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Originally Posted by edwinhurwitz  I guess my last question is would these strain reliefs be attached to the rack panel or to the rack itself? |
Actually anywhere they are needed. If done cleanly the only thing showing from the outside is a screw head. I've used all kinds of methods for strain reliefs including the round romex box electrical reliefs, and I'll often fashion any metal brackets that are around into a platform to attach multiple reliefs inside or at the back of a rack. A little Krylon black spray paint and it looks fine. Remember when drilling on panels and in racks to catch all the drill bit filings and to de-burr the hole.
On rack panels there often isn't enough space to fit a strain relief so I use a "stand off" post with threaded ends to extend the nylon relief to be at the right depth to make the wiring loom hang directly behind the connectors. Lock washers and Locktite solution is handy here when all your weight is attached by just the one screw between panel and post.
Another useful method in a rack is to install a rod or bar that is attached at both sides of the rack and runs parallel to the back of your connectors. The snake can be tied along the bar with the individual lines exiting at the appropriate location. This type of relief can be placed several places up and down the rack and carry quite a lot of cabling.
Jeez, I'm just full of trivial info today......if you are concerned (like me) about the aesthetics of holes in your racks always measure and mark your holes before drilling. Accurate, consistent placement is the obvious difference in looks between a pro and amatuer installation. Nothing like seeing a bunch of holes in a piece of gear with even the slightest variation in placement. The eye picks up on this immediately.