FRICK
®
QUANTUM
™
LX/HD RETROFIT
INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS
090.040-I (MAR 2012)
Page 7
PROPER INSTALLATION OF ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT IN AN INDUSTRIAL ENVIRONMENT
In today’s refrigeration plants, electronic controls have
found their way into almost every aspect of refrigeration
control. Electronic controls have brought to the industry
more precise control, improved energy savings, and operator
conveniences. Electronic control devices have revolutionized
the way refrigeration plants operate today.
The earlier relay systems were virtually immune to radio
frequency interference (RFI), electromagnetic interference
(EMI), and ground loop currents. Therefore installation and
wiring were of little consequence and the wiring job con-
sisted of hooking up the point-to-point wiring and sizing
the wire properly. In an electronic system, improper instal-
lation will cause problems that may outweigh the benefits
of electronic control. Electronic equipment is susceptible to
RFI, EMI, and ground loop currents which can cause equip-
ment shutdowns, processor memory and program loss, as
well as erratic behavior and false readings. Manufacturers of
industrial electronic equipment take into consideration the
effects of RFI, EMI, and ground loop currents and incorpo-
rate protection of the electronics in their designs. However,
these design considerations do not make the equipment
immune, so manufacturers require that certain installation
precautions be taken to protect the electronics from these
effects. All electronic equipment must be viewed as sensitive
instrumentation and therefore requires careful attention to
installation procedures. These procedures are well known to
instrumentation, networking, and other professions but may
not be followed by general electricians.
There are a few basic practices that if followed, will minimize
the potential for problems resulting from RFI, EMI and/or
ground loop currents. The National Electric Code (NEC) is a
guideline for safe wiring practices, but it does not necessarily
deal with procedures used for electronic control installation.
Use the following procedures for electronic equipment instal-
lation. These procedures do not override any rules by the
NEC, but are to be used in conjunction with the NEC code
and any other applicable codes.
With exclusion of the three phase wire sizing, Frick drawing
649D4743 should be used as a reference for properly sizing
control wires and other wiring specifications.
Throughout this document the term Electronic Control Panel
is used to refer to the microprocessor mounted on the com-
pressor package or a Central Control System panel.
It is very important to read the installation instructions
thoroughly before beginning the project. Make sure you
have drawings and instructions with your equipment. If
not, call the manufacturer and request the proper instruc-
tions and drawings. Every manufacturer of electronic
equipment should have a knowledgeable staff, willing to
answer your questions or provide additional information.
Following correct wiring procedures will ensure proper
installation and consequently, proper operation of your
electronic equipment.
WIRE SIZING
Control power supply wires should be sized one size larger
than required for amperage draw to reduce instantaneous
voltage dips caused by large loads such as heaters, contac-
tors, and solenoids. These sudden dips in voltage can cause
the electronic control panel, whether it is a microprocessor,
a computer, or a PLC, to malfunction momentarily or cause
a complete reset of the control system. If the wire is loaded
to its maximum capacity, the voltage dips are much larger,
and the potential of a malfunction is very high. If the wire
is sized one size larger than required, the voltage dips are
smaller than in a fully loaded supply wire and the potential
for malfunction is much lower. The NEC code book calls for
specific wire sizes to be used based on current draw. An
example of this would be to use #14 gauge wire for circuits
up to 15 amps or #12 gauge wire for circuits of up to 20 amps.
Therefore, when connecting the power feed circuit to an
electronic control panel, use #12 gauge wire for a maximum
current draw of 15 amp and #10 wire for a maximum current
draw of 20 amp. Use this rule of thumb to minimize voltage
dips at the electronic control panel.
VOLTAGE SOURCE
Figure 1
Selecting the voltage source is extremely important for
proper operation of electronic equipment in an industrial
environment. Standard procedure for electronic instrumenta-
tion is to provide a clean, isolated, separate-source voltage
in order to prevent EMI (from other equipment in the plant)
from interfering with the operation of the electronic equip-
ment. Connecting electronic equipment to a breaker panel
(also known as lighting panels or utility panels) subjects the
electronic equipment to noise generated by other devices
connected to the breaker panel. This noise is known as elec-
tromagnetic interference (EMI). EMI flows on the wires that
