The Easy Guide to Quickly Selecting a Wall Rack, Wall Cabinet or Zone Enclosure

When you need to install rack-mount equipment on the wall, in the floor or in the ceiling, which enclosure do you choose - a wall rack, wall cabinet or zone enclosure? 

To get the answer, follow these five simple steps:

1. First, you must compare equipment specifications with rack specifications. In other words, see if the width, height, depth and weight of each piece of equipment will fit with the rack’s dimensions.
2. Find out whether the rack/cabinet/enclosure will fit in the location that it is intended to be. (Pro tip: Remember to consider both open and closed positions, projection away from the wall, and the height or depth of enclosures in drop ceilings and raised access floors.)
3. Determine how much rack mount unit space you will need for the equipment, allowing additional space for horizontal cable managers and future growth.
4. Knowing equipment depth is important. This way, you know how much space to allow behind equipment for cables.
5. Weigh all your equipment, so you don’t exceed the load limit of a wall rack, wall cabinet or zone enclosure. 

Additionally, Chatsworth Products offers these handy tools:

• Wall-Mount Rack Configurator
• Wall-Mount Cabinet Configurator  
• Wall-Mount Systems Quick Reference Guide