Re: Best Place to buy rackmounting gear.

[Colin Bradford <colin@xxxxxxx>]

On Fri, 20 Jul 2001, Stuart Grimshaw wrote:

> Can anyone give me any recommendations about where to buy a rackmount
cabinet?
>
> I baught a 3u 48 port patch panel off Yahoo (25 inc postage) and now I
need
> somewhere to put it.
>
> A full height one is out of the question, and I suspect new ones
> might be too expensive (though it's worth a look).
>
> Are there any sites that describe building your own?

I've had several built for me. You can buy the rackstrip from most audio
recording studio suppliers - for example Studio Spares, or Canford Audio
(code 16-106). You build a box, with the sides a set distance apart - it
depends a little on the rack strip, but it's normally a little over
486mm. This puts the holes in the rack strip at the right spacing -
centres at 465mm.

Then, get some cage nuts (from the same people), and install them in the
square holes in the rack strip. Bolt in the kit, and away you go.

Hints:
1. Spend some time figuring out exactly which hole is which on the
rack strip. The holes are in pairs - the top hole for one unit is right
next to the bottom hole of the unit above. Here's a really poor drawing:

[]                   []
[] -- ----------- -- []
Item 1 here
[] -- ----------- -- []
[] -- ----------- -- []
Item 2 here
[] -- ----------- -- []

Life is much easier once you've got this sorted out.

2. Leave a little space above the top unit, and below the bottom - 2-3
mm is fine. Some equipment has screws on the top or bottom, that extend
slightly too far, and it's really difficult t  install in the bottom or
the top if the rack is exactly the right size.

3. Guess too wide, rather than too narrow when building the box. You can
pack the rack strip in slightly if you need t  - but if the box is too
narrow, nothing fits.

4. When you design the box, remember that you've probably got cables
going int  the back of the kit - these need room. You'll be removing the
kit from the front, so you want enough space at the back t  take the
slack cable. One of my racks is wired with 16mm 3core cable- it doesn't
bend that well.

5. Don't forget t  let the heat out!

6. Make the rack bigger than you think you'll need. Blanking panels are
relatively cheap, and look good.

7. Different manufacturers rack strip take (very slightly) different
cage nuts. It's much easier to buy the rack strip, nuts, bolts and
washers all at the same time.

That's about it!

Cheers,

Colin.





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