DIY Equipment Racks

From: Doc Shipley <doc_at_mdrconsult.com>
Date: Sun Dec 29 21:21:00 2002

On Sun, 29 Dec 2002, R. D. Davis wrote:

> Lastly, has anyone on this list tried retrofitting non-rack-mount
> equipment into racks? E.g., welding (or "JB Weld"ing) rack-mount tabs
> onto systems like PCs and Kaypros, as well as making rack-mountable
> shelves to hold the Macintoshes, etc.? Just trying to think of ways
> to save space. Stacking system on top of system, helter skelter, as
> systems are added, tends to result in rather annoying, space hogging,
> piles of systems after a while, making some systems difficult to get
> to at times.

  Well, it sounds workable, but it's honestly probably more expensive
than buying a used rack. My boss just bought one, a 72"x19" with 2 PDU
bars, front and rear doors, and 8 shelves, for $85.
  One of the VERY nice features of a fully enclosed rack, wood or steel,
is the noise reduction. We had 4 PCs, a Cisco router, a 43P RS/6000,
and my Ultra1 going in there. Now everything but the Cisco is in the
rack, and the noise level has been cut by at least half. We
rubber-glued thin, dense foam inside the side panels and doors (being
careful not to restrict airflow).

  Machine room/office is much neater, much cooler, since we stuck the
rack under the return-air duct, and *much* quieter.


        Doc
Received on Sun Dec 29 2002 - 21:21:00 GMT