6U rack with open space or 4U rack with fan?

[romanianreaper]

Trying to keep a fairly portable rig but also tryong to be smart. I have a Fryette PS-2A, Synergy Syn-2 and a Furman Power Conditioner. I only need four spaces but people have mentioned it helps to have spaces between gear.

The difference between a 4U and 6U is about 5 pounds. Not a lot but would be awesome to be cheaper, more compact and lighter. I don't want to have overheating gear though either. If i got a fan, would that be as good as having space between components?

 

[Mike Oxhuge]

Maybe a shallow one like this would work? Also will allow more heat to escape being shallow and lighter.
https://www.seismicaudiospeakers.co...act-abs-rack-case-6u-pa-dj-shallow-rack-case#

 

[Rackman]

It looks like the PS-2A rack mount kit provides an air gap above and below it. So IMO even 4U no special fan will be fine. The PS-2A on top would be ideal but it may depend on being able to reach the back of the Furman. Probably any order will not overheat.

 

[Rackman]

Maybe a shallow one like this would work? Also will allow more heat to escape being shallow and lighter.
https://www.seismicaudiospeakers.co...act-abs-rack-case-6u-pa-dj-shallow-rack-case#

Shallow is good but make sure you have depth for cable plugs. You don't want stuff sticking out the back. It risks getting hit and damage to the jacks.

 

[DanTravis62]

I used a racked up ps1 for many years with no issues - in fact, i started out with a drawer on top of it to give it a bit more breathing space, but it never needed it.

Now the ps2 might be alot hotter, i dunno, but at least in my experience the rackmount kits for the power stations leave tons of space

 

[romanianreaper]

You guys mentioned the rack mount kits and I ordered on this morning. So does the rack mount kit make it a 2 space? In other words, the amp by itself is smaller than a 2-space rackmount area? I think i should be fine because the Furman has a really shallow depth so air can flow out of that space and the PS-2A is not wide.

 

[DanTravis62]

You guys mentioned the rack mount kits and I ordered on this morning. So does the rack mount kit make it a 2 space? In other words, the amp by itself is smaller than a 2-space rackmount area? I think i should be fine because the Furman has a really shallow depth so air can flow out of that space and the PS-2A is not wide.

yes, it makes it a 2 space and there's a lot of air on the sides and a little bit on top and bottom. It's got quite a bit of airflow and IME it never got super hot.
I would put it either on top or bottom of the rack, just in case, but honestly it's not like a 2/90/2 or something where they get death hot

 

[stratjacket]

When I watch touring rigs of artist on YouTube, they’re always racked tight, no air gap. Also even though my rack I showed gets really hot to the touch, it works fine. I’m no expert, but if I was going for a home studio Rig, I’d have an air gap. If I plan to do shows and move it around, I’d go for easiest to transport.

The Synergy manual does have this note:
Heat – PREAMP should be situated away from heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other PREAMP (including PREAMPs) that produce heat.

 

[romanianreaper]

When I watch touring rigs of artist on YouTube, they’re always racked tight, no air gap. Also even though my rack I showed gets really hot to the touch, it works fine. I’m no expert, but if I was going for a home studio Rig, I’d have an air gap. If I plan to do shows and move it around, I’d go for easiest to transport.

The Synergy manual does have this note:
Heat – PREAMP should be situated away from heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other PREAMP (including PREAMPs) that produce heat.

I thought maybe I should put the Power Station on the bottom, then the Furman with the shallow depth, then the Syn-2 at the top.

 

[Mike Oxhuge]

Also remember heat rises so as long as it doesn't make it too top heavy, I'd put the Power Station on top.

 

[Rackman]

You guys mentioned the rack mount kits and I ordered on this morning. So does the rack mount kit make it a 2 space? In other words, the amp by itself is smaller than a 2-space rackmount area? I think i should be fine because the Furman has a really shallow depth so air can flow out of that space and the PS-2A is not wide.

Yes, the unit itself is bigger than 1U but smaller than 2U. With the rack kit it takes up 2U with breathing space.

 

[Rackman]

I thought maybe I should put the Power Station on the bottom, then the Furman with the shallow depth, then the Syn-2 at the top.

In this particular case it's probably just whatever gives the best cable routing/access to the back of the shorter units. I don't think any configuration would have heat issues with the way the rackmount kit works.

 

[BeZo]

As far as the air gap vs rack fan, the fan made a bigger difference in my bass rig. I was using the 300w SVT 2 Pro in a full rack and the rack fan kep that thing way cooler than any amout of ventilation. I started with a mostly empty 12 space with the amp on the bottom, and even with all that open room above it, it still cooked the box. I got a rack fan and mounted it in the rear behind it. By that point , I had the bands IEM rig mounted in it, so it was full. The fan kept it cooler when it was full than when the box was mostly empty. Getting a rack with rails in the rear (or mounting your own) and putting a fan in the back is the way to go.

 

[romanianreaper]

Also remember heat rises so as long as it doesn't make it too top heavy, I'd put the Power Station on top.

I saw they recommend bottom so it goes up. It it is at the top, the heat from the Syn-2 will go up into the bottom vents and increase heat. I'll probably get a fan just for shits and giggles.

 

[romanianreaper]

Yeah i just went to a store and the guy ticked me off so much that I told my wife i'm done with them and won't go back there.

I go in this store and the guy helping me gets the manager/owner to check on something for me. They have barely any rack stuff but as luck would have it, there is this one old used, SKB case down under all of this other gear. Dusty, banged up, etc but I measure it and is is a 4U shallow! I'm thinking for this old case, I'm going to walk out of here for probably $100 worst case.

They guy tries to convince me it is an 8-space. He points to four items and says "see that is four" and I go "yes that is the size right there" and he is like nah, nah that is an 8 space and full size. It is 13 inches and obviously the shallow size. So he goes, "that one would be $400". I was flabbergasted. That thing was rotting in this side room they don't use. Dented, dust covering everything.

I was pissed. I don't need to be wasting my money there. I'd rather have another store charge me $1000 for one, slap me across the face, and throw it into the parking lot, than buy it from them.

 

[TheGreatGreen]

Yeah i just went to a store and the guy ticked me off so much that I told my wife i'm done with them and won't go back there.

I go in this store and the guy helping me gets the manager/owner to check on something for me. They have barely any rack stuff but as luck would have it, there is this one old used, SKB case down under all of this other gear. Dusty, banged up, etc but I measure it and is is a 4U shallow! I'm thinking for this old case, I'm going to walk out of here for probably $100 worst case.

They guy tries to convince me it is an 8-space. He points to four items and says "see that is four" and I go "yes that is the size right there" and he is like nah, nah that is an 8 space and full size. It is 13 inches and obviously the shallow size. So he goes, "that one would be $400". I was flabbergasted. That thing was rotting in this side room they don't use. Dented, dust covering everything.

I was pissed. I don't need to be wasting my money there. I'd rather have another store charge me $1000 for one, slap me across the face, and throw it into the parking lot, than buy it from them.

People talk about wanting Guitar Center to fail, but honestly none of us want that, because this is the dogwater alternative in my experience. For every small shop with a cool owner or couple of people running things, there are like 5 or 10 that are run by clueless asshole highway robbers like the guy in that store.

 

[romanianreaper]

People talk about wanting Guitar Center to fail, but honestly none of us want that, because this is the dogwater alternative in my experience. For every small shop with a cool owner or couple of people running things, there are like 5 or 10 that are run by clueless asshole highway robbers like the guy in that store.

Yeah and funny you say that. I went to a Guitar Center right before that and looks like they haven't really been taking care of the place. Just a mess. But hopefully they pick up.

 

[rsm]

most rack units are designed to work in racks, no need for fans unless you have a massive tube power amp (Marshall monobloc 100).

I ran my Engl E850/100 - dual 100W tube power amp in a 4U rack, no open spaces or fans, with Furman, E530 tube preamp for over 10 years without heat issues:

 

[romanianreaper]

most rack units are designed to work in racks, no need for fans unless you have a massive tube power amp (Marshall monobloc 100).

I ran my Engl E850/100 - dual 100W tube power amp in a 4U rack, no open spaces or fans, with Furman, E530 tube preamp for over 10 years without heat issues:



View attachment 454749

Thanks and makes me feel better! Like ai mentioned before, the whole idea was for me to keep things light and compact if I could. I've never had a tube rackmount, only a Mosvalve back in the day.

 

[romanianreaper]

I have the shallow 4U rack case and Power Station rack kit on the way.