Although it’s already springtime at even the northernmost latitudes of the world, some of our newer clients might be wondering how Ecube‘s products are protected against extreme weather conditions throughout the year. Are the CleanCUBE and CleanFLEX able to function normally when they’re covered with snow and ice? What about when they’re located by the beach in salty conditions, or when the mercury of a thermometer is about to burst out due to extremely hot temperatures?
The answer is YES! Both of our hardware products have been designed to maintain their functionality at even the harshest climates of the world. With over 5000 product installations in over 40 countries at 5 different continents, we are confident to say that CleanCUBE and CleanFLEX are weatherproof no matter if you live near the arctic circle, tropical jungle, or a sand desert! Let us explain in more detail below.
Using CleanCUBE in a bitter cold or boiling hot climate? No problem!
The CleanCUBE is a solar-powered waste compactor which runs on a 12-volt battery, kept charged by a solar panel or AC power. When kept at our recommended configuration, the battery can last for up to 3 weeks with no sunlight. Even at wintertime with shorter days and cold temperatures, the CleanCUBE requires minimal sunlight and continues compacting waste when the solar panel is covered by snow and ice for several weeks. This means that you can continue clearing the snow from the streets as a first priority and leave cleaning the solar panels to a later time without having to worry about depleted batteries.
If you live in a country with very short winter daylight, or cloudy conditions which last for several weeks at a time, you can easily adjust the CleanCUBE’s configuration remotely from CleanCityNetworks to restrict excess battery usage. By adjusting the operational hours of the LED backlight and media features (LCD, WiFi router, speaker), our clients can ensure that their CleanCUBEs remain operational with no sunlight for several weeks. Another important thing to know is that CleanCUBE needs only indirect light to fully charge its battery, so direct sunlight is not required.
To give you an idea of the lowest and highest operational temperatures, the CleanCUBE has been tested to function normally in -20°C (-4°F) degrees in countries such as Canada and Sweden, and in 40°C (+104°F) degrees in countries such as Australia and United Arab Emirates.
As for rainy and humid climates, we have optimized the durability and weatherability by applying a 80μm SDPE coating over the galvanized steel constructions. Additionally, we use tamper-proof materials, such as stainless steel and polycarbonate covers, for the parts that are most susceptible to corrosion or breakdown. We have also made sure that CleanCUBE is flood proof until its battery level (1 meter high in 120L model). These design aspects allow the CleanCUBE to be installed by the beach or seaside without having to worry about an early breakdown.
Summer or winter, CleanFLEX lets you monitor your waste throughout all seasons
The CleanFLEX is an ultrasonic fill-level sensor which is designed for hard impact and all types of weather elements. Its IP rating is 67, meaning that the CleanFLEX is completely enclosed and protected from both water and dust, and can even operate under 1m (3.3ft) of water. The sensor has been tested to push the limits of its operability in conjunction with the battery life, and its operating temperature range can vary from -30°C (-22°F) to 80°C (176°F) degrees.
With thousands of installations worldwide, CleanFLEX has been proven to remain fully operational with no defects or battery issues in countries such as Finland and Sweden, where the winters are long and the temperatures reach -30°C (-22°F). The CleanFLEX has been also used throughout the year in Saudi Arabia, where the high summer temperature tops +40°C (+104°F) and the conditions inside waste containers go even beyond that.
