What is DIN Rail Mounting?

DIN rails are a common method for installing industrial computers alongside other equipment in an electrical cabinet, rack, or on a wall. But what is DIN rail mounting? And for that matter, what exactly is a DIN rail? In our latest Tech Edge video, we take you through the basics. Check out the video, or read the summary below.

What is DIN rail mounting and what does DIN stand for?

DIN rails are named after the German translation of the German Institute of Standards where this particular rail-mounting system was first established in the late 1920s. The rails come in a few different variations, but have similar characteristics around the world, making them a great mounting solution for all sorts of electrical equipment. Because of their utility, these DIN standards were later adopted by the IEC: International Electrotechnical Commission and became IEC/EN 60715.

Depending on the particular equipment you’re trying to mount as well as the rails you’re using, there will likely be some differences. Looking at DIN rail dimensions, there can be some variations in the shape, but the most common DIN rail (often referred to as a top-hat DIN rail) is 35mm wide and comes in depths of 7.5mm and 15mm (all OnLogic systems fit on both depths).

Let’s take a look at two DIN rail mounting examples from our own product line.

How to install DIN rail

For some systems like the CL200, the DIN rail clips install directly to the chassis.

For other industrial systems, like the Helix 500, the first step is to attach its wall mounting brackets. These will serve as the mounting points for the actual DIN Rail clips.

The next step is to attach the DIN rail mounting bracket to the wall mounting brackets. Now you’re ready to mount the system.

To mount it on the DIN rail, you simply seat the bottom of the clip into the bottom channel of the rail, then press in and up slightly until it clicks into place.

So there you go, that’s how you install an industrial PC on a DIN rail. If you enjoyed the video above, give it a like and subscribe to our YouTube channel for more related content. If you have any more questions about DIN rail mounting, be sure to contact us today!

This blog was originally posted on May 13th, 2021. It was updated for content on April 20th, 2022.