Re: Does Rack depth matter, if open backed ?

[Jim Noble <yahoo-groups@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

noughtomate wrote:
> Hi,
> I have a small 6u rack, which serves for most of my Media Distribution
> and Home Automation purposes.
> Earlier this week, I raised a thread in this forum about Server
Chassis
> cases. I hadn't considered depth at the time, but I guess it is
> something I should think about.
> My rack is had a 300mm depth, but it is open backed. So I'm wondering
> if the depth of any given rack mount component matters,  if the rack
is
> open backed.
> Also, would a 'deep' rack mount item have rabbit ears or clips at the
> back to clip it to the back of the rack ? I'm just thinking about the
> case where are deeper device needs support at the back. Would it have
> ears / screw clip points at a standardised depth, say 300mm or 400mm ?
>

A 300mm depth rack probably won't be as strong as a deeper rack
(...which is designed to take deeper, heavier equipment). I wouldn't
want to mount a deep 1U case in one just from the front, and if you want
to use rack rails they will definitely need a rear mounting point.
Taller cases (3-4U+) can get away without having attachment points at
the back more easily (less leverage on the mounting points) though.

You can get short rackmount cases, eg the Janus range, and Travla do
some for mini-itx boards as well.

I have a 300mm deep 4U uATX chassis from Kontron. It's very well made,
and fits nicely in the 400mm deep rack that I have in a cupboard, but
it's very difficult to keep cool. (I have to leave both the rack and
cupboard doors open, which kind of defeats the purpose of putting in a
cupboard really...)

Jim

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