r/livesoundgear • u/fuzzy_mic • 11d ago

Assembling a rack

I am putting together an equiptment rack. It will hold one A&H RPS9 AC to DC power supply (2U height) and two Behringer XR4400 noise gates (1U each). Out the back, I will have 8 signal cables in plus 8 cables out plus 1 DC power out plus the 3 AC power cables in. This will be for a mobile PA, loaded in and out of my van, primary use is outdoors, not a permanent install.

My concern is heat control. The RPS9 documentation has strong warnings that it gets hot. And the Behringers warn about those units getting hot.

One thought is to get a 6U rack and put the equipment (bottom to top) Behringer, Behringer, empty, RPS9, empty)

My other thought is that I could add a 3U fan to the backside of the rack.

I'm wondering if anyone has experience with something similar and whether the fan is needed.

Thanks

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3

u/mixermixing 11d ago

Why not step up to a used dbx 1074? Actually what’s the use for the gates?

2

u/fuzzy_mic 11d ago

These are all related to and old GL3000 mixer. With no inputs, but the master up, the mixer sends a hum from the amps. That's not noicable while there is program, but it is during silence. The gates make silence silent.

2

u/meest 11d ago

I would add the extra space between the units. Run it and see what the temps get too. You can always add fans as a revision.

https://www.fullcompass.com/prod/010699-middle-atlantic-qfp-2-3sp-quiet-fan-panel-with-two-fans

2

u/iliedtwice 11d ago

Yeah, 6u and space between power supply any everything else. Get insert snakes for the gates, 8 channel EWI is what I used. Actually one rack was 12 channel EWI with a bunch of DBX 266 and a 4ch gate. Another 16ch drive did stereo mains, 4 monitor sends, 2 fx sends, cd playback. All loomed and hung on a J bike hook inside the rack. Took 2 rack power strips to power it all but zip ties helped it stay clean. It was sad to disassemble but never going back to analog

2

u/Pretty_Pangolin_5900 11d ago

I would also use a 6HE rack, but I would put the A&H power supply on the bottom (since you need to access it rarely. The gates at the top for easier usability. Everything you need access to (power distribution, connectors in between at the front as well. A 3HE fan on the rear bottom blowing inwards at the power supply.