For the usage scenarios of lighting electrical ready boards in rural Africa, it is recommended that the service life of the hinges should not be less than 50000 times of opening and closing, and for high standard or frequent maintenance occasions, it should reach more than 100000 times.
This standard is mainly based on the following considerations:
The strictness of the environment and operating conditions
Rural areas in Africa typically face climate characteristics such as high temperatures, high humidity, strong sandstorms, and significant temperature differences between day and night. The hinges of the lighting electrical Ready Board Box are exposed to dust and ultraviolet radiation for a long time, which can easily cause rusting, jamming, or plastic aging. At the same time, the stability of the local power grid is relatively weak, and the frequency of maintenance and repair is high. The hinges need to withstand far more opening and closing times than urban electrical ready boards.
Adhere to international and industry standards
In the relevant standards of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and industry standard mechanical life testing, the hinges of lighting electrical ready boards are usually required to pass a fault free opening and closing test of 5000 to 20000 times. Considering the long maintenance cycle and inconvenient replacement of accessories in rural infrastructure in Africa, this indicator should be raised to over 50000 times to ensure that hinges do not need to be replaced within the design lifespan of 5 to 8 years.
Material and structural requirements
To achieve the above lifespan, hinges should be made of high-strength engineering plastic (PC material). Structurally, it is recommended to use detachable hinges or concealed heavy-duty hinges to cope with the shaking impact in strong wind weather and prevent sinking and deformation caused by the self weight of the box door.
In summary, to ensure the long-term reliable operation of rural lighting electrical ready boards in Africa in harsh environments, the mechanical life of hinges should not be less than 50000 times of opening and closing, and they should have excellent anti-corrosion and dustproof performance.