Features and benefits
Installed using an ‘in-ground root or plinth’ mounting system for location into or onto a concrete pad, the up-to IP65 rated C-Type Minicab comes in at a width of just 600mm. It offers easy access to the consumer unit, Krone distribution frame or fibre management cassettes/patching, DSLAM equipment, UPS and main power & communications cable entry ducts. As well as housing the mains electricity input fuse and meter, a consumer unit also connects power from the regional electricity authority to connect to the thermostatically controlled fans and equipment. The thermal system can also be upgraded with Cannon Guard which monitors fan fail, fan speed, door entry, flood, smoke and over/under temperature alarms via SNMP traps over IP.
One less obvious benefit of its smaller size is its reduced weight – instead of using a specialist crane, two engineers can lift and shift it into place.
The main body of the cabinet and the doors are manufactured from 2mm thick Z600 pre-galvanised steel sheet. Conlon states, ‘Z600 denotes a total of 600gm/m² of zinc applied in an oxygen free atmosphere to the steel substrate. In addition, the units have been painted to Glide Business’s specific colour requirements with a 90μ powder coating, which provides a tough outer layer.’
Security guard
The C-Type Minicab offers the highest levels of security and thwarting the efforts of those who want to access the active equipment inside requires special measures. Each door that allows access to the thermal chamber is locked by a single Cannon Technologies stainless steel swing handle lock, which can be locally operated. All locks are further deadlocked using an approved double D profile lock body, which can then be keyed against a specific geographical area. An additional advantage of the Cannon lock is the capability for electronic keyless entry, a great feature for companies wanting to restrict the issue of keys which could be lost or stolen.
The locking system has been approved to The Loss Prevention Certification Board’s (LPCB) LPS1175 Security Rating 3 (SR3). Approval to this standard ensures that the security products used in the cabinets provide the reliable delay and means of detection required to protect against intrusion. Products certified to LPS1175 SR3 standards have resisted a series of professional attacks, each lasting up to 20 minutes, using a wide variety of tools.
Fan club
Limiting the size of the cabinets brought its own challenges from a thermal management perspective. Ensuring that the environmental conditions in the cabinet are kept within defined parameters is vital in ensuring the correct operation of the equipment housed inside.
‘Each cabinet can be configured with a choice of cooling technology,’ says Conlon ‘The basic option uses an electro/mechanical thermostat, which simply turns a one-speed fan on and off when certain defined temperatures are reached, and an additional fan provides redundancy when necessary. This can be used in conjunction with a hardened digital subscriber line access multiplexer (DSLAM), which is designed to withstand higher temperatures. However, we have also designed a more intelligent system that limits the energy used and noise created by running the fans at lower speeds. It continually monitors the internal conditions to ensure only the necessary amount of air flow is created to cool the equipment and this also helps reduce unnecessary wear and tear on the components.’
This thermal management system is controlled and operated via a series of strategically located sensors, which monitor air temperature and condensation levels. It is also possible to remotely monitor and control the cabinet via the Cannon Guard management system, a fully integrated hardware and software management package that is designed to support local or remote installations.
Cannon Internal Climate Test Chamber with solar Heat Gain
