Rack-mounting gear...

[LCD]

Two questions about rack-mounting:

1. Should I mount my power conditioner at the top?

2. Will everything mount correctly with just screws in the front? Or is there some other type of support that should be used to keep the gear up? (specifically my precious new Avalon!!!)

Thanks!

-Damien-

[LewKellogg]

thumbsup Typically, things will work just fine with the screws in the front. As for the power conditioner, there are lots of decisions about where to put things. One good approach is to put things you use most in easy to reach places. Another is to mount shallow items on top and deep items on bottom. You'll find the access is better than if you mount deep things on top.

Keep the power cables away from the audio cables (don't bundle them together).

Use patch bays and put the Outputs on top and the Inputs on the bottom except for effects.

Never run with scissors!

[XSergeantD]

one little bit o advice: open up your conditioner and bypass the power switch. There's not much worse than someone killing power to everything accidentally. If you really want to shut stuff off, you can still pull the power cable to the unit



and only run with scissors when you mom ain't around, and call your dad and let him know you're running the heat/air conditioner at your house/apt with the front door open. Doing that kinda stuff makes me feel all warm inside

[LCD]

Thanks for the responses so far... can't wait to get off and rack up the new gear.

[esaias]

Put the power conditioner to botton, why should you put something what don't need to noodle to most accessible place?

All rack gear should be able to mount only from frontplate. Although full-lenght rackgear usually has rear mounts too but they are not neccessary unless otherwise noted!
If you are worried about your rackgear front plates, you could put a rack shef in the rack and see if you precious gear fist in it (this way you can keep your units mint, no "rack wear" ) but be sure that the shelf does not block air vents etc. on the sides/bottom of the unit.

in my rack, I put all the powerstuff on the bottom of the rack and cover them with rack shelf installed upside down. don't know did I gain anything from this but it gave the transformers etc nice little metallic locker space and some hopes of rfi rejection. I also routed all the powercables and signal cables as far away from each other as possible.

-Tomi

[rlsoundsystem]

how about space between pieces?

i am planning on putting my gear into 16space ata racks so i can roll them around.

do any of these need space to stay cool?
api3124, purplemc77, distressors, smart c-2, germaniums, vintechdual72

[mdsmith64]

FWIW, I put my power conditioner all the way at the top and I left a space between each piece of gear in my most recent rack. I could afford to do this because I built the rack myself using 27 space rails so that I had plenty of room.

Best Regards,

Mike.

[Stitch333]

Tube gear and amplifiers are the pieces that need ventilation the most
and if you put the conditioner on the bottom you cant play
with those cool dimming lamps

[mdsmith64]

Might as well post a pic of how I did mine. A picture is worth a thousand words, eh?:

http://www.pariah-now.com/images/Bas...0Rack/Rack.jpg

Best Regards,

Mike.

[clarose_lapro]

When I build racks I like to LABLE everything according to the path. All like cables should follow the same wiring path power-power, audio-audio, video-video, control- contro, ect.-ect. We will usually put the heavy gear at the bottom unlesrs its a tapedeck which should be at a comforitable access hight. The power sometimes at the top and sometimes at the bottom if it is a packed rack we usualy put it at the top. A good distance for audio spacing is 1RU unless it is a really hot peice of equip. There is a good tool out there called a RACK RULER from Middle Atlantic that is really helpful in racks and on the otherside of the ruler has alot of good studio tech tips like standard wiring diagrams and charts. There are some manufactures that build rear supports for all types rack mounted gear, if the RU is longer than half the width of the rack it is a good idea to get rear supports. Good sources would be MiddleAtlantic and Lowell. Use zip ties it makes the cable runs alot cleaner. Put your bottom screws in first. Start at the top and make your way down.