Important Considerations When Choosing a Test Rack Enclosure

Finding the right test equipment enclosure ensures you can accommodate your changing hardware needs. With such a large market and so many custom options, it is vital to know the different features that will influence your test rack enclosure choice.

Below, explore the factors that will determine the rack you buy and how you can use your rack requirements to narrow down your ideal model.

Test Equipment Rack Requirements

Your test and measurement equipment needs a high-quality enclosure to ensure hardware protection without sacrificing efficiency and operation. Test and measurement enclosures should provide a reliable, flexible, secure space for your equipment. You can adapt your enclosures with high-quality racks to meet your changing needs.

Review the following features to ensure you get the correct rack.

1. Accessories

Accessories can make the use of your enclosure more efficient and convenient. Options like external keyboards, lighting, drawers, shelves and monitor arm mounts can improve your enclosure’s service. Airflow and cable management accessories can help cable organization and cooling systems, helping your rack run better and clearing out typical clutter.

Consider selecting accessories that will help customize your rack enclosure to your unique setup.

2. Measurements and Dimensions

Whether you are getting a pre-configured or custom rack enclosure, the dimensions are crucial to finding a rack that will accommodate your needs. With different available height, width and depth options, you can size up or down for an enclosure designed for your equipment. We carry a range of rack height options, from 15U to 48U.

Depth and width are also highly critical when selecting enclosure configurations. With the right depth and width, you will have room to store all your cables and equipment without restricting airflow. A too-small enclosure will not have the proper depth for equipment — airflow cannot travel through the rack, and accessing the internals of the rack will not be inconvenient. We offer 19- and 24-inch EIA widths and four depths, including 42 1/8 inch.

3. Weight

A rack’s static weight capacity — or load rating — tells you how much weight the rack can hold once completely and securely installed. While you need to know your enclosure’s weight capacity to confirm it will support the equipment you need it to hold, you should ensure the floor, wall and fasteners can support the load, too. Too much weight will increase the chances of rack failure, damaging your equipment and facility.

4. Single-Bay or Multi-Bay

If you need additional hardware or equipment areas, a multi-bay rack will give you the space for your growing requirements. A single-bay enclosure is less common, as it only suits the exact amount of equipment you have, but it is preferred for customers with fixed storage requirements.

Multi-bay options offer greater flexibility — you can order a multi-bay enclosure and have all the bay options necessary for your operation, even as it grows. If you need an enclosure that will accommodate changing storage requirements or expect to grow into a multi-bay enclosure, single bays might hinder you instead of helping you.

5. Mounting Needs

If any equipment needs mounting, including shelving or chassis guides, you will have to select the correct mounting option to ensure your rack is held securely in place.

Four-post enclosures can have square or threaded holes, while two-post racks use threaded holes only for mounting. Standard rails have thru-holes, but your enclosure needs might require tapped holes.

Along with enclosure mounting features, make sure to confirm your hardware mounting needs. If your equipment requires mounting inside the rack, you will need the correct setup to do this successfully.

6. Ventilation and Cooling Requirements

The hardware in your enclosure might have specific cooling needs. Test rack enclosures can come with venting panels on the sides, top, doors, back and bottom to maximize airflow and keep hardware consistently cool as needed. Additionally, rackmount packaged blowers and fan panel accessories offer extra cooling capabilities for hardware that needs cooling support beyond airflow.

7. Doors

A quality floor-standing rack will have front and rear doors as a standard. These doors are typically vented to ensure sufficient airflow for the rack contents. While pre-configured models come with front and rear doors, you can select custom options without one or both doors to fit your requirements. Choose from flush or surface mount doors to get the best look and function out of your enclosure.

8. How It Will Stand

If your rack is standing, what are its leveler or caster requirements? You will need casters that can support the enclosure and hardware weight without issue.

The casters — or wheels — connected to the bottom of the enclosure allow the rack to move during installation. Once in place, the levelers help you level, adjust and support the rack after removing the casters. These should be rated to transport and support your enclosure during installation.

Further, you will need to decide on floor anchoring. If your rack will be standing, floor mounting might be the best way to secure your enclosure in place. The ESQ, G-Series and 10 Series® lines can all be anchored internally to help with support and stability.

9. Grounding and Cable Management

Proper grounding and cable management help protect your systems and ensure they stay organized and efficient. You will want a quality grounding system to direct unwanted current away from your more sensitive IT equipment. Ground bus bars will provide a central spot for ground connections and help reduce the damage risk from electrical surges.

Quality cable management will help prevent damaged cables, increase airflow and make it easier to access your hardware in case of an issue, reducing downtime. Select vertical, horizontal or overhead cable management options to keep your hardware organized and safe day and night.

Get Custom Test Rack Enclosures From Encor Enclosures

Ensuring you have the best equipment for the job will help optimize efficiency and quality for better, lasting output. If you need unique test rack enclosures, choose our high-quality, configure-to-order rack service. We will work with you to find the enclosure that fits your requirements, ensuring you have a flexible, durable rack for your equipment.

At Encor Enclosures, we offer premier electronic equipment enclosures for a range of international and domestic customers. From our standard data storage enclosures to fully-custom consoles and enclosures, we can provide superior services to meet all your needs. Shop our pre-configured 10 Series® line or contact us for custom configurations today.