≡ Menu
FDB27-M-RCD-Protection

Our FDB27/M series offers specialist RCD Protection for Communications Vehicles – originally designed and supplied to UK armed forces – hence the “M” reference.

They comprise a range of special-purpose RCD protection units for military communications vehicles with in-line filters.

These RCD protection units were designed in accordance with MOD specifications, with six standard variants according to voltage/current rating.

Contact us for details.

FDB Panel Fittings – diecast hinges

We are pleased to offer traditional style diecast hinges for use on the outside of enclosures where they can facilitate lift-off operation, to ensure easy removal of doors for access to internal equipment during installation or maintenance. They provide a robust door mounting with an industrial aesthetic that suits heavy doors and multi-compartment cabinets with lay-on doors, which is ideal for industrial/commercial/office/retail enclosures for machine tool equipment – also factory controls, distribution panels, HVAC access, safety guards, IT/Telco cabinets, processing equipment and similar.

This popular range of hinges are now available ex-stock for urgent delivery from the FDB Online store. Mounting is by means of cast-in mounting studs which are simply inserted through pre-punched holes and secured with internal nuts. Installation can be arranged with both hinges oriented in the same direction for lift-off or with one up and one down to lock the door in place so it is not removable. Extra-large or heavy doors may be accommodated with three or four hinge units to provide additional capacity.

Other diecast hinges are offered in the associated range where butt hinges and pedestal hinges suit flush doors and internal hinges provide a fully concealed installation with separate screw fixing. Diecast hinges can be supplied in black or natural self-colour for overpainting to match the panel appearance. Internally mounted hinges do not lift off and are fixed with separate screws.

FDB Quarter Turn L and T handles Online

Our team here at FDB Panel Fittings Online store is delighted to announce that we now have full stock of easy-to-fit traditional L and T style lock handles for all types of generic industrial applications, from production line to office, specialist vehicles to marine, offshore to hangers, control rooms to distribution centres.

With sophisticated ergonomic design, they typically come easily to hand and are comfortable to use. Their leverage allows operation of internal rod systems for multi-point gasket sealing and added security, which is increasingly important for the protection of sophisticated digital process controls. Also, the Panel Fittings Online store now carries wing-knob inserts which function as smaller variants for wall-mounted enclosures. Likewise, standard “spanner lock” style inserts for standard quarter turns enable the use of an extended handle key, which offers enhanced leverage in situations where a larger fixed handle is not appropriate.

Well suited to office and industrial applications, these modern variants of a proven traditional L and T designs are convenient and natural in feeling during operation, excellent in larger spaces, suit floor standing cabinets and large enclosures. They are available in polyamide, zinc die chrome and black powder coat, plus in polished stainless steel with a wide selection carried in stock for urgent delivery to customers production facility or project site.

 

FDB diecast hinges

Simple diecast hinges are the sort of detail that can easily get left to the end in the design process – so it is helpful that we have a great selection at our Online store – ex-stock and ready for urgent delivery. They provide a secure internal fixing with many variants also offering a lift-off function when required.

Dicast hinges are robust and suited to use with heavy doors where multiple hinges can be installed – eg three or four where needed.

Quarter Turns – Thousands of possible combinations

Our team here at FDB Panel Fittings have calculated that there are now over 116,000 possible combinations of standard components available at the Online store. The list includes bodies in zinc die chrome, zinc die black, polyamide black, 316 stainless steel, handle inserts – T and L, star knobs, wing knobs, spanner locks, with multiple types of tabs and cams.

As well as supplying standard inserts, we are delighted to also supply handle inserts which turn a standard quarter-turn latch/lock into a handle. These include T-Handles, L-Handles, Star Knobs and Wing Knobs in various styles, plus for locks used in dusty environments we offer dust caps, and finger pulls for easy opening of panels.

The Online store offers customers an easy-to-use sourcing tool including accessories such as serrated lock washers for applications where the securing nut may become loose and earth (grounding) nuts which have sharp protrusions intended to cut through the painted coating on the metalwork. A novel addition is the low cost slide-shoe which helps provide a positive compression, and reduces the friction and paint damage caused by constant operation.

Also available at the Online store is our Rocfast assembly and logistics service which guides component selection to supply fully assembled locks or packaging kits and delivering to production or installation site. The Rocfast assembly service offers to provide specifiers with a quick and simple means of getting the exact quarter-turns they need, to the specification they choose, pre-assembled and delivered on time.

Earth line protection devices from FDB Electrical

As part of our commitment to electrical protection technologies we offer an online, ex-stock range of panel mounting components including RCDs, Earth Continuity Monitors and special-purpose electrical protection devices.

These comply with BS4293 and come in both AC and DC types. Components offer Multi-range protection levels including pre-set and user-adjustable types. Their Solid state circuitry provides immunity to voltage transients and DC components. Associated core balance transformers are available in a range of sizes and a Panel meter is available (EFU10/M).

Long Lock bodies for deep doors from FDB Panel Fittings

When designing custom housings for electrical/electronic equipment our team here at FDB believe that it is essential to match door/frame depths to the door lock so as to ensure the required degree of sealing (IP rating) and gasket pull-down. This means  that for specialist enclosures with unusually thick doors and/or frames then length of lock body is the starting point for this matching process, which can then be fine-tuned by selection of a compatible tab/cam.

At our Online store, there is now a huge selection of these standard components for quarter-turn locks and latches, held in stock for urgent delivery. Lock bodies come in lengths of 18mm, 30mm, 36mm, 40mm, 50mm and 60mm which may be matched with tabs in varying lengths and depths, with straight or stepped configurations where they are also offered to be used for lesser or greater depth adjustment. We are also aware that standard cabinets can be manufactured in quantity and potentially with standard components – however, a substantial proportion of specialist enclosures (maybe as much as half) are custom builds in small quantities. It is therefore vital that lock assemblies are available to ensure appropriate quality performance and appearance.

Interchangeable modular diameter bodies to industry standard dimensions are stocked in zinc die chrome plated, zinc die black powder-coated, black polyamide and 316 stainless steel – allowing proper specification to match the requirements of the environment where the installation will take place. While most locks are supplied in component form for assembly by the customer we offer a service to support proper selection and assembly under our Rocfast banner.

FDB enclosure door gasket seals

We have a wide range of gasket sealing profiles for enclosures and cabinets at our Online store including channel fitting and edge clip-on profile sections predominantly supplied in coiled lengths for easy use in production/installation environments.

FDB enclosure gasket to fit channelsSealing with a gasket profile is generally necessary to ensure conformity with standard IP levels of protection against the ingress of dust/water. Traditional P-type sections and self-adhesive cut foam are featured as are edge protectors as are sections for inspection windows.

Appropriate IP ratings for Quarter Turn Locks and Latches from FDB Panel Fittings

The highly experienced team here at FDB Panel Fittings Online store have suggested that with so much ordering now taking place quickly and conveniently over the internet a reminder regarding IP ratings would be appropriate. IP ratings are an industry standard classification that enables users to describe the degree of protection which an enclosure or cabinet offers to operators and to internal equipment. It is therefore important that the sealing of a lock installation matches that of the rest of the housing e.g., users should be prevented from inserting a finger or a tool or wire which could lead to them being injured. Likewise, protection against the ingress of dust or water which may damage the internal electronics or electrical controls.

Thus, in an office environment for many storage cabinets and similar we can probably consider only low levels of sealing to be needed – even elsewhere in the public space we could consider only protection from the insertion of tools and ingress of dust to be needed – possibly IP44. Industrial workshops may require protection from insertion of wires with greater exclusion of dust and water – perhaps IP54. Some dusty or wet situations – or outdoor use will need a higher IP rating such as IP65 while regular high pressure wash down or exposed outdoor installations are likely to need IP66 or IP67.

A quarter turn of matching IP rating should always be selected and often IP ratings can be enhanced by ordering with sealing washers and O rings to further protect against ingress in arduous conditions – experienced hardware salespeople can usually advise. Our FDB Rocfast program is designed to simplify the specification, selection and supply process.