How to Size Climate Control Devices for Electrical Enclosures: A Practical Guide with RiTherm

Editor’s Note: This blog post was updated in May 2025 (originally published in May 2022) for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

Struggling to find the right cooling solution for your enclosures? Precision is everything. Without the right climate control, your equipment is at risk of overheating, costly failures, and inefficiency.

But let’s be honest: calculating the right solution can be a time-consuming and often confusing process, requiring an accurate assessment of heat output, ambient temperature variations, and the ideal enclosure temperature.

Thankfully, Rittal’s RiTherm tool takes the guesswork out of the equation. This powerful software delivers advanced, data-driven recommendations in just minutes, making it easier than ever to size climate control systems with confidence.

Keep reading to learn how it can streamline your workflow and optimize enclosure cooling for maximum efficiency.

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Why Proper Sizing Matters

Question@3x Choosing the right-sized air conditioner for your electrical enclosures isn’t just about keeping equipment cool—it’s about protecting your bottom line. Selecting the right-sized air conditioner can help organizations save thousands of dollars annually!

An oversized unit racks up years of excessive energy costs, while an undersized one strains to keep up, leading to overheating, equipment failures, and even safety hazards. In either case, you’re paying the price.

Industrial enclosures house heat-generating equipment that operates under demanding conditions. Without proper climate control, performance declines, downtime increases, and critical components wear out faster than expected. A properly sized cooling unit ensures stable temperatures, maximizes efficiency, extends equipment lifespan, and keeps operational costs under control.

Finding the perfect fit doesn’t have to be complicated. Rittal’s RiTherm tool eliminates the guesswork, providing precise calculations to help engineers and decision-makers select the ideal cooling solution. With RiTherm, you can ensure optimal performance, improve reliability, and save money—now and in the long run.

Introducing RiTherm: Your Enclosure Cooling Calculator

Before RiTherm, selecting the right enclosure cooling solution often required manual calculations, estimates, and trial and error. RiTherm simplifies this process by providing automated, data-driven calculations and delivering accurate cooling capacity recommendations in minutes.

For over 35 years, engineers worldwide have used RiTherm for precise climate control calculations, with over 80,000 users performing more than 200,000 calculations annually. Available in 15 languages, RiTherm helps streamline the selection process, reducing guesswork and saving valuable time.

Here’s what makes RiTherm stand out:

✅ User-Friendly Interface – A guided step-by-step process simplifies enclosure cooling calculations, making the tool accessible to both experienced engineers and newcomers.

✅ Energy & Cost Optimization – RiTherm prioritizes energy-efficient cooling solutions, lowering operational costs without sacrificing performance.

✅ Sustainability Insights – Get real-time data on potential CO₂ emission savings, helping your organization align with environmental and regulatory goals.

With these capabilities, RiTherm takes the guesswork out of climate control. Now, let’s explore how it works.

Step-by-Step: How to Size Your Climate Control Solution with RiTherm

Housed in the Eplan Cloud, RiTherm simplifies climate control design with real-time, data-driven calculations to configure or modify custom, energy-efficient cooling units. The tool ensures precise climate control by factoring in heat loads, ambient conditions, and even altitude variations—crucial for outdoor or high-altitude applications.

Key Features of RiTherm:

✅ Accurate Climate Control Calculations – Get tailored recommendations based on specific application requirements.

✅ Altitude-Based Adjustments – Ensure accurate cooling performance, even in challenging environments.

✅ Multi-Enclosure Compatibility – Calculate cooling needs for both single enclosures and complex bayed systems.

✅ Integrated Energy & Sustainability Metrics – Assess energy efficiency, carbon footprint, and F-gas/global warming potential (GWP) to meet compliance and environmental goals.

✅ Lifecycle & Accessory Recommendations – Get updates on product lifecycle status and suggestions for compatible accessories to build a complete, future-proof climate control system.

Bonus Benefits:

📄 Automatic Heat-Dissipation Compliance Certificates – Streamline regulatory documentation and deployment processes.

🌎 Global Usability – Supports 15 languages and includes a mobile app for on-the-go configuration.

RiTherm isn't just a calculator—it’s a powerful tool designed to optimize climate control while ensuring compliance, efficiency, and long-term reliability.

How to Use RiTherm for Enclosure Cooling Calculations

📽️ Watch our video below for a step-by-step tutorial on RiTherm!
Or, keep reading to learn how to use RiTherm.

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1. Define Enclosure Dimensions and Conditions: Enter details like enclosure size, location, ambient temperature, and humidity levels to determine cooling needs.

2. Identify Internal Heat Loads: Account for the heat generated by internal components to ensure accurate cooling calculations.

3. Evaluate Cooling Method Options: Based on your data, RiTherm suggests the most effective cooling solutions, from simple fan systems to advanced air conditioning or liquid cooling.

4. Review Energy & Sustainability Metrics: RiTherm provides insights into energy consumption, CO₂ emission reductions, and cost savings, ensuring your solution aligns with efficiency and sustainability goals. Beyond energy savings, RiTherm provides insights into your cooling solution’s environmental impact, including carbon footprint analysis and F-Gas compliance data, ensuring alignment with regulatory and sustainability goals.

5. Finalize Configuration & Generate Reports: Once your cooling solution is selected, download detailed reports for technical documentation, compliance, and budget planning.

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Real-World Benefits of Using RiTherm

By integrating RiTherm into your workflow, engineers, and decision-makers can:

✔️ Optimize Performance – Ensure reliable and precise cooling tailored to specific applications, with real-time access through the Eplan Cloud for instant adjustments and improved system accuracy.

✔️ Reduce Costs & Energy Waste – Select solutions that minimize energy use without sacrificing performance. With cloud-based configuration, engineers can optimize cooling setups remotely, reducing unnecessary on-site adjustments and operational inefficiencies.

✔️ Support Sustainability Goals – Decrease environmental impact by optimizing energy consumption and lowering CO₂ emissions. Cloud-based planning streamlines workflows, reducing wasted resources and ensuring compliance with energy efficiency and F-Gas regulations.

With these advantages, there’s no reason to leave enclosure cooling decisions to chance.