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Post by jcoutu1 on Sept 15, 2014 9:42:12 GMT -6
Probably more of a rant than anything here. There's no trick right? Just try to blindly aim for the slot? I sold my extra lunchbox and moved the modules that I pulled out to the other box this weekend. I feel like it should be the simplest thing in the world and take about 5 seconds, but I always end up screwing around for 10 minutes getting pissed off until I finally get them in.
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Post by svart on Sept 15, 2014 9:47:15 GMT -6
Yeah, try putting VPR modules into a 51X slot. UGGH.
Since there are no guide rails like there used to be in old telco board racks, it's a pain. Honestly, I don't remove my modules much, if at all, so the 500 rack has only been a mild space saver for me.
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Post by tonycamphd on Sept 15, 2014 9:55:31 GMT -6
it's a bit of a PITA, the only draw back that i've discovered with the 51x boxes is that when you put a standard vpr(15 pin regular 500 series unit) card in the 18 pin slots, you have to be careful with alignment(if you don't screw them in like my lazy ass), you can cross connect the unit. I've done this 2wice, it relieves a couple fuses of their duty in the PSU, although in a totally harmless way(meaning no fireworks or damage, just a couple 25 cent fuse replacements). Just screw them in, and problems be not.
but i feel you pain, whoa is us 8)
edit; svart beat me to it 8)
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Post by svart on Sept 15, 2014 9:58:20 GMT -6
it's a bit of a PITA, the only draw back that i've discovered with the 51x boxes is that when you put a standard vpr(15 pin regular 500 series unit) card in the 18 pin slots, you have to be careful with alignment(if you don't screw them in like my lazy ass), you can cross connect the unit. I've done this 2wice, it relieves a couple fuses of their duty in the PSU, although in a totally harmless way(meaning no fireworks or damage, just a couple 25 cent fuse replacements). Just screw them in, and problems be not. but i feel you pain, whoa is us 8) edit; svart beat me to it 8) Also something to be careful of is that if you get them off and then slide them up, you can possibly peel the PCB's copper "fingers" up if it's done too much, or bend the fingers in the connector. Both of which are a big bummer. I bent a finger in the connector once, but I was lucky enough to be able to bend it back without breaking it, but not without having to uninstall the modules and dragging the rack out to get to it. |
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Post by jimwilliams on Sept 15, 2014 10:07:22 GMT -6
I love 'standards' in 'pro' audio. A card edge guide?, really, how hard is it to fit those in a rack frame? It's a piece of plastic that costs about a dime.
Sometimes you think the rest of the electronics industry laughs at us, probably thinking the Three Stooges of EE design some of that stuff.
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Post by tonycamphd on Sept 15, 2014 10:15:21 GMT -6
"whoa is us" ^ = sarcasm 8)
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Post by winetree on Sept 15, 2014 17:41:04 GMT -6
+1 Tony, All 8 of my racks are 51X (18 pin) and when I move modules from room to room it's a pain. I have to make sure the edge connector is at the very top of the connector before pushing it in. There was talk, at one time, of a 3 pin dummy card that would be placed in the bottom 3 pin connectors to stop the misaligned shorting out, but that never happened. My Kepex rack has the plastic top and bottom guides, makes it a lot easier. When I built my first 51X rack I wondered why they weren't there.
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Post by warren on Sept 16, 2014 1:26:25 GMT -6
Could try those radial racks, think they have guide rails for easy installation
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ericn
Temp
Balance Engineer
Posts: 14,967 
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Post by ericn on Sept 16, 2014 1:49:58 GMT -6
Even my original Aphex 4 space lunchbox can be a pain in the ass , especially with enclosed modules. The trick with the 51x is to start in the middle or with a space empty so you can see what your doing, still the end slots are a pain!
I try to plug it and leave it rather than swap modules in and out, honestly Stiegers CAPI racks are inexpensive enough that when I out grow the 15 slots I have I'll just add another rack, plus the trimmed down DDA console PSU I'm using should be able to power at least. 4 racks !
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ericn
Temp
Balance Engineer
Posts: 14,967
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Post by ericn on Sept 16, 2014 1:58:53 GMT -6
My original rack that I gave away when I bought my 51X was a simple open card frame with edge connectors that were wired to a patchbay and PSU it wasn't pretty , but since there was no back plane and the connectors were not ermanatly attached to the frame and had at Least 5in of wire it was really easy to plug and in plug modules .
The modules were screwed to frame and I never had a problem with loose edge connectors. Now that I think of it might have to revisit that set up when it comes time to expand the 500 rack.
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Post by jcoutu1 on Sept 16, 2014 5:01:44 GMT -6
Could try those radial racks, think they have guide rails for easy installation I have the Radial... it's still a pain. I found that if I rack from Right to Left, it's a bit easier. You can see the connector better to line it up, at least until you get to the last module. |
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