How to Calculate Heat Load
*Caution must be taken with this test as equipment inside the enclosure/application may overheat.*
To perform the heat load calculation:
- Locate the enclosure/application centrally in the internal temperature-controlled environment.
- Locate one of the temperature sensors centrally inside of the panels, 2 inches from the top. Sensor should not be located in the discharge air stream of any internal components or be in contact with any of the components.
- Sensor two should be located 2 feet from the outside of one of the enclosure/application walls, at a distance from the floor equal to the enclosure height. The sensor should not be affected by any ambient heat sources or moving air.
- Check that all enclosure/application doors are closed as in normal operation.
- Apply power to the enclosure/application internal components. Check that all components are in operation at full capacity as in field service.
- The internal temperature should begin to rise due to the internal heat dissipation of the equipment. The internal temperature will continue to rise until the heat transfer through the enclosure/application surfaces to the ambient air equals the amount of heat produced by the internal components. The temperature rise will occur at a greater rate initially, and then slow until stabilization. When the internal enclosure/application temperature and the outside ambient temperature stabilize for a minimum 5 minutes (+/- .5°F), record the internal enclosure/application and the outside temperatures.
These two temperatures, the enclosure/application surface area, and a heat transfer coefficient can then be used to estimate heat dissipation of the internal equipment.