMA 4X - Indoor or Outdoor use with some protection against corrosion,
windblown dust or rain, splashing or hose directed water.
NEMA 12 - Indoor use with some protection against dust, falling dirt
and dripping, noncorrosive liquids.
NEMA 13 - Indoor use with some protection against dust, sprayed water,
oil and non-corrosive liquids.


The bare power supply is one option. I would like to keep the NEMA case
as small as possible and eliminate the need for a power supply cover
within the box. A separate outdoor rated power supply would also allow
the use of a less expensive NEMA 3/3R since there would only be 24VDC
within the box. With all of the outdoor low voltage items available
today, I can't believe that I can't find something that will work "off
the shelf". Mailbu makes outdoor light kits that include an outdoor
power supply (with a timer), 20 lights and wire. These kits can be had
for under $40.00.

Still looking..

Steve