Rack Mount Enclosures Advantages and Design

Electronics, Instrumentation & Electrical Database

Rack Mount Enclosures Advantages and Design

Rack Mount Enclosures for electronics and electrical systems offer distinct advantages over fixed mount type enclosures. Rack mount enclosures are designed to accept electronic assemblies or modules designed and manufactured with standard slide or alignment rails and locking mechanisms. These alignment rails facilitate easy installation and removal of the electronics assemblies. A classic rack mount enclosure is a tower type computer enclosure. The computer enclosure typically has several racks available for the addition of modems, graphics accelerators, or other computer upgrades. Sometimes, rack mounted enclosures incorporate a electrical backplane with precision located connectors. When the electronics assembly is installed into the rack, a connector located to the rear of the electronics assembly will interface with the backplane connector. Rack mount enclosures may also include cable cradles to support wires and cable bundles interconnecting the electronics assemblies.

Typical Remote Rack Mount

Typical Server Rack Mount Enclosure

Wall Rack Mount Enclosure

Rack mount enclosures are commonly used for computer server modules, wall mount applications, desktop or tabletop electronics, and LAN network installations. Rack mount enclosures are available to industry standard mount configuration, such as NEMA, or may be specified to be a custom design including some of the following features;

• Multiple doors; front and back, front and side, double front and/or double back
• Multiple compartments one enclosure having two or more compartments,
  sealed off from one another
• Window kits; fixed or hinged
• Casters for easy mobility
• Leveling feet
• Specialty locks or fasteners
• Swing out panels

Typical NEMA ratings applicable to rack mounted Enclosures:

• NEMA 1 - Indoor use with some protection against contact with enclosed equipment.
• NEMA 2 - Indoor use with some protection against minimal amounts of falling water or dirt.
• NEMA 3 - Outdoor use with some protection against windblown dust, rain or sleet.
• NEMA 3R - Outdoor use with some protection against falling rain or sleet.
• NEMA 4 - Indoor or Outdoor use with some protection against windblown dust or rain, splashing or hose directed water.
• NEMA 4X - Indoor or Outdoor use with some protection against corrosion, windblown dust or rain, splashing or hose directed water.
• NEMA 12 - Indoor use with some protection against dust, falling dirt and dripping, noncorrosive liquids.
• NEMA 13 - Indoor use with some protection against dust, sprayed water, oil and non-corrosive liquids.