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Articles and whitepapers Equipment Racking - What to Use and Where to Put It (2/7/2007)
Custom installation is such a broad term theses days. Is it multiroom audio? Is it home cinema? Does it include video distribution, and how are we controlling the products? The list goes on, but there are two things every real custom installation project has in common. Firstly, wires are run through walls, and secondly, there is some form of source equipment, often hidden from view. The first question must be 'Where am I going to mount the electrical equipment?' The answer to this dictates everything else in the project. For example, the length and positioning of the cable runs, the method of distribution, the options regarding audio and video formats presented to the client for each zone, the price, etc. The second question is 'How am I going to mount the equipment?' The answer to this is much easier - it is a professional 19" rack.
Why a rack and not a piece of hi-fi furniture? Using a rack saves installation time, helps to manage cables, allows for future expansion and increases the lifespan of the components mounted inside by managing the temperature. Rack location 19" racks are the professional's choice for mounting equipment in both commercial and residential applications. While clients may dictate where the equipment is to be sited, increasingly they will accept professional advice. The most important considerations when deciding where the rack should be positioned are whether cables can be routed there and whether there is sufficient ventilation. However, there are other issues to consider too: Security - could someone tamper with the rack,
should it be locked? The other important factor affecting location is the size of the rack itself. This is dictated by the size and number of components it is expected to hold. While there are variables within rack designs, many of the core features are the same. For example, the mounting width of the fittings is always 451mm, and heights are always measured in rack units (U or RU). This is a measurement of the frame, where one U is 44.45mm or 1 3/4". Racks are available in different sizes, for example, the Armour Home Electronics (AHE) Cinemax rack range is available from 9U to 42U in height, although sizes outside this range can be made to order.
Rack components The first stage in deciding the size of the rack is simply to add together the height of all of the products to be mounted, and add at least 30% to allow for ventilation and future system expansion. Once the height is decided, the components that will make up the rack itself must be chosen. Some products are designed with a rack mount facia (RMF) or 'rack ears' as they are commonly known, so that they can be directly bolted into the front of the rack.
Where products do not have a rack mount facia, shelving must be used. The two types of shelf are the fixed shelf and cantilever shelf. The fixed shelf is high load bearing and requires fitting at the front and rear. It is available in vented or non-vented form to accommodate the particular type of device to be mounted on it. The cantilever shelf is front-fitting only, and therefore can only bear low loads, but is ideal for already-installed racks.
Other rack components include: Power strip - distributes power to the rack equipment,
with circuit breaker included.
Front Facias Ð standard practice in rack design and build is to leave a gap between all products for ventilation and expansion options. Front-vented facia plates allow these gaps to be filled so that objects such as prying hands do not get in, without compromising the airflow.
Installation Bases Ð these allow 19" racks to be raised above floor level and mounted into the wall. Pull-out bases allow these racks to be pulled out and worked on from behind by simply pulling them out of the cavity on runners.
Also available are cable lacing bars. These are used on the side and rear of the rack to manage the cable runs to and from the products, and allow the Ôumbilical cordÕ to be firmly fitted at the base of the rack, so when it is pulled out it, it does not disconnect any of the plugs. Adjustable feet and wheels for the bottom of the rack are also available.
Another consideration is whether the rack should be enclosed or not. Enclosure offers several advantages, not least of which is that the equipment works in a controlled environment and nothing interferes with the installation, such as loose objects or prying hands. In some cases, it also prevents external interference with the system, for example, something as simple as keeping sunlight off IR receivers. Planning There are various types of generic design software available. At AHE we train custom installers to use AutoCad. Other products include MS Visio or any other generic 'planning/drawing' software. AHE offers its registered dealers a simple and easy-to-use online design tool that allows the user to plan the build of the rack properly. This avoids common mistakes such as not allowing enough space for that additional power amplifier you didn't realise the client would require. It also allows the project to be planned properly from the rack to the cable management and routing through the property. Finally, and probably most importantly, build and populate the rack prior to going to site. This way you can not only ensure the design is correct, but you also cut and crimp all professional installation cables to the correct lengths. This lets you test the system at your premises prior to arriving on site, and not only saves time but is also professional. If you cannot build the rack prior arriving at site for logistical reasons, the Cinemax rack range for example, is flat-packed for ease of transport, and allows you to get a rack into a location where a welded frame simply would not fit. Even if you are unable to take a completed rack to site, I strongly recommend having a permanent test rack at your premises to allow at least the cable construction and testing to take place prior to going to site. Accessories and developments There are all manner of accessories available for 19" rack products, many of which help further save time, and make the installation more efficient and reliable. My personal recommendation is a cable management lacing bar that fits horizontally across the rear of the rack, allowing the fastening of cables from one side of the rack to the other. Indeed this product has proven so useful that we are releasing another lacing bar that will run from front to rear of the rack on either side. These two products alone not only make the installation neater, and return visits faster and easier, they also prevent gravity from removing cables from the rear of the equipment - still a common problem! Finally, while rack manufacture may seem like simple 'metal bending', technology does play an important part. Look out in future for automatic fan trays with thermostats built in, and more - all developments that are aimed at making projects more reliable and easier for installers to work with.
Conclusion 19" racks have been used by installers in the commercial marketplace for decades, for reasons of product reliability, speed and ease of installation, and the fact that it is easier to manage cables and to service and maintain equipment after installation. All of these factors count towards their bottom line and their reputation. 19" racks should also be one of the most important components of the modern-day residential custom installation. They are however, one of the most undersold parts. We still see multiroom systems installed on regular hi-fi furniture, or in inappropriate cupboard spaces. The 19" rack not only brings benefits to the installer but also the end user, so it is now up to the residential install market to show its clients that racks are a requirement, not a 'tick box' option! Ashley Hutchinson is the Category Manager for Armour Home Electronics - part of the Armour Group that designs, manufactures and distributes products for the home and in-car entertainment markets.
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By
Ashley Hutchinson, Armour Home Electronics
