Case Study: Plasma Grow Lights Require EMI Air Vent Panels
Vent Cover Design Provides EMI Shielding
The Challenge
A unique, energy-efficient light spectrum indoor grow light was developed for large scale commercial indoor agriculture, but produced emissions and needed several design changes to perform optimally. It was important that the manufacturer covered the dual light bulbs and added EMI shielding to protect the electronics.
Design Requirements
- Limited real estate; very thin media required
- Location directly under bulbs necessitated the need for a porous shielding media to allow for heat loss
- EMI/RF shielding of electronics components
Key Customer Requirements
- Airflow and EMI shielding
- Cost effective
- Engineering design and support
Conclusion
Several unique design constraints were roadblocks in finding a solution for this product. A traditional honeycomb vent was not a viable solution to meet the above requirements due to the limited amount of space on the fixture.
Our solution? A 50 OPI (openings per inch) stainless steel mesh. While a new issue came about of how to secure the mesh to the vent frame, but it was eventually grounded to the chassis via a CHO-SEAL® S6305 conductive elastomer.
The Solution
Traditional honeycomb media was unable to solve the above design requirements due to spatial constraints, Parker Chromerics created a solution. They covered the light bulbs and increase efficiency by designing a new vent cover out of stainless steel mesh, providing air flow through the fixture and well-needed EMI shielding.