Types Of Cabling Racks
Effective cable management is vital to maintaining tidiness in a data facility. Cabling racks are used to prevent twisting of optical cables and communications wiring. Remember that the cabling process is very clear-cut. Hence, if a single cable becomes misplaced, it can affect the whole bundle is and the repair process can involve a lot of troubleshooting. This is expensive and a waste of time.
The Local Area Network or LAN is made up of multiple networking devices. Some of these components are Unified Threat Management solutions, routers, servers, switches, modems, and cables.
All these should be arranged inside a sturdy enclosure such as the cabling rack system. There are standards to be followed such as the common width of 19 inches. The racks are manufactured to have room for all these peripherals.
Cable racks are necessary to hold the networking equipment for purposes of order, safety and efficiency. If there are no cable trays and patch panels, the cabling will look disorderly. The racks can store numerous components in a fairly small space. At the same time, racks ensure the physical safety of all equipment since some models can be locked. Unauthorized personnel are denied outright access. If the cables are arranged carefully and in order through the cable managers, there is also less chance of data transmission problems caused by excessive cable bends. Cooling fans in the network racks can also prevent any damage to the networking equipment.
There are different kinds of cabling racks accessories such as the ladder cable tray which is utilized in applications with intermediary to lengthy ceiling support that extends over 12 to 30 feet. The rack is used for roughly 75 percent of cable tray cabling installations. The open relay rack is less expensive and it also facilitates free movement of air across the cables, switches and patch panels. It enables heat generated in cable conductors to dissipate. Under these conditions, the cable insulation in a properly designed cabling rack system will not exceed the maximum operating temperature. The cables will last much longer because of reduced operating temperatures.
Another type of cabling rack is the solid bottom cable tray with steel covers. It provides an effective cover for below floor installations. The trough cable tray is meant for normal heat generating applications with an intermediate support distance of five up to twelve feet. There is also a channel cable tray that is intended for limited cable tray length. Also, there is a wire mesh cable tray that is used primarily in fiber optic and telecommunications applications. And, finally, the single rail cabling rack is for installations that need cable installation speed and freedom to relocate the cable.
