Q: When I buy a 15Amp power strip, why does it say it only provides 12Amps?

A: I understand your confusion and will try to clear it up for you.

The standard power combination in use in the US is 15Amp/120VAC. We like to say the power strips are compatible with 15Amp/110-125VAC because the voltage can vary a little bit without affecting performance.

All power strips are “de-rated” by 80% to ensure you (or any user) does not try to get more out of it than it can supply. The remaining 20% is for things like “in-rush current” that can temporarily cause the power strip to exceed the maximum power available and trip the circuit breaker. For this reason, the maximum steady state power output you should expect to get from a 15Amp power strip is 12Amps (15 x 0.80).

Therefore, the most you should expect to actually use safely is 12Amps.

Until next time, Rackmount Ranger.

Q: We purchased in the past 4 of the ERK-3520 cabinets and we would now like to purchase 6 of the WRK-37-27 cabinet frames. We would like to know if there are any rear 10-32 Tapped Rackrails in order to support a sliding 1U server where the sliding rail needs to be bolted at the front and rear. (Not supported in the ERK-3520 version).

Richard Francoeur

A: The ERK cabinets come standard with one set of tapped and threaded rack rails. Additional sets of rails are available for purchase as optional equipment, so the ERKs can be equipped with multiple sets of rails as the client’s option. The WRK, in contrast, comes with two sets of tapped and threaded rack rails, standard. So with no modification, the WRK will support a 1U server that needs to be four-point mounted.

Rackmount Ranger

I have a client who has a rack mounted very close to a wall in a tight space but still needs a shelf on it. It is a standard 19″ relay rack. I measure 8″ from rack post to wall, which really means I have a about 6″ (since my shelf can’t touch the wall). It would be best to not stick out the other way either, too much anyway, since it might clip someone in the head walking by, but I could let it hang out that way a bit if required. Would you have a shelf that fits this description?

Thank you very much.
Jason Sjöbeck

Jason:

Thanks for your inquiry on a rack shelf to fit a depth of eight inches or less. I think you will find the 9021 cantilever shelf will work well for you. The 9021 is steel, 1U, 6.8”deep, and with a 44 pound capacity. It is the shortest shelf on the market. Here is the link!

Please let me know if this shelf works out for you.

The Rackmount Ranger

I am looking for an educated guess or better on the number of rackmount keyboard/monitor/mouse units sold worldwide each year. I don’t care who sold how many…only an approximate total.

Thanks, David

Thanks very much for your question regarding the worldwide market for rackmount keyboard/monitor drawers. While not being particularly well versed in knowledge of worldwide markets, we do know that the types of keyboard/monitor drawers we sell have an annual sales figure around 60,000 for the world marketplace. We do not know what percentage of market share our manufacturer has. Maybe around 20%. If this is reasonable, then the worldwide number is 300,000.

The Rackmount Ranger

Q: I have a Dell PowerEdge 4600 server. I want to mount it to my rack with slide rails. Do you have rails I can purchase?

Ray Koury
MIS Supervisor

A: The best solution is to contact your Dell dealer and purchase the rails that are designed to go with the server. They should fit in any standard rack, and will eliminate the chance of damaging the server by trying to attach a third party rail.

If this is not a viable option, we can supply Accuride slide rails, but would require some advice (from Dell or from Accuride, if they have it) as to which slide would be appropriate. However, you would have to accept the liability for putting third party slides on the server.

All in all, the best idea is to contact your Dell supplier.

Rackmount Ranger

Q: I work for a relay panel manufacturer and I have a customer that has specified a rackmount powerstrip p/n Flexiduct Model BRXN080-10-FM. An internet search has brought me to you folks. Your website doesn’t include the suffix of –FM. Do you know what the difference is?

Michael Teel

A: The FM in the part number means you want to substitute the flush mount brackets for the standard recessed mount brackets. There is no price difference between the two bracket configurations.

Rackmount Ranger

Q: I am having a difficult time with my PTRK-2126 cabinet. I have installed my components, and there are wires and cables that plug into the front. When I close the cabinet door the cables interfere. What do I need to do?

Jim Velasquez
Pulaski County IT

A. The PTRK, like all the cabinets we sell, have adjustable vertical mounting rails. In the case of the PTRK, these rails are known as infinitely adjustable. All you need to do is remove the components from the rack, loosen the bolts holding the vertical mounting rails to the frame, and reposition the rails further back in the cabinet. Then tighten the bolts and reinstall your components. That should solve the problem.

Rackmount Ranger

Q: A client of mine has a standard server rack with vertical rails they use with an HP server (28″ deep server). Will the VDSXD mount to a standard rack’s vertical rails?

Jason Kraus
Systems Engineer
Deloitte

A: The VDSXD should fit in any 19” rackmount cabinet. Typically, Dell servers of the type you describe use Rapid Rails to mount into cabinets with square untapped holes in the vertical rails. The Rapid Rails mount to the back side of the rail, so they don’t need rack “ears.” Most other components use the front side of the rail, so rack ears are required. The VDSXD does have the rack ears. The only thing you will need to mount them is the appropriate size rack screw, or cage nut and screw.

Thanks, The Ranger

Q: If I were going to use blank aluminum panels to mount components, could I have the mounting holes pre-drilled by the manufacturer?

Valdis Volovskis, from California State University, Northridge

A: This can be done. The only questions we would need to pass on to the manufacturer would be related to the complexity of the job and then size of the job. We would need a drawing of where the holes need to be placed, and an indication of how many panels you would want customized. Then we can provide a quote on what the customization effort will cost in terms of dollars and time.

Thanks, The Ranger