3 EASY STEPS

To Prevent Condensation in
Electric Actuators
 UNDERSTAND CONDENSATION
What is Condensation?

Starting with an understanding of what

condensation is, why it occurs, and how to
anticipate it, is key in understanding how to
manage condensation in electric actuators.

Condensation is the process by which water vapor in the air is changed into
liquid water droplets. This change in the physical state of the water from a gas
to a liquid happens when warm air holding moisture as water vapor comes in
contact with cool air or a cool surface.

As the warm air cools, the air loses its ability to hold water, so condensation
begins to form, just like a cold glass of water sweating on a hot summer day.

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Why Preventing Condensation In Electric
Actuators Matters

In nature, this process is a crucial part of the water cycle; warm air rises, cools, forms clouds,
and creates rain. In an electric actuator, this process is the number one reason for premature
product failure.

Condensation is an electric actuator’s worst enemy;

damaging electronic components, and causing interior
metal components such as the gear motor to rust over
time. Metal parts, even stored in warehouses can corrode
or suffer surface damage as a result of condensation.

Inside of an actuator’s enclosure the water becomes

trapped collecting more and more moisture, causing
more and more damage to critical components until
performance is impaired and the product eventually fails.
Electric Actuator Enclosure, 3 years in the
field without condensation prevention in a
temperate climate zone. The electronics
eventually failed due to water damage.

Product failures cause unplanned downtime, and

unplanned downtime and the associated loss of
production can be expensive.

The good news is preventing condensation is

relatively easy and inexpensive

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Why Does Condensation Form in Electric
Actuators?
When the temperature of an object is at or below the dew
point temperature of the air around the object in the ambient
environment, condensation will form on that particular object.

A simple definition of dew point temperature would be the

temperature at which water vapor, when cooled, will begin to
condense into a liquid. It is the most used humidity parameter
when talking about condensation.

The dew point can be calculated from a given relative humidity

and temperature. Actuator Enclosure With Severe
Condensation Damage

Below is a table showing typical temperatures and humidity

values and their corresponding dew point temperatures:

Temperature Relative Dew Point

°F °C Humidity °F °C
35 2 45% 16 -9
35 2 75% 28 -2
60 16 45% 39 4
60 16 75% 52 11
80 27 45% 56 13
80 27 75% 71 22

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 Example Scenario

LET’S CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS:

• An electric actuator is installed in an • The temperature inside of the actuator

outdoor application.
• On Sample Day 1 the relative humidity is at
75%.
• During the daytime, the ambient air
temperature is 60°F.
• As the sun begins to go down, the ambient
temperature begins to fall causing a
differential between the temperatures
inside and outside of the actuator
enclosure.
cover changes at a slower rate than the
temperature outside of the actuator.
• The dew point is at 52°F, so when the
outside temperature reaches 52°F the
water vapor in the warmer air trapped
inside of the actuator enclosure will begin
to condensate into water droplets on the
inside of the enclosure.

THE SOLUTION:
In the scenario above occurring on Sample Day 1 condensation can be prevented by managing the

variables that contribute to its creation.

If the temperature inside and outside of the actuator are allowed to change at the same rate, then

condensation will not form.

If the relative humidity of the air inside of the actuator is reduced then condensation will not form.

If a constant temperature inside of the actuator is maintained above the dew point, then

condensation will not form.

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 ANTICIPATE CONDENSATION
Tools to Anticipate Condensation

As the dew point temperature approaches, the condensation will start to form inside
the actuator.

Air Measurements
The best way to anticipate condensation conditions is to take air measurements
for temperature and relative humidity in the area where the actuator is meant to be
installed. These measurements can be used to calculate the dew point.

Climate Data
Alternatively, climate data, and online dew point calculators are also great tools to
utilize when anticipating condensation conditions.

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 PREVENT CONDENSATION
Techniques to Prevent Condensation

1 Exterior Climate Control:

Controlling and regulating the air temperature and relative
humidity in the ambient environment around where the electric
actuator is installed.

2 Interior Climate Control:

Controlling and regulating the air temperature and relative
humidity on the interior of the electric actuator’s enclosure.

3 Prevent The Temperature Differential:

Equipping the actuator with a breather allows air to move freely
between the interior and exterior of the actuator enclosure.

Free air movement lets the temperature inside and outside of

the electric actuator to change at the same time preventing the
temperature differential necessary to cause condensate to form.

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OPTIONAL FEATURES ON ELECTRIC
ACTUATORS TO PREVENT CONDENSATION

DUAL DRY HEATER, THERMOSTAT AND DESICCANT

COMBINATION
Rechargeable industrial desiccant pack coupled with a heater & thermostat: Used mainly to control
condensation, high temperature fluctuations.

• Available for NEMA 4, NEMA 4X & NEMA 7
Hazardous location electric actuators.
• Conserves energy in a system with a finite
power source (solar cell & battery).
• Provides condensation prevention by
reducing the relative humidity inside the
actuator enclosure.
• Controls condensation in situations where
the product’s power source for the heater
and thermostat is intermittent (trucks,
vehicles, and other mobile equipment).
• Not recommended for environments with
mild temperature fluctuations and high
humidity.
• The thermostat will turn the heater on at
41 def. F, and turns off at 61 deg. F

DUAL DRY HEATER AND DESICCANT COMBINATION

Rechargeable industrial desiccant pack coupled with a heater & thermostat: Used mainly to control
condensation, high temperature fluctuations.

• Available for NEMA 4, NEMA 4X & NEMA 7
Hazardous location electric actuators.
• Provides condensation prevention by
reducing the relative humidity inside the
actuator enclosure.
• Controls condensation in situations where
the product’s power source for the heater
and thermostat is intermittent (trucks,
vehicles, and other mobile equipment).

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OPTIONAL FEATURES ON ELECTRIC
ACTUATORS TO PREVENT CONDENSATION

COMPARTMENT HEATER & THERMOSTAT COMBINATION

Used mainly for temperature control in an environment with broad fluctuations in temperature such as
deserts with sharp temperature changes between the daytime and night time or in temperate climates
with distinct seasonal changes.

• Available for NEMA 4, NEMA 4X & NEMA 7
Hazardous location electric actuators.
• The most important function is to control
the temperature of the actuator for overall
functionality in below freezing conditions,
and save power during warmer conditions.
• Can also control condensation to some
degree.
• Not recommended for environments with
mild temperature fluctuations and high
humidity.
• The thermostat will turn the heater on at
41 def. F, and turns off at 61 deg. F

COMPARTMENT HEATER
Used mainly for condensation control especially
condensation control coupled with temperatures
consistently below 60 deg. F.

• Available for NEMA 4, NEMA 4X & NEMA

7 Hazardous location electric actuators.
• The heater remains on at all times.
• Not recommended for high cycling
applications where temperatures are
consistently above 60 deg. F Actuator with Compartment Heater

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OPTIONAL FEATURES ON ELECTRIC
ACTUATORS TO PREVENT CONDENSATION

BREATHER
A vent installed into the electric actuator’s cover to allow air to move freely between the inside and
outside of the actuator enclosure.

• Available for NEMA 4, NEMA 4X & NEMA 7
Hazardous location electric actuators.
• Not for use on electric actuators required
to operate in temperatures below freezing.
• Conserves energy in a system with a finite
power source (solar cell & battery)
• Provides condensation prevention by
reducing the temperature differential
between the interior and exterior of the
electric actuator enclosure.
• Controls condensation in situations where
the product’s power source for a heater
and thermostat is intermittent (trucks,
vehicles, and other mobile equipment).

NEMA 4 and NEMA 7 Enclosure Breathers, Optional Accessories used to reduce condensation.

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OPTIONAL FEATURES ON ELECTRIC
ACTUATORS TO PREVENT CONDENSATION

PRODUCT OPTION USAGE INFORMATION

Available in Available For All More Energy Less Energy Use When Actuator
Optional Actuator Equipment Power Supply is
All Voltages Enclosures Efficient Efficient
Intermittent

Dual Dry Heater, Thermostat,

and Desiccant Combination
Dual Dry Heater and Desiccant
Combination
Compartment Heater and
Thermostat Combination
Compartment Heater
Breather
X X X
X X X
X X X
X X X
X X X X

For Mobile For Broad For Mild For When

Temperature Temperatures For Use in High
Optional Actuator Equipment Equipment & Temperature
Swings Can Reach Humidity
Vehicles Swings
Freezing
Dual Dry Heater, Thermostat,
and Desiccant Combination X X X
Dual Dry Heater and Desiccant
Combination X X X
Compartment Heater and
Thermostat Combination X X X
Compartment Heater X X X
Breather X X

Have a question about our optional actuator equipment?

Get In Touch

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About Us
At Indelac, we are one big, motivated family, and our family is dedicated
to advancing the technology we use and our employees’ expertise in a
constant effort to better serve our customers’ automation requirements.

Indelac’s main goal as an actuator company and electric actuator

manufacturer is to design, develop and manufacture a high-quality
electric actuator at a competitive price while maintaining “on time”
delivery.

CONTACT US RESOURCE LIBRARY

6810 Powerline Drive • Florence, KY 41042

Phone: 859-727-7890 Toll-Free: 800-662-9424

www.indelac.com