Industrial control and automation components are built for speed of assembly and repair. This design philosophy is critical for restoration of broken machinery. Recall that equipment down time is incredibly expensive, measured in hundreds of dollars per minute for a small facility upwards to thousands of dollars for a large factory.
Use a purpose-built installation tool
The 22 mm panel mount devices such as the Schneider pushbutton and indicator as shown in Figure 1 may appear to contradict this philosophy as the green installation nut is inconvenient. However, with the correct tool the installation is fast and trivial.
Figure 1: Picture of the Schneider Electric ZB5AZ905 tightening tools along with several Harmony XB5 22 mm panel mount devices. The wrench makes it easy to tighten the green installation nuts.
Figure 2: Close up image of the three components of the normally closed Schneider Harmony XB5AA42 pushbutton and the ZB5AZ905 installation tool (sold separately).
Tech Tip: Industrial control and automation components are often grouped into families. The Schneider Electric Harmony HB5 is a representative family with nearly 2000 individual related products. Be sure to look for similar installation tools for your favorite series of switches and indicators.
Do you have any time saving tricks and tips for industrial control? We would love to hear from you. Please leave your comments and recommendations in the space below.
Best Wishes,
APDahlen
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About this author
Aaron Dahlen, LCDR USCG (Ret.), serves as an application engineer at DigiKey. He has a unique electronics and automation foundation built over a 27-year military career as a technician and engineer which was further enhanced by 12 years of teaching (partially interwoven with military experience). With an MSEE degree from Minnesota State University, Mankato, Dahlen has taught in an ABET-accredited EE program, served as the program coordinator for an EET program, and taught component-level repair to military electronics technicians. Dahlen has returned to his Northern Minnesota home and thoroughly enjoys researching and writing educational articles about electronics and automation.
Highlighted Experience
Leveraging his military engineering experience, Dahlen provides unique insights into rugged and reliable electronics solutions suited for extreme environments. His articles often reflect the practical, hands-on knowledge gained from his time in the U.S. Coast Guard. You can find Dahlen’s related industrial articles at Industrial Control and Automation Index.