Network switch and dustproof enclosure in the ceiling.

[bigboy529]

Hi all
Might be a stupid question.
Will I have any heat issues if I put a network switch inside of a dust proof box in my ceiling and should I make provision for ventilation? I'm currently looking at the TP-Link 8 port gigabit switch and the plan is to put this inside a dustproof box of some sorts inside the ceiling.

Anyone know where I can find some decent dust proof enclosures for this purpose? Will be nice if I can connect the conduit in which the cable runs will be directly to the enclosure.

 

[gregmcc]

Temperatures in summer can get above 50 so putting any electronics devices in the roof is not good idea.

 

[bigboy529]

I don't really have another choice, there's no place or space inside the house where a bunch of networking equipment and cables coming in, will work.

 

[MickZA]

I don't really have another choice, there's no place or space inside the house where a bunch of networking equipment and cables coming in, will work.

No built-in cupboards?

 

[Goobie]

I have had a network switch inside a home made wooden box in the roof space where the temperature reaches 48C in summer for many years without a problem.

 

[bigboy529]

No built-in cupboards?

After posting that I actually thought about the built in cupboards, giving space up in one of those won't be a issue, now just to figure out how to get power over there.

 

[Arthur]

Ja, it gets really hot above the ceiling. Especially here in the Little Karoo.

I decided to take my chances and ignore the temps, which easily reach 50+ in summer.

So far all electronics in the roof has survived, including the UniFi APs, switch, and even the heat pump and its control panel.

 

[MagicDude4Eva]

You can always put the gear in a box and then mount one of those AV fans into it. Or just a regular AC fan.

 

[bigboy529]

I was thinking to install it in the ceiling since I plan to anyway also install a electrical outlet in the ceiling, but will now also look at the built in cupboard option

 

[bigboy529]

Any recommendation for nice pre built boxes, or should I just DIY one?

 

[Rickster]

Dust wont really kill non-moving electronics.

 

[Icemanbrfc]

Dust wont really kill non-moving electronics.

But heat will, even people say it wont. There needs to be proper ventilation or some sort of cooling system.

 

[Rickster]

But heat will, even people say it wont. There needs to be proper ventilation or some sort of cooling system.

Then he shouldn't put it in a box.

 

[MagicDude4Eva]

Dust wont really kill non-moving electronics.

As long as he gets a switch which has passive cooling via the case. Switches generally run at 60-70 degrees. It will die if it runs over 80 for a long period and then might even become a fire hazard in the roof.

 

[Icemanbrfc]

Then he shouldn't put it in a box.

Definately not. If its hot, it can also cause some form of moisture inside of that box, and that is not good. I dont see a reason to put the equipment in a box,if he has no leakage problems etc. Best would to build an enclosure, but keep it well ventilated if that what he wants

 

[Icemanbrfc]

As long as he gets a switch which has passive cooling via the case. Switches generally run at 60-70 degrees. It will die if it runs over 80 for a long period and then might even become a fire hazard in the roof.

Definately

 

[MickZA]

Any recommendation for nice pre built boxes, or should I just DIY one?

Don't need one in a built-in cupboard.

Tip: wall mount the switch (TP-Link supports this) with network plugs at the top with the cables exiting into the ceiling and insert a in-line switch in the 5V power cable close to the TP-Link.

 

[Icemanbrfc]

Don't need one in a built-in cupboard.

Tip: wall mount the switch (TP-Link supports this) with network plugs at the top with the cables exiting into the ceiling and insert a in-line switch in the 5V power cable close to the TP-Link.

He can just buy some brackets to use to mount it, then drill a few holes through the ceiling, and then get some cable management system going to keep it all neat and tidy.

 

[Arthur]

As an aside, for some years I specialised in the cooling of electronics, esp liquid and phase-change cooling, peltier plates, cobber chambers, and heatsinks.

It is indeed true that heat is the single largest cause of electronics failure.

In the real world, it is not so much the absolute temperature that kills electronics, though of course every structure fails mechanically or micro-mechanically at some point when the temperature produces a physical state change. However, most modern domestic-grade solid state electronics are tolerant of fairly high temps, into the 90s C.

What really kills electronics is what is called thermal cycling, usually caused by power-up and power-down cycles.

It is the successive expansion (on power-up and heating) and contraction (on power-down and cooling) cycles that can weaken microelectronic connections such as solder and compression joints and eventually cause them to fail

Far better to let everything run at a constant higher temperature than to power down and cool.

R0.02.

 

[Icemanbrfc]

As an aside, for some years I specialised in the cooling of electronics, esp liquid and phase-change cooling, peltier plates, cobber chambers, and heatsinks.

It is indeed true that heat is the single largest cause of electronics failure.

In the real world, it is not so much the absolute temperature that kills electronics, though of course every structure fails mechanically or micro-mechanically at some point when the temperature produces a physical state change. However, most modern domestic-grade solid state electronics are tolerant of fairly high temps, into the 90s C.

What really kills electronics is what is called thermal cycling, usually caused by power-up and power-down cycles.

It is the successive expansion (on power-up and heating) and contraction (on power-down and cooling) cycles that can weaken microelectronic connections such as solder and compression joints and eventually cause them to fail

Far better to let everything run at a constant higher temperature than to power down and cool.

R0.02.

Besides the power up and down cycling, in my world which is cellphones, its a different take on things. Back in the day, we use to encourage people to not have their phone in pockets or at least tight pockets, because of moisture. We still encourage it today, and especially the women to not drop it in the bra