Seeley International’s new hybrid cooling system is using locally-manufactured LAPP Australia cable harnesses, made to UL standards for export to the US.
The Australian division of global HVAC experts, Seeley International, is implementing a locally-manufactured cable harnessing solution to optimise reliability and meet crucial UL standards for exporting an innovative new rooftop package unit to the United States.
Seeley’s new hybrid rooftop package unit combines two proven technologies – Indirect-Direct Evaporative Cooling (IDEC) and a streamlined integrated heat pump – into a single system that harmonises the two technologies to get the best of both worlds.
“The majority of cooling is done by the indirect evaporative component, but in extreme weather conditions the air conditioning can provide the necessary additional support. The result is a solution that’s around 70% more energy efficient and delivers greater volumes of freshly filtered outside air than most other systems available,” explains Leon Minnie, Product Manager – IDEC Commercial and International, Seeley International.
“This new system is manufactured in Australia and has been specifically designed for the US commercial market, so having as many UL-certified components as possible significantly simplifies the export process,” he adds.
Seeley had previously used LAPP Australia’s multi-standard cables, and sought to expand the partnership by engaging LAPP’s newly established Cable Harnessing Solutions division.
LAPP Australia’s Cable Harnessing Solutions division delivers standards-compliant, tested, and traceable cable assemblies to save on-site staff time, whilst also enhancing accuracy and quality control
“When we discovered LAPP now had a local manufacturing site for cable harnesses, we saw great potential for faster assembly, consistent quality, and UL standards compliance, and we’ve been impressed with the service,” says Minnie.
The LAPP cable harnesses include a combination of multi-standard UL-certified single-insulated switchboard flex cables, ETHERLINE® CAT.5E Ethernet cables, UL-certified end sleeves, as well as WAGO conductors and connectors, for which LAPP Australia is an authorised distributor.
LAPP’s cable harnesses are neatly sorted, packed, and labelled, to make installation as efficient and seamless as possible
“Not only has the LAPP team been very responsive, but they all have a great eye for detail, often identifying issues in drawings that have helped us prevent potential problems later on,” adds Minnie.
“Additionally, the fact that LAPP holds local stock of all the cable ranges is a huge benefit to us. It means faster delivery, and allows us to select customer-specified cable colours, without adding delay to the project.”
A cool solution
While IDEC and heat pumps are each not new technologies, the innovative Hybrid approach designed by Seeley International is.
“To make this solution function seamlessly and harmoniously, we needed a more complex cable configuration, so knowing we have the reliability of LAPP’s German-engineered cables, backed by local service, gave us peace of mind for this new system,” says Minnie.
“To make things even more efficient, one LAPP cable harness can be used across three of our units – some being used in Australia and some in the US,” he adds.
“There are sensors that enable automatic switching when outside air quality deteriorates, such as a scenario where there is bushfire smoke in the air, so that the indoor air quality is not affected. For such an elegant system, cable reliability was essential.”