Kele Blog

Kele Completes Acquisition of Temperature Control Systems, Inc.

Posted on by Kele Inc

Acquisition is Kele’s third since 2017 and strengthens service to the south-central U.S.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. and DALLAS – Kele, Inc. today announced the acquisition of Temperature Control Systems, Inc. The acquisition expands Kele’s footprint and enhances its ability to serve customers in the south-central United States. Temperature Control Systems, which is headquartered in Dallas with six locations across Texas and Oklahoma, will increase its offering with a broader product line, value-added services, and faster delivery options.

Kele President and CEO Richard Campbell said customers from both companies will realize benefits from the acquisition.

“Two established, value-added distributors joined forces today, and we are excited about the future” said Campbell. “This move demonstrates Kele’s ongoing commitment to transform both how and where we serve customers with industry-leading products and custom solutions.”

Temperature Control Systems is a full-line stocking distributor of commercial HVAC controls and building automation systems. The company serves customers in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana. This marks Kele’s third acquisition in less than two years. In October 2017, Kele initiated its strategic growth plan by acquiring Control Consultants, Inc. (CCI) of Boston and continued last June with the purchase of MIControls, which has locations in Seattle and Portland, Ore.

“For the past two years, Kele has worked to get products closer to our customers for even faster delivery” said Campbell. “We have already seen success in the Northeast and Northwest from the CCI and MIControls branches. Temperature Controls Systems will strengthen our ability to serve customers in the south-central region, and specifically across Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana.”

The new entity will operate as a separate brand. Campbell will serve as president and CEO of the combined company. Scott Cross will remain as president of Temperature Controls Systems and lead its locations.

“Temperature Control Systems is excited to join Kele,” said Cross. “Our customers can expect the same value-added service they’ve experienced for more than 40 years. Aligning with Kele will help us meet even more of their needs through additional product lines, services, enhanced order fulfillment, and new digital and eCommerce tools.”

Kele’s acquisition of Temperature Control Systems was effective June 28, 2019. Blank Rome, LLP acted as legal counsel to Kele. Silvermark Partners, LLC acted as financial advisor to Temperature Control Systems, and Wick Phillips, LLP served as its legal counsel.

 

About Kele, Inc.

Kele, Inc. is a leading distributor of building automation products and controls solutions globally. Kele serves the $50+ billion building automation systems (BAS) market with more than 300 brands and 1.8 million parts in stock, including sensors, transmitters, switches, gauges, valves, actuators, relays, and more. Kele’s products can be integrated into existing buildings or new construction. Value-added services include custom panel assembly, specialized sourcing, and technical support. Strategically headquartered in America’s logistics hub, Memphis, Tenn., and with regional locations in Boston, Seattle, and Portland, Ore., Kele provides building automation and industrial customers with fast and reliable services. Kele is owned by private equity firm Snow Phipps, LLC. To learn more about Kele, visit kele.com.

About Temperature Control Systems, Inc.

Temperature Control Systems is a full-line stocking distributor of commercial/industrial HVAC controls, burner/boiler controls, and building automation systems. Since 1975, it has grown into a multi-branch, nationwide distributor. Temperature Control Systems prides itself in customer satisfaction, focusing on providing products and best-of-class solutions as well as training. For more information, visit temperaturecontrolsystems.com.

 

 

Keep Your Data Center Cool with Kele: Part 2

Posted on by Kele Inc

Part 2: Planning for a Computer Room Air Handler

In Part 1 of Keep Your Data Center Cool with Kele, we outlined a variety of strategies to remove heat from a data center. Doing so is critical to successful 24/7 operation, lest electrical components malfunction, servers exceed their maximum temperature, and equipment go offline. The most common solution is a Computer Room Air Conditioner or Air Handler. (These are CRAC and CRAH, respectively. We will use CRAH in this article).

Essentially, a CRAH blows cold air in a set path to remove hot air from the area using a variety of devices keep everything flowing properly. Internal heat exchangers connect to refrigeration systems or water chillers to remove heat. Filters remove dust while fans circulate and distribute the air. A CRAH may also include humidifiers or dehumidifiers to help control static electricity in the air.

While some data center server rooms are positioned on a raised floor with a CRAC underneath, a CRAH is typically located overhead and blows cool air downward. If your data center employs a hot aisle/cold aisle strategy (summarized in Part 1), you have options. The CRAH can be placed to send cool air down directly to the cold aisle or above the hot aisle where it will force hot air up to be cooled through the system.

As your project engineer works through the CRAH system plan, he/she must also consider the list of components essential to controlling the system and monitoring the surrounding environment. These are as important as the system itself. See below for a breakout of typical CRAH system components. Each is listed with a brief description of its purpose.

Breakout of a Typical Air Handling Unit and its Components

CRAH Components 

  • Control Dampers – regulate the amount of air in CRAH.
  • Direct Coupled Spring Return Actuators – open and close dampers.
  • Outside Airflow Measuring System – measures the amount of airflow in the CRAH.
  • Differential Pressure Switch – senses difference in pressure between two points.
  • Duct Temperature Sensor – measures the temperature at the sensor location.
  • Chill Water/Hot Water Valves (zone, ball globe valves) – regulate water flow through a coil.
  • Current Switch – shows on/off Status of fans, pumps, and motors.
  • Low-Limit (freezestat) Detector – protects equipment on low temperatures.
  • Duct High-Temperature Limit (firestat) Detector – protects equipment on high temperatures.
  • Airflow Measuring Station – measures the amount of airflow in the CRAH.
  • Differential Pressure Transmitters – sense the difference in pressure between two points and produces an output signal.
  • Duct Humidity Sensor – measures relative humidity at the sensor location
  • Duct Smoke Detectors & Remote Accessories – shut down the unit when the detector senses smoke.
  • Air Velocity Measurement – used to control air velocity to balance out pressure fluctuations
  • Differential Pressure Gauge – visual indication of the difference between two pressure points. (e.g., measures pressure on both sides of an air filter)

Kele can equip you with every product you need to monitor and control temperature, humidity, and pressure, and to manage airflow. We can also provide parts to monitor compressor and chiller run time to track energy consumption. Kele’s project services team will help you think through your entire project BOM on the front end and select the right components for your system. If you have questions about anything you see above, our technical services team can provide answers

Over the past few months, we covered the rapid growth and permanence of data centers—including the need for speed when building them. We summarized a variety of cooling strategies to remove heat and keep equipment and servers online. And above we outlined the inner workings and essential components to the most common cooling strategy.

Hopefully, you are better equipped with the information you need for cooling your data center. Kele is here with the service and products you need to make it happen. Contact us today. And stay cool.

ONEBOX Becomes Part of the RET Legacy with a New Name and New Sizes

Posted on by Kele Inc

Did you know that the legendary RET Series just got a new family member?

The ONEBOX NEMA 4 enclosure has been renamed the RET4 after our popular NEMA 1 legacy series of enclosures. The RET series has been a top choice among Kele customers for more than three decades. It seemed only appropriate that ONEBOX, also a Kele enclosure series, officially add to the RET legacy with a NEMA 4 option.

With a new name comes exciting new sizes! RET4 will now be available in seven unique sizes (14 models in total), all with optional perforated subpanels. The new sizes are as follows:

  • RET4-121806LG – 1.8H x 17.7W x 5.9D (in)
  • RET4-202010LG – 19.7H x 19.7W x 9.8D (in)
  • RET4-393210LG – 39.4H x 31.5W x 9.8D (in)
  • RET4-483210LG – 47.2H x 31.5W x 9.8D (in)

RET4 will retain the same reliable design of NEMA 4 enclosures, offering protection from windblown dust, rain, ice, and hose-directed water. RET4 is perfect for all indoor and/or outdoor applications and provides a safe space to mount electrical instruments, controllers, and power supplies with interconnecting wiring.

Shop the RET4 Series here.

Explore the RET4 series today for your next enclosure need!

Product Demo: VSI V-Ball Control Valve

Posted on by Kele Inc

Perfect for High-Pressure Steam

Depending on need and scenario, options for control valves are seemingly endless. For steam-related installations, it is important to understand what level of pressure the valve will control. Most steam-related ball valve installations are for low-pressure applications.

If you are dealing with a high-pressure steam application, this ball valve is a perfect solution. The V-Ball Series assures positive, low-leakage control in higher pressure systems, such as those with variable speed pumps. It is ideal for high-temperature and high-range ability applications as well. This valve has a manual operator (handle) at the top.  Most valves Kele offers use actuators instead of handles. There are also many actuator options available.

Watch the product demo to learn more about the Kele V-Ball control valve.

You can learn more about Kele’s wide range of controls valves here.

Kele also offers free customized valve assembly. Our production shop can remove the guesswork.

Should you have questions, contact your sales consultant or our technical service team for assistance.

Functional Devices RIB® Relays as 3 or 4-Way Switches

Posted on by Kele Inc

Contributed by Henry Smith, Design Engineer – Functional Devices, Inc.

A Functional Devices customer recently sent a technical email asking if a RIB® relay could be used in place of a 4-way switch. I informed him that any of our DPDT relays could be wired to act as a 4-way switch, and any of our SPDT relays could be wired to act as a 3-way switch.

Most of us are familiar with 3-way switch applications as they are common in homes. They are typically used for controlling lighting in a room with two entrances so that the light may be turned ON or OFF while entering or exiting either way. A 4-way switch application serves the same purpose but would incorporate three or more switches, all toggling the same light. The first and last switches in the line would be 3-way switches, and as many additional switches as needed in between would be 4-way switches.

To use a DPDT relay as a 4-way switch, the Normally Open (N/O) contact of pole one would be wired to the Normally Closed (N/C) contact of pole two. The N/C contact of pole one would wire to the N/O contact of pole two, like the RIB24P contacts in the Figure below. The following diagrams and explanations will hopefully make this application clearer.

In the above diagram, none of the relay coils would be energized, and all their contacts would be in their normal state. This provides a continuous path through the Normally Closed contacts, and the Load is powered. Let’s say that Relay #2 has its coil energized. At that point, the relay contacts would change state. There will now be continuity between the Org and Yel wires, instead of the Blu and Yel wires. This is shown in the next diagram.

With Relay #2 energized as above, the path from the source to the Load has been broken and the Load would turn OFF. If Relay #1 would have been energized instead of Relay #2, the path for electrical flow would be as shown in the next diagram.

Since the contacts on Relay #1 changed state, there is a new path through its N/O contact to the RIB24P. However, there is no longer a complete path from the source to the Load, and it will not be powered. If RIB24P had been energized instead of Relay #1 or #2, the Load would also be OFF. This can be seen in the Figure below.

Again, the path from Source to Load has been interrupted, and the Load would be OFF. If either Relay #1 or #2 were to be energized at this point, the Load would toggle ON. The final Figure shows the path if RIB24P and Relay #2 are energized at the same time.

When Relay #2 is energized, the N/O contact closes between the Org and Yel wires. The path from the Source to the Load is complete again, and the Load would turn ON.

Any number of DPDT relays can be cascaded together to add more switches to the setup above. There will always be two wires in (from the LINE side) and two wires out (to the LOAD side). Just make sure they are rated to handle the Load they are to control.

Kele Stocking More Inventory in the Northeast

Posted on by Kele Inc

Duke Rogers
Kele Sr. Director of Supply Chain Operations 

As Kele promised in 2018, we have begun to stock select inventory closer to our customers in the Northeast. What does this mean for you if you are located in the region? Above all, you will experience the same high level of service you do today but with an added benefit: increasingly faster delivery.

We spoke with Duke Rogers, sr. director of supply chain operations, to find out how the operations team approached the initiative and what is in store for 2019.

 

Q: Duke, what drove the overall process from an operations standpoint?

A: We feel like we have a good understanding of customers’ unique needs to get parts, scheduled deliveries, and packaged solutions fast. This has been Kele’s business for decades. That was the goal but in the context of a particular region of the country. Now that Kele has dedicated resources in the region, it is easier to do so in a way that is mutually beneficial to Kele and our customers. The key driver of our process was that, in addition to moving products closer to customers in the Northeast, we sought to think strategically about what products they might need and let that create the foundation.

 

Q: To that point, how did Kele decide which products to add to the in-stock inventory in the region?

A: We looked at our data to drive the initial selection. Kele does have a sound grasp of the industry, given our history and track record of helping customers win with the right selection of parts—be that for break-fix or large project needs. However, this initiative could not be built on “gut feeling” alone even if it is an informed one. Data drove our decisions.

 

Q: What data points did you focus on?

A: We analyzed historical demand to determine the products and what the forecast should be. We also reviewed what is being purchased from Kele—popular products—right now and across the last several months. That is how we prioritized the selection. Moving forward, this data will also help us determine the right mix, inventory levels, and what to add or replenish.

 

Q: Generally, what will be available to customers?

A: We want to get the most popular SKUs stocked in our Boston location. The plan is to stock products that fulfill the top 80% of orders coming out of the region. Once again, data analysis drove this and will continue to do so in the future.

 

Q: What should customers in the Northeast expect going forward?

A: We’ve completed the first step in the process by building solid momentum toward our Q2 goal. Customers can expect more orders to be filled and arrive sooner. We are currently satisfying orders daily that meet set criteria. Going forward, we will monitor the SKUs and shipments and adjust inventory as necessary. Ultimately, customers in the region should expect even quicker access to the products they need. The Kele operations team is excited about making this happen.

 

Stay tuned for more information in 2019.

 

 

Product Demo — Kele TT-470

Posted on by Kele Inc

Have you ever found yourself with actuators in hand, ready to tackle your project, and then realize you have no source for position feedback?

The TT-470 solves this problem. A solid-state tilt transducer, it is specifically designed to provide positive feedback of damper or control valve position. It sends a 4-20 milliamp signal to your building automation system depending on the angle of rotation.

Best of all, it is easy to install and configure in the field, keeping your job on track and saving time and cost.

Click on the image at left to watch this technical product demo and see how easy it is. Shop now.

Keep Your Data Center Cool with Kele: Part 1

Posted on by Kele Inc

Part 1: Strategies and the components you need

As we mentioned last month in Data Centers: The Need for Speed!, data center construction continues to grow at lightning speed. Another reality is that, as soon as the data center complete, it operates 24/7. This constant operation creates a massive amount of electricity consumption to power servers, process data, and keep the surrounding facilities running. This much electricity means, you guessed it, HEAT!

The heat must be efficiently removed from the data center, or the electrical components will malfunction, servers will exceed their specified temperature—and relative humidity—range, and the equipment will go offline. No data center manager wants to receive that alert on his/her mobile device. Fortunately, a variety of cooling strategies are available:

  • Air conditioners and air handlers
    Computer Room Air Conditioner (CRAC) or Computer Room Air Handler (CRAH) units are the most common solution. These blow cold air in a set pats to remove the hot air from the area.
  • Hot aisle/cold aisle
    Cold air is distributed to the front of server racks while hot air out passes from behind the racks. This approach attempts to manage airflow to conserve energy and reduce cooling cost.
  • Hot aisle/cold aisle containment
    This approach separates the cold and hot air in the server room and removes hot air from server cabinets.
  • Liquid cooling
    Liquid cooling systems include air conditioners or refrigerants using cold water near the heat source.
  • Green cooling or free cooling
    Free cooling provides a more sustainable approach to data center cooling, often involving opening a window covered with filters and louvers. The natural cooling approach saves both money and energy.

Build monitoring and maintenance into your project!

Regardless of which cooling approach you take, you must always monitor efficiency and maintain equipment. Be proactive. As you are thinking through your project on the front end, add the essential components to your BOM. These are not overly complex, but they are critical.

Kele offers every product you need to monitor and control temperature, humidity, and pressure, and to manage airflow. We can also provide parts to monitor compressor and chiller run time to track energy consumption. Kele’s project services and technical teams will help you think through your project on the front end and select the right components.

Ultimately, your project is successful in the long term when you avoid downtime, equipment breakdowns, and costly repairs. The right components allow you to monitor and predict when to schedule maintenance to hold the heat at bay. So select your data center cooling strategy and keep it cool with Kele!

Shop kele.com or call us for:

  • Air handler components
  • Actuators
  • Controls
  • Flow switches
  • Moisture detectors
  • Sensors
  • …and more

Call us at 877.826.9045 or email our sales team.

Kele Globe Valves and Actuators Help Run Washington, D.C. Condo AHU

Posted on by Kele Inc

It’s not often that we get to see our products “in action,” so we were excited to receive this image of Kele globe valves and electric actuators from Keith Hickman, Control Division Manager for American Combustion Industries, Inc.

Keith and his team recently installed our products in the air handling unit at The Fountains at Washington House, a retirement condominium community in Washington, D.C.

Kele Fulfills Order to International Space Station

Posted on by Kele Inc

Kele’s mission is to help customers win through an unrivaled customer experience and world-class logistics. An example of this constant commitment is the recent fulfillment of Bacharach 6401-0503 refrigerant leak detectors for the International Space Station.

Years before, a customer purchased refrigerant detectors from Kele, and those parts were installed on board the International Space Station. This year, it came time to replace the original parts. NASA specifically requested that Kele be the resource to fulfill the request. Lucky for NASA, Kele stocks more than 1.8 million parts in our on-site distribution center, and the Bacharach parts they needed were available to be shipped right away!

We can proudly say that we not only offer “world-class” logistics to help our customers win,  but “out-of-this-world” logistics as well!

 

The Bacharach 6401 Series is capable of detecting the presence of escaping refrigerants. It is model-specific for five different CFC refrigerant types: R-22, R-123, R134A, R-407A. The 6401 Series is designed to be used as part of a control system that helps to prevent the formation of a hazardous environment when properly installed and maintained.

Shop Bacharach 6401 Series.

 

 

Backed by more than 50 expert sales associates, and a massive in-house distribution center, Kele stocks 1.8 million parts from 300+ suppliers. We can fill your next “out-of-this-world” order or your entire project BOM.

If you would like to contact us today, please email us or call us at 877.826.9045.