A control panel can be thought of as the 'brain' of an electronic assembly, ensuring that the overall function of the assembly runs smoothly. It controls other components within the assembly and is responsible for its safety - both to end users and to the device itself in the case of an event such as a power surge.
Control panels comprise a number of different electronic components depending on the functionality of the overall assembly. Common components within a control panel include circuit breakers, relays, transformers, switches and contactors. As a control panel is often a bespoke design, the combination of electronic components will be dictated by the requirements of the system it is designed to operate.
Control panels are often housed in sheet metal enclosures - especially where the panel is situated in an outdoors location and would otherwise be directly subjected to extreme weather conditions. The manufacture of both the control panel and enclosure can sometimes be carried out by a single supplier as a turnkey service, or manufactured separately and then later assembled.
