Wiring junction boxes in demanding offshore and petrochemical
environments is now much easier thanks to a radical new design by Hawke International. Their new EExe II
2GD IP66 rated EZ (easy-wire) enclosures will save time and increase wiring safety. After listening to the
comments of installation engineers and inspectors, the company has developed a two-part lidded enclosure
that gives better access for faster installation, easier inspection and on-site modification. The design
also safeguards the enclosure's durability and ingress protection by shielding the seals from the effects
of the surrounding environment.
Conventional enclosures suffer several drawbacks that greatly undermine productivity. There is limited
space within them to manipulate and terminate the conductors. Access lids, secured by several bolts, are
awkward to remove and are not always refitted correctly - leading to inadequate compression of the sealing
gasket. Saltwater, chemicals, cleaning fluids and debris accumulate on the horizontal surfaces and may
eventually cause corrosion or damage to exposed seals.
The new EZ enclosure overcomes these problems. It has a solid back plate and base frame with a removable
clamshell style lid. Cable access is through the base of the unit, via a clip-in quick release gland plate,
which is secured by just two easily accessible fixing bolts. Models can have one, two or three gland panels
depending on the desired capacity of terminals or cable entries. When pre-drilled at the factory, gland
plates are fitted with tamperproof EExe quick-fit stopping plugs that can only be removed from inside the
cabinet. Alternatively, blank gland plates can be fitted for drilling on site. Cable entries can be sealed
with the appropriate Hawke cable gland according to the type of cable or installation area.
Inside the cabinet, removable brackets hold the terminals, din rails, or instrumentation away from the
back plate to make assembly and under wiring an easy task. For access, the single-piece lid is hinged to
allow vertical opening and secured in place by a retaining prop. This gives the electrician full access
from the front and side, with the open lid also acting as a temporary weather-shield while the enclosure is
being wired, inspected or modified.
When closed, the lid overlaps the base unit protecting it from weather, offshore deluge systems or wash
down cleaning. Silicone compression gaskets, concealed behind the lid, provide ultimate sealing in
temperatures from -40°C to +80°C. The gaskets are not directly exposed to the environment so saltwater,
chemicals, UV light, cleaning fluids and debris cannot attack them. To prevent water pooling on the
surface, the tops of all enclosures are angled. A channel captures and stops any remaining water droplets
from entering the enclosure when the lid is opened.
EZ boxes are engineered for extended use in harsh and hazardous environments. Cabinets are manufactured
in 316L stainless steel with an optional electro polished surface for additional resistance to weather,
salt spray and chemical attack. Installation to walls or bulkheads is by strong welded mounting lugs. Units
can be secured by the use of a padlock, while an optional holder on the front panel allows a Traffolyte
label to be inserted and fixed for enclosure/circuit identification. However, unlike other manufacturers,
Hawke's identification labels are not riveted to the enclosure lid and can be retrofitted at site. This
provides the flexibility of on site labelling and protects the integrity of the enclosure by avoiding
unnecessary rivet holes.
Uploaded: January 9, 2004
More information:
Michael Connelly, Hawke International
Tel. +44 (0)161 830 6698 Fax. +44 (0)161 830 6648
E-mail: michael.connelly@ehawke.com Web: www.ehawke.com