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Post by basspro on Jul 10, 2024 10:23:40 GMT -6
I'm about to add a second Apollo x8 to my rack and I will unfortunately only have one rack space left after that. I know UA recommends leaving a space above for ventilation. The top space in my rack is taken by a power conditioner, which is an older one and pretty deep. If I were to replace it with something that doesn't go back too far (like half the depth of the Apollo), would that allow enough airflow to be safe? Would be a lot of open space at the top of the rack...
My initial plan was to leave half spaces, but my rack can't do it.
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Post by Johnkenn on Jul 10, 2024 12:18:37 GMT -6
For better or worse, I’ve always had mine at the top of a rack with no space.
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Post by basspro on Jul 10, 2024 12:34:33 GMT -6
As much as it will destroy my OCD, I decided to just move the power conditioner below the Apollos. The top space in the rack has about 1/2 a rack space above it, so it will get some airflow.
For some reason my mind always wants the power conditioner at the top, but I would rather play it safe as I would rather not buy another interface for a loooong time.
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ericn
Temp
Balance Engineer
Posts: 15,637
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Post by ericn on Jul 10, 2024 12:47:00 GMT -6
I always put AC strips on the bottom, as much as modern conditioners with lights encourage you to put them on top with lights you have to modify to point up here is why I put strips on the bottom. Unless you have a custom unit with twist lock or Powercon the AC connections don’t lock. Edison connectors and power cables are probably the heaviest connectors in the rack, why fight gravity? On the bottom I can screw in some cable clamps that pretty much clamp the connections in place.
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ericn
Temp
Balance Engineer
Posts: 15,637
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Post by ericn on Jul 10, 2024 16:44:28 GMT -6
Man I was just checking on the Chassis I ordered for what my wife calls “ the Frankenstein-Furman project “ The idea the chassis are about 1/2 an in sallower than the amps in the amp rack, all the power I/O is going to be the 20amp hot patchable Neutrik Powercon, the front panel of the Furman that holds the rather small PCB will mount on the front with slightly smaller screws and washers with the lights flipped so they point up. The max draw of 4 Stewart 2.1’s at 1900w 2ohm bridged plus an Ashly Digital drive rack is 20.25 amps. Amps trimed a bit limiters set for either a max draw of 19.8 or 14.8 amps.
My tech is also modding the Stewart’s and the Ashly for Powercon. Everything has custom rear rail mounts 12 u of rack fun since we are slipping a 4ch digitally controlled Ashly 4 ch graphic with front panel control in each.
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Post by ninworks on Jul 11, 2024 4:56:41 GMT -6
I have limited space in my rack as well. I have an old 4 channel Focusrite ISA428 mic pre with the digital option that the PSU gets very VERY hot when left on for a long time. I had it cook itself once and had to have the PSU rebuilt. I had no space above or below it at that time. Due to space constraints I only am able to have 1/2 rack space above and below it. I have heard that those units need space to keep from getting too hot. Something I did was to put some metal spacers behind the front panel where the rack screws go through it to hold it out away from the rack about 3/8" to allow a little bit of air to come in from the front of the rack as well. I also did that with my API A2D dual 312 mic pre's to play it safe. It tends to get pretty warm as well. In theory, convection should pull air in from anywhere it can get it. Front, rear, and sides. That's my thoughts at least. I don't know if it makes a difference or not but I haven't had to have either device repaired since I did it, but I also don't leave them on all the time either. Only when using them then they get powered down. I also put the hot devices at the bottom of the rack so they wouldn't collect the heat from all the devices below them. Since I wasn't able to put them at the very top where they could breathe well, I figured that below all the heat was better placement. It's a 20 space rack and it's packed with stuff including my computer so there's potential for a lot of heat if everything is on at once.....which I never do unless necessary. Front panel power switches are a Godsend. This pic was when of the XLR panel in the rack. I was still figuring it out but shows what I did. i.postimg.cc/C53q583Q/Rack-Spacers.jpgI put my power conditioner in the middle of the rack to keep the power cables as short as possible. I freakin >>>>HATE<<<< 60 cycle hum so anything I can do to reduce that possibility is implemented as well as it can be. My 20 amp Furman has no lights so it didn't matter where it was put. i.postimg.cc/DZQ9cSgj/Rack-3-25-24.jpg
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Post by basspro on Jul 11, 2024 14:10:41 GMT -6
I always put AC strips on the bottom, as much as modern conditioners with lights encourage you to put them on top with lights you have to modify to point up here is why I put strips on the bottom. Unless you have a custom unit with twist lock or Powercon the AC connections don’t lock. Edison connectors and power cables are probably the heaviest connectors in the rack, why fight gravity? On the bottom I can screw in some cable clamps that pretty much clamp the connections in place. I ended up going this route and it's definitely the best solution for my setup, thanks!
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Post by Vincent R. on Jul 15, 2024 4:44:42 GMT -6
I was having some issues myself with my Carbon making my 500 series really hot and ended up moving my 500 series up a rack space. I think my Carbon runs a bit hotter than my Apollo used to.
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