racks

[vagabond]

I plan to buy a small rack to put a few pieces of equipment on.

Do you need to buy rack rails or do you just attach the equipment from the front with the screws. Will that put enough pressure to safely keep the equipment suspended?

This might seem like a silly question but I've never used a rack before.

Do most racks come standard with rack rails and screws to attach the equipment or is this usually bought separately?

 

[vagabond]

A few more observations/questions.

I have seen rack models that are simply two vertical posts at a slant, slant racks. I can't imagine attaching rails to those, it seems unnecessary and irrelevant. It wouldn't help hold up the equipment any more than just attaching it to the front with screws. So if the rails are unnecessary with these slant racks why are they necessary or why are they used with the box designs? Is it just for extra security or are they necessary?

My other question related to racks is how do you rack something that isn't rack size...such as the RNC compressor?

 

[Emeric]

For half rack devices you can usually buy additional adapter hardware that will mount it into standard 19" racks.

Attaching by just the front screws is fine, provided the device isn't unusually deep, or heavy enough that it could damage itself, or other gear in the same rack. If it is, then rails may be necessary for additional support.

 

[Even]

Rack rails are generally something you would buy if you were feeling all crafty and wanted to build your own box or rack mount something in a desk or wall. I think every rack (official consumer rack) I have seen has rails. These loose frames you see are cheaper and designed for you the home-user to set a rack anywhere. the big bulky case types are for clubbing out with your rack gear.

 

[A Reel Person]

Rackmount gear needs rack ears, so who are we kidding?

Any rackmount size gear I've ever seen needed rackmount ears, or rails, for proper mounting. I'm not sure how else you'd propose to do it, and "just putting screws in the front" sounds a bit crude, and frankly, I just can't picture it.

Also, if you prefer to skip the rack-rails on rackmount gear, there's handy rackmount trays you can get, that attach to the rack and provide a proper shelf for the gear, at which time you might need to get some rubberized feet for your gear, because much of the rackmount gear I've seen has been stripped of it's "feet".

Okay, good luck.

PS: Question: Exactly what did you mean by 'just putting screws into the front' of the unit. I honestly can't picture what you're talking about. Aren't all racks 19", and even on 19" rackmount gear, don't you need the rack-ear adapters, [rails]. Anyway, I'm curious about the specifics of how you proposed to do this.

Cheers

 

[Even]

opps,,,,, and for most gear that is only a "half rack" or smaller. Most manufacturers of those products will offer a "rack mount kit" for 15-25 more bucks. Even many small mixers will have an available "rack mount kit".

 

[vagabond]

Thanks guys, that clarify's things.

Hi reel person. The thing is, the first racks I came across only had 2 posts to attach the front of the gear onto. If you take a look at the slant racks on musiciansfriend.com you'll see what I mean. (Look under recording then scroll down to racks. ) They have no support for shelves or rails. So from that I got the impression that gear could be supported solely by screwing the front to the posts. I thought it was a bad idea myself and had no intention of suspending expensive gear that way.

Basically I was just curious to see if other's just screw their gear into the front without bothering with rails or shelves. I think it's a bad idea but wanted to know if some people did it that way.

I decided to get a desktop rack with preinstalled rails.

 

[Jeeper]

Weight

There are a very few high rear weight and extra deep cases out there that require rear support. Most pro audio equipment does not require rear support. Some of the rack mount cases for pc do however ask for rear support because of the depth and rear power supply.

Some planning on your part is advisable as to which piece mounts where in the rack. A piece that is only 1u high and shallow like say a patch bay that also requires more frequent rear access should not be placed between two deeper cases. Also should you have any higher heat producing gear like tube pres it perhaps be placed where it gets sufficient airflow and does not radiate or convect heat to adjacent equipment. Most gear placement requires just plain old common sense.

Here I like to use floor mounted racks with wheels. My racks are 12u high and are back slanted at 15 deg. to allow easier viewing. The wheels are for convience at hookup time in my instalation. If a rack is backed to a wall like mine are this allows for much easier patching in and out. A good example that maybe you can relate to is the back of your computer. Have you ever had to use a flashlight and try to look over the top while reading through cables upside down???

Good luck and do not let me scare you these are just a few experienced thoughts. You will end up with a more professional install and hopefully less inclined to having a piece pulled off a table while wireing, yes experience again.

 

[Porter]

This is an alternative....
It's a link on the VS Planet about using a piece of Ikea furniature as a Rack Mount Unit:


Ikea Rack Mounts

Porter

 

[mikeh]

I have one of the "L-Frame" racks - that simply have rack rails down the side with a thin support bar to hold the two sides together (at the top and at the bottom).

They are more study that you would think. I have 2 power amps and a headphone distribution module (a total of 7 rack spaces) and it handles the weight fine (and the power amps have more more weight than most rack mounted gear).

While the majority of my gear in in heavy duty racks - I don't mind the little "L-Frame" and if I had the right application I would buy another one.

 

[DaveO]

This is an alternative....
It's a link on the VS Planet about using a piece of Ikea furniature as a Rack Mount Unit:


Ikea Rack Mounts

Porter

That really looks cool, especially for the price. Unfortunately for me I couldn't find that on their US website.