Piedmont Technical Sales is the exclusive Thermal Edge manufacturer’s representative for North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia
Thermal Edge enclosure cooling for North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia
Whether you are specifying a new cooling system or replacing an existing unit in North Carolina, South Carolina or Virginia, Piedmont Technical Sales can help size the application before you order. We review the enclosure, ambient conditions, internal heat load and required temperature, then recommend an appropriate Thermal Edge configuration.
Thermal Edge manufactures enclosure air conditioners, air-to-air and air-to-water heat exchangers, filtered fan packages and enclosure accessories in Irving, Texas. New products carry a five-year limited warranty, while certifications, enclosure ratings and hazardous-location availability vary by product and configuration.
You know the model you need
Common configurations ship from stock with published pricing and free ground shipping in the lower 48.
You need help choosing
Incorrect sizing costs money in both directions. Undersize the system and the enclosure may still overheat. Oversize it and the compressor may short-cycle.
Call 704-519-4661 or use the form on this page.
Which type of cooling do you need?
Four cooling approaches are available. The right choice depends on whether ambient air is cooler than the required enclosure temperature, whether outside air can safely enter the enclosure, whether process or chilled water is available, and the enclosure rating required by the environment.
Filtered fan package
The most economical option when outside air is cooler than the target internal temperature and clean enough to bring inside. A filtered fan moves outside air through the enclosure, so rule it out if that air is wet, oily, corrosive or heavily contaminated.
Air to air heat exchanger
The right choice when outside air is cool enough but cannot safely enter the enclosure. A sealed heat pipe carries heat out without exchanging air, so the enclosure remains closed to dust, moisture and washdown. Capacity is rated in watts per °F rather than BTU/hr because heat-transfer capacity depends on the temperature difference between the enclosure and ambient air. These units require no filter maintenance and relatively little routine service.
Air to water heat exchanger
The right choice when ambient conditions are too hot for an air-to-air heat exchanger and process or chilled water is available. Because heat is transferred to the water circuit, performance does not depend on favorable outside-air temperatures in the same way as an air-to-air unit.
Enclosure air conditioner
The right choice when ambient temperature exceeds the required enclosure temperature and a self-contained cooling system is needed. It provides closed-loop cooling without requiring a plant-water connection, making it the most common choice for outdoor enclosures and unconditioned production areas in this region.
One limitation on filtered fans: Filtered fans come in UL Types 1, 12 and 3R. There is no 4X option. If you have washdown, you need a heat exchanger or an air conditioner in a 4 or 4X housing. This comes up constantly in food and beverage plants.
Why the setpoint matters more than most people think
Component specifications, not operator comfort, should determine the enclosure setpoint. Many variable frequency drives are rated for full output only up to a specified ambient temperature, commonly around 104°F, with derating required above that point. Battery systems and other temperature-sensitive electronics may require lower operating temperatures.
Internal enclosure temperature can exceed the surrounding ambient temperature because of equipment heat loss and solar gain. Proper sizing accounts for those loads along with the enclosure’s dimensions, material, color, insulation and required internal temperature.
Sizing properly means accounting for equipment heat load, solar gain, ambient temperature, and the enclosure’s size, material, color, insulation and airflow. That is the calculation we run for you. You can also work through it yourself using the Thermal Edge enclosure temperature management calculator.
Enclosure air conditioners
1,000 to 20,000 BTU/hr across four series, all available in UL Types 12, 4 and 4X.
Standard on every Thermal Edge air conditioner
Thermal Edge includes three important features as standard on every enclosure air conditioner.
- Condensate evaporation, so no drain tube is required. The system uses hot refrigerant tubing off the compressor to boil off condensate, which also lifts efficiency. If you have ever had a panel cooler drip water into an enclosure, this is the one that matters.
- Fully programmable digital controller with adjustable temperature setpoints, operating status, alarms and protective logic. The controller can also manage an optional heating package, while Modbus RTU, EtherNet/IP and other remote-control or monitoring capabilities are available as options.
- Thermal expansion valve that modulates refrigerant flow against the real heat load rather than a fixed assumption.
Also standard: a five-year limited warranty for new products, UL Listing under Standard 484 file number SA32252, a rigid chassis with a seam-welded shroud, and manufacture in Irving, Texas.
Picking a series
CS Series, 1,000 and 2,000 BTU/hr
Fits enclosures as shallow as 7 or 10 inches deep. 115V and 230V. The 1,000 BTU/hr unit takes up 17 by 7 by 7 inches and weighs about 31 pounds.
NE Series, 1,000 to 8,000 BTU/hr
Eight capacities: 1,000, 1,500, 2,000, 3,000, 4,000, 5,000, 6,000 and 8,000 BTU/hr. Needs 12 inches of enclosure depth. 115V, 230V and 460V. Available in hazardous location configurations. The widest range in the line and the one we quote most.
HC Series, 10,000 to 20,000 BTU/hr
High-capacity models for larger heat loads, available in 115V, 230V and 460V configurations, depending on capacity. Hazardous-location configurations are also available. Dimensions and mounting weight vary substantially by model, voltage and housing material, so confirm the model-specific drawing before finalizing the enclosure design.
TM Series, 6,000 and 8,000 BTU/hr
Top mounted, for enclosures with no side real estate left or where the faces need to stay clear. 115V, 230V and 460V.
Enclosure depth is a gating spec. CS needs 7 to 10 inches. NE needs 12. Confirm it before you order, because it is the most common reason a unit has to go back.
Maximum ambient temperature varies by model. Stocked units are rated between 125°F and 134°F. High and low ambient packages extend the range at both ends for outdoor and cold weather installations.
Air conditioner specifications and datasheets
Replacing another manufacturer’s cooling unit
A common concern when switching brands is the existing rectangular cutout in the enclosure.
The Universal Mounting Plate covers that existing cutout and carries the openings for the Thermal Edge unit. It comes precut for specific models on NEMA 12, 4 and 4X enclosures, and it works as a template if the existing hole needs adjusting.
Send us the brand and model number of the unit being replaced. The factory cross-references it, identifies the appropriate plate, and we quote the replacement. The plate is available from stock and inexpensive relative to the cooling unit.
Swapping out a Rittal, Hoffman, McLean, Pfannenberg, Ice Qube or Kooltronic unit is routine work here.
Hazardous location products
Thermal Edge builds enclosure air conditioners specifically for hazardous duty, rated for Class I, Division 2, Groups A, B, C and D. Air to air heat exchangers are also UL Listed for standard and hazardous locations.
Relevant across the territory in chemical processing, coatings, grain and feed handling, and wastewater treatment.
Heat exchangers
Air to air
Rated 12 to 40 Watts per °F, in three chassis sizes.
- High efficiency heat pipe design
- Sealed, with no air exchanged with the outside environment
- No filter maintenance and relatively little routine service
- UL Types 12, 4 and 4X
- 115VAC, 230VAC, 24VDC and 48VDC
- UL Listed for standard and hazardous locations
- Standard units include an on and off switch
- Five year warranty
This is the answer when ambient is fine but the air is not. Dusty, humid, oily or washdown environments where the enclosure has to stay sealed and you would rather not own a filter maintenance schedule.
Air to water
Four capacities: 3,690, 7,773, 17,330 and 18,930 BTU/hr.
- Closed loop design
- Filterless and maintenance free
- UL Types 12, 4 and 4X
- 115 VAC, 230 VAC and 460 VAC
- Optional digital controller and solenoid water valve
- UL Listed
- Five year warranty
If chilled or process water is already plumbed to the machine, this approach is well suited to high-ambient and contaminated environments. It is worth considering in injection molding, machine tool, and food and beverage plants where a suitable water supply is already available.
Filtered fan packages
80 to 750 CFM in a range of sizes.
- Injection molded plastic, 16 gauge powder coated steel, or 304 stainless steel
- UL Types 1, 12 and 3R
- Washable filters
- Includes a filtered exhaust panel
- Ships assembled with template and gaskets
- Five year warranty
The most economical way to cool an enclosure when outside air is cool enough and clean enough to use. There is no Type 4X version, so washdown applications require a different approach.
Options for difficult environments
Most enclosure cooling problems around here are not capacity problems. They are questions about what is in the air, what is shaking, or what happens if the unit quits.
Salt air, acids, solvents and chemicals. Corrosion protection packages cover the condenser and evaporator coils, and a more comprehensive package covers all coils plus the brazed fittings. Where corrosion is the main threat, 304 stainless in a Type 4X housing is the sensible starting point, with 316 available when 304 is not enough.
Flour, cement, coal, sawdust and textile lint. Two inch deep pleated filters in 304 stainless mesh, rated 250 micron at 94 percent efficiency, with four times the capacity of a flat filter. Far longer between service intervals in a dirty plant.
Washdown and spray. Seam welded housings for NEMA 4 and 4X, sloped roofs so liquid cannot pool, filter hoods against direct spray, and stainless filters that stand up to chlorine and bleaching agents where aluminum will not.
Vibration. The vibration package swaps in flexible shock absorbing refrigerant lines, adds rubber bushings at the copper joints, and uses silver solder in brazed joints. Built for cranes, mobile equipment and anywhere the enclosure never sits still.
Outdoor, public or unsecured sites. The remote controller moves off the front of the unit and inside the enclosure on a 10-foot cable. Security filter frames are available with or without protective louvers.
Applications where failure is not acceptable. The redundant system package runs two air conditioners that share the load and alternate operation. If one fails the other carries the full load, and if extra capacity is needed both run.
Winter as well as summer. Integrated heat packages and low ambient packages handle outdoor enclosures that need heat in January and cooling in July.
Applications across the territory
Automotive and metals along the I-85 corridor. High plant floor temperatures, overhead crane vibration, and control panels full of VFDs that start derating above 104°F.
Food, beverage and poultry processing. Daily caustic washdown takes filtered fans off the table and puts you into 4X stainless with seam welded housings and stainless filters. Condensate handling matters more here than anywhere else, because a drain line running into a wet process area is a problem nobody wants to own.
Textiles and woodworking. Airborne lint and sawdust load a standard filter fast. Either seal the enclosure with an air to air exchanger or move up to two inch pleated media and stop changing filters every month.
Pharmaceutical and life sciences in the Research Triangle. An interruption costs more than the cooling equipment does. Redundant systems plus networked alarming over EtherNet/IP or Modbus RTU let you catch a problem before it becomes a deviation.
Telecom, network and edge-infrastructure cabinets, especially in Northern Virginia. Closed-loop cooling for cabinets located in spaces that were not designed for climate control. Because the digital controls mount on the outside of the housing, technicians can read and adjust setpoints without opening the cabinet and exposing the equipment inside.
Wastewater treatment and municipal work. Outdoor enclosures, corrosive atmospheres, and unattended sites where theft and vandalism are real considerations. Corrosion packages, security filter frames and remote monitoring all apply.
Ports, shipyards and coastal facilities. Salt air goes after the coils first. Corrosion protection and stainless construction are not optional near the water.
What to expect when buying through Piedmont Technical Sales
As the exclusive Thermal Edge representative for North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia, we provide local application assistance, sizing and quotations while the factory fulfills orders from Irving, Texas.
- We review the application, help size the equipment and prepare the quotation.
- The factory ships your order directly from Irving, while Piedmont Technical Sales remains your local point of contact throughout the project.
- We assist with specifications, lead-time questions, warranty issues and follow-up after installation.
- If you already know the model you need, stocked configurations can also be purchased online with the same warranty and local support.
Because we cover all three states, you work with the same local team whether the job is in Wilmington, Winston-Salem, Greenville or Richmond.
Availability and lead times
Standard production orders typically ship in two to three weeks. A subset of common configurations, including CS and NE Series air conditioners and replacement filters, is held in stock and ships immediately with free ground shipping in the lower 48. Confirm availability and lead time for the exact configuration before ordering.
Domestic manufacturing can reduce exposure to overseas freight disruptions, while direct factory fulfillment keeps the order path straightforward.
If you have a machine down, call 704-519-4661 and we will tell you what can realistically be on your dock this week.
Made in the USA
Thermal Edge enclosure air conditioners and heat exchangers are manufactured in Irving, Texas. Country-of-origin and other compliance documentation is available, although specific domestic-content requirements may apply only to qualifying products. Tell us what the project requires and we will confirm compliance for the exact model quoted.
For federal, defense and municipal projects across Virginia and the Carolinas, we can provide the applicable documentation with the quote.
Common questions
How do I size an enclosure cooler?
The calculation covers heat generated by the equipment inside, solar gain, ambient temperature, and the enclosure’s size, material, color and insulation. Run it yourself with the Thermal Edge calculator, or send us the details and we will size it and quote it.
Do you stock parts, or does the factory ship?
The factory ships direct from Irving, Texas. A subset of common configurations ships from stock the same day. Everything else typically ships in two to three weeks.
Can a Thermal Edge unit replace a competitor’s without modifying my enclosure?
Usually yes. The Universal Mounting Plate covers the existing cutout and provides the correct openings for the Thermal Edge unit. Send us the brand and model you are replacing and the factory handles the cross reference.
Will the air conditioner drip water into my enclosure?
Thermal Edge air conditioners include a condensate evaporation system designed to eliminate the normal need for a drain tube or collection bucket. An overflow opening is provided for unusual conditions, such as excessive moisture entering through an open enclosure. Contact us if a properly installed, closed enclosure produces recurring overflow.
What do I need for a washdown environment?
A NEMA 4 or 4X unit with a seam welded housing, and usually stainless filters, which hold up to chlorine and bleaching agents better than aluminum does. Filter hoods add protection against direct spray. Filtered fan packages are not made in 4X and are generally wrong for washdown.
What temperature should I hold the enclosure at?
It depends on the components inside. Use the equipment manufacturers’ published ambient limits to establish the required internal temperature. Many variable frequency drives require derating above a specified temperature, commonly around 104°F, while battery systems and other temperature-sensitive electronics may require lower temperatures.
How does the unit mount?
Every unit ships with a cutting template, gaskets and fasteners. Once the holes are cut, the unit hangs on easy hang tabs and bolts to the enclosure. Basic tools, no special equipment.
Who handles a warranty claim?
Thermal Edge warrants its products against defects in workmanship, materials and components. We work the claim with the factory so you are not chasing it yourself.
Do you cover my area?
We are the exclusive Thermal Edge representative for all of North Carolina, all of South Carolina, and all of Virginia.
Tell us about the enclosure
Send the dimensions, where it sits, what is inside it and what the environment is like, and we will come back with a sized recommendation and pricing. If you are replacing an existing unit, the model number on the old one is the fastest route to a quote.
Call 704-519-4661 or use the form on this page.
Questions about Thermal Edge products?
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