Audio Equipment Racks – A few Basic Notes / Tips
Equipment racks come in all types and sizes. There are standing racks, wall racks, portable racks, and racks on wheels. Here are a few essential tips, notes, and info regarding equipment racks.
When installing rack screws, it is best practice to start the screws by hand, then with a screwdriver or powered screw gun. Forcing the screws into place with a screw gun will most certainly “strip” the screw threads and equipment rack threads.
Types of Rack Screws – Video Clip
Blank Rack Spaces
There are many sizes and types of blank rack spaces. Some are made of solid metal, and some will have vent holes (and the vent holes can also be different shapes/sizes). Blank spaces fill in the gaps to help clean up the rack’s look and provide ventilation if air flow is needed.
Other Types of Racks
The rack shown below needs a special clip (called Cage Nuts) in order for the rack screws to work/fit correctly.
Rack Clips / Cage Nuts Example Video Clip!
Portable Equipment Racks with Wheels
This type of rack is very convenient for temporary set ups. Standing racks and Wall Mounted racks are mainly for permanent installations.
Equipment Racks – Additional Notes
Nylon rack screw washers are only for aesthetics, they do not provide any isolation from grounding.
Grounding – Equipment racks should have enough dedicated electrical circuits to handle the equipment’s load. For New Installations – Let the electricians know that you will need an “Isolated” ground for the rack.
Always make sure that equipment racks have their associated circuit breakers (panel) labelled properly.
Ventilation / Air Flow – It’s sometimes necessary to install a fan in the equipment rack to help with air flow. Hot air rises, so it’s best to install a fan at the top of the rack to pull the air through and vent out the top.
Note: Many audio amplifiers are being built with front fans that pull air from the back of the amp and exiting out the front. This type of design keeps amplifiers cooler, and the amps can be stacked without any heat issues.
