19" DJ or server 4u frame rack?

johnnyscience

Limp Gawd
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Nov 15, 2008
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Ok I bought 2 of these American DJ rack mount Power Switches to use on my desk & need some type of housing for them:

http://www.amazon.com/American-Pc-100A-Mount-Power-Switcher/dp/B0002GL50Q

It says they are 19" x 2" x 5" - single space rm - so does this mean they take up 1u right?

Anyone know what the "u" designates? Is that just short for "unit"? So 1 unit?

I'd also like to add one of those small DJ/server drawers to the setup so I am thinking I need a 4u frame rack? 2u for the switches, 1u for a drawer & also a 1u shelf for a laptop.

Anyone know what I'm talking about? I would have to assume it exists? I'd just prefer a simple frame rack:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/APC-NetShel...Rackmount_Cabinets_Frames&hash=item19e72707e8

Or maybe even something like this, but I'd prefer it to have a top piece as well?:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/iStarUSA-WU...088?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item58a429ece0

Do I need to look in only DJ stuff or does server racks also fit 19" modules?

Are there frame rack kits that I could buy & put together myself? All I really need is a frame.
 
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I would also need this frame to be no more than 10-12" in length, I see a lot of stuff is 15-16", but is there a short version of dj frame racks that will only be 10-12", including drawers & shelves?
 
That panel looks to be 1U (rack unit, technically defined as 1.75 inches).

Standard racks are all going to fit pieces of gear 19" across, server racks included. It is usually the depth that differs. Server racks are going to be deeper, generally, while networking and I would assume DJ racks, are going to be shallower by a few inches.

If this tack is going to live at a desk, you may just want something as simple as:
http://smile.amazon.com/On-Stage-Stands-RS7030-OnStage-Stand/dp/B000CD1R84/

Now granted, the rack above is not level for the purposes of most shelving, but it can easily fit under a desk.

Another option for under-desk mounting:
http://smile.amazon.com/StarTech-com-19-Inch-Vertical-Equipment-RK419WALLV/dp/B001YHYVEY/

Otherwise, most racks are going to be self-assembly. And there are certainly a multitude of open frame racks out there.

Do you prefer wall mountable or free standing? (You linked an example of both.)

When you say that the second rack you linked is missing the top piece, do you mean a top shelf? or do you mean a top bar such as with:
http://smile.amazon.com/Tripp-Lite-SRWO8U22-Cabinet-Wallmount/dp/B0041W55YE/

As for what I use, I have a Skeletek rack and am very happy with it:
http://www.dantraknet.com/item/120

Also remember that you can always add shelves, including a 1U shelf at the top.
 
That panel looks to be 1U (rack unit, technically defined as 1.75 inches).

Standard racks are all going to fit pieces of gear 19" across, server racks included. It is usually the depth that differs. Server racks are going to be deeper, generally, while networking and I would assume DJ racks, are going to be shallower by a few inches.

If this tack is going to live at a desk, you may just want something as simple as:
http://smile.amazon.com/On-Stage-Stands-RS7030-OnStage-Stand/dp/B000CD1R84/

Now granted, the rack above is not level for the purposes of most shelving, but it can easily fit under a desk.

I really like this option the best out of what you linked to as it's small 7 compact, but it is a 12u rack, the most I really can fit is probably a 4u rack.

So I am thinking if I can find a build kit for a frame like this, but only in 4u that would be perfect. Does something like that exist? Where it's just the frame & don't have to mount anything inside of a box you have to fabricate? (I really don't want to try & fabricate a box to add rails to, I'd much prefer a frame I can just build)

I would also prefer a square setup like the wall mount Tripp Lite so I can add a shelf & drawer, two important components of this setup for me.


While I do like this option, I have a skeletal frame & glass desk, so this wouldn't work for me.

Otherwise, most racks are going to be self-assembly. And there are certainly a multitude of open frame racks out there.

Do you prefer wall mountable or free standing? (You linked an example of both.)

When you say that the second rack you linked is missing the top piece, do you mean a top shelf? or do you mean a top bar such as with:
http://smile.amazon.com/Tripp-Lite-SRWO8U22-Cabinet-Wallmount/dp/B0041W55YE/

As for what I use, I have a Skeletek rack and am very happy with it:
http://www.dantraknet.com/item/120

Also remember that you can always add shelves, including a 1U shelf at the top.

I would prefer a free standing one like the Tripp Lite or Onstage, but I'd prefer to assemble a frame with a 4u x 10-12" depth, are there any self-assemble frame racks that fit these specs? Any idea on what website sells stuff like this specifically? I've looked & can only find rails, not an entire build it yourself frame with side rails/supports?

I'm not sure the shortest drawer or shelf, but I've seen some "half" shelfs so that should fit fine in this smaller setup, it's the 1u drawer that may be the issue, but if it's an open back frame, it's fine if it sticks out past the rest.

So networking & DJ racks are the shortest? I didn't know that server/networking racks were different in depth?
 
A free-standing 4U rack is going to be difficult to find as 4U really isn't that tall, at around 7 inches.

All of the 4U racks that I know of are mountable to a wall, desk, or etc., but not free-standing.

1U shelves are readily available, and most will not be that deep:
http://www.amazon.com/Raxxess-RAX-Unitray-Universal-Rack/dp/B0007OGTGS/

1U drawers... a quick search shows them averaging out at 14 inches.
 
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What about these rail kits you can build? I've seen 4u front rails and I could take a larger rail frame & take the front rails off & add the shorter ones?

Any idea of where I could find a DIY 8-12u frame kit? I'll buy that & the 4u front rails & I should be good to go, as long as the rails are all made by the same company & the screw holes line up

That shelf would work great too. Sucks about the drawers, if the shallowest one is 14" I might as well just plan on that then & get a shelf to match the 14". It will probably hang off the back of my desk a bit, but that should still be ok.
 
Hmm yeah that is a good idea, but not what I'm looking for. I think a 4u frame is the best for me.

Now I just have to find a build it yourself kit & swap the front rack mounts out with 4u rack fronts.
 
Funny you mention this... I had bought a Technical Pro PS9U last year and ran into the same dilemma. I almost bought the onstage stand but decided to stick with my original plan of building a custom desk. A year later and I've finally started the process and have ordered some rack mount rails off ebay. I'm going with dual racks that will be built into the left and right sides of the desk (top of desk). Studio monitors will go on top of the racks. I'm using pine, rather then mdf. You can find the rack mounts for cheap on ebay just search "4u space rack". $12 shipped per pair.
 
I don't really have any power tools or space to build anything that's why I'm hoping for a frame kit I could build myself & swap out the front rails for 4u mounts.
 
I think my best solution is to buy the 8u Tripp Lite & buy additional 4u or even 6u racks mounts & swap them out.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0041W55YE?tag=hardfocom-20&pldnSite=1

I say 6u because it seems the front rails are recessed into the bottom & top frame by 1/2" or so so it will take up a portion of the 4u mounts leaving me with actually less than 4u mountable screw holes.

I'm hoping the 6u will recess into the frame and still give me 4u mountablilty, with possibly a small gap at the top & bottom, which I'd be ok with I guess.
 
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Yeah I saw that but it's a 25u setup, it's a really good deal though.

I've actually decided to just use a pair of 4u brackets and that's it, no frame or housing or anything.

I don't know how it will work until I try it, but honestly once I put the drawer on the bottom, the shelf next & the 2 power switches on top all screwed into the brackets, it's going to act as a single unit & be as low profile as I could get.

I also will probably need to get access to the power cords from time to time and having them on the back of my desk against the wall inside of a box/housing it will be hard to get to.

I think for $14 that I spent on rails & screws I will have the ideal setup for me.

I appreciate everyones info.
 
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