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Rack Cooling Options

PostPosted: Wed Mar 22, 2017 6:39 pm
by BenWorkman
I'm currently racking my equipment for the first time, and have an open frame rack (similar to https://www.amazon.com/Tripp-Lite-Expandable-Wall-Mount-SRWO8U22/dp/B0041W55YE/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1490207674&sr=8-4&keywords=open+rack. It will be set on a counter, fastened to the wall for rigidity.


Currently have 2U 40x40 Videohub, a 1U ATEM TV, 1U Ultrastudio 4k, a 1U rack shelf for some mini recorders, decimators, Audio boxes etc. and a 1U Network router/switch. The room has A/C but that's about it, and I've been looking at rackmount fans. The problem is they seem to work by expelling air from the back, which doesn't seem to mesh with the open frame of mine.

What are my best options for keeping the BM units cool? Just pointing a box fan at the back?
Also, should there be 1U spaces between them? I have the space in the rack I believe.
Anyone using open framed racks out there?

Re: Rack Cooling Options

PostPosted: Fri Mar 24, 2017 10:43 pm
by Tom_Bassford
Put 1u gaps between your devices. If you still feel it's too hot then add some fans such as http://www.middleatlantic.com/products/ ... anels.aspx


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Re: Rack Cooling Options

PostPosted: Fri Mar 24, 2017 11:33 pm
by Seth Goldin
You don't want any space between your equipment. Rack-mounted equipment is designed to fit snugly together, with intake fans and exhaust fans cooling the internal components that need to be cooled. If you insist on having space, use blanking panels. Further reading: http://www.dell.com/downloads/global/pr ... per-en.pdf


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Re: Rack Cooling Options

PostPosted: Fri Mar 24, 2017 11:41 pm
by Tom_Bassford
That's not correct for blackmagic equipment.

Heatflow isn't well designed with BMD gear, there is no consistency between different bits of their gear and they rely on shunting heat to the chassis. Putting no gaps between gear causes heat transfer between the different items and results in a shorter lifespan.

In a closed rack panels and fans can be used to create a better heatflow however in an open sided rack panels don't do this.




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Re: Rack Cooling Options

PostPosted: Fri Mar 24, 2017 11:44 pm
by Seth Goldin
Tom_Bassford wrote:That's not correct for blackmagic equipment.

Heatflow isn't well designed with BMD gear, there is no consistency between different bits of their gear and they rely on shunting heat to the chassis. Putting no gaps between gear causes heat transfer between the different items and results in a shorter lifespan.

In a closed rack panels and fans can be used to create a better heatflow however in an open sided rack panels don't do this.


Oops, I didn't realize that. That's pretty quirky design on Blackmagic's part, but I stand corrected.


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Re: Rack Cooling Options

PostPosted: Fri Mar 24, 2017 11:46 pm
by Tom_Bassford
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=nT93aURg8Q8


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Re: Rack Cooling Options

PostPosted: Sat Mar 25, 2017 7:14 am
by Xtreemtec
Magic Heatflow :lol:

The top one is BMD Atem Production studio 4K with its default cooling on it..
The bottom one is with removed fans. And a special bracket with 2 bigger fans running low rpm and good airflow. Both atems had been running for 1 hour. And both with the top lid closed. That was just opend before the photo as the FLIR cant shoot trough steel..
With the special cooler it sucks cool air in from the front and blow warm air to the back. Only thing is that it adds 1U extra rack space.

Benefits: it is 8 degrees cooler overall.. almost no hotspots anymore. 12DB less noise..

Image

Re: Rack Cooling Options

PostPosted: Sat Mar 25, 2017 8:09 am
by Tom_Bassford
I can't see your picture Daniel?


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Re: Rack Cooling Options

PostPosted: Sat Mar 25, 2017 8:15 am
by Xtreemtec
Hi Tom. Yes your right. I tryed to upload it from the forum.. But it has a 1mb limit. I only have the pictures on my iPhone.
Tryed to upload it on my website But Then discovered that my website gone down in the last 2 days.. :cry:

Re: Rack Cooling Options

PostPosted: Sat Mar 25, 2017 8:16 am
by Tom_Bassford
TinyPic.com :)


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Re: Rack Cooling Options

PostPosted: Sat Mar 25, 2017 8:21 am
by Xtreemtec
Allright thanks for that one i editter my post and it is in there now ;)

Re: Rack Cooling Options

PostPosted: Sat Mar 25, 2017 8:39 am
by Xtreemtec
Here is a before and after picture.
Both are taken after a day running idle (no sources connected) in a 2HE rack with closed sides. Open back. With sources connected the atem rapidly Go up in temperature..

To clearify the before was 41.8 degrees Celsius front panel.
The after is 25 degrees at the same spot..

to Be clear the hyperdeck was off for this test. The heat you see here was transfered heat from the atem. That is Why good cooling and putting 1U blind spaces between BMD gear is a must.
But you all know that you can fry eggs on the front of the 4K models when in use .. :lol: :lol:

Image
Image

Re: Rack Cooling Options

PostPosted: Sat Mar 25, 2017 12:32 pm
by MambaFiber.com
4k? you can fry an egg on the old 2 M/E without a fan blowing on it...

all of my racks (esp. with BMD gear) have some kind of fan (or fans!) to circulate the air. make sure equipment intakes are getting COOLER air available to them, not warm or hot air from other gear nearby. if you close off every rack space, make sure the hot air has some method of exiting the case. some of my racks are as simple as a fan in the bottom space to pull cool air in, and vent panels at the top to allow the rising warm air to escape.

I don't care what the operating specs say, if you can't leave your hands on gear while it running-IT"S TOO HOT!

Re: Rack Cooling Options

PostPosted: Thu May 23, 2024 5:50 pm
by PatMarita
Would you attach an additional fan, especially if you have a lot of equipment on the camera? There is sometimes a fine line between normal working temperature and damaging heat.

Its my first Ursa12k and im not sure if this temperature is normal or "unhealthy" for them.

Any opinions on this?

Re: Rack Cooling Options

PostPosted: Fri May 24, 2024 8:54 pm
by Johannes Jonsson
This is what I got for my racks, I have it located at the bottom front of the case sucking air into the rack and vent at the top back to secure airflow around the case.
The unit is programmable and the thermostat it´s self is located close to top inside the rack, between 5-10 cm from the top.
But my racks have closed sides, bottom and top, it will not help with racks with open sides.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/ ... l/overview