DIY Amp Rack

[David Raehn]

Welcome to another episode of:
"I want it but I can't see the expense so I'll give it a try and build it myself" Theatre......

My old amp rack was getting a little worn out and I wanted something a bit more professional looking. I looked around at the commercial offerings and picked out some attributes from those that I liked.

After a couple months of off-and-on considerations, I decided to put pen to paper and hammer out a prototype.

My self-imposed limitations were:
Use one sheet of ply.
Have a separate caster-board.
Be 14 rack units high.

I started with one 4 x 8 sheet of 3/4 ply, nothing special.
I had an old relay rack to saw up for rack rails.
I had casters and handles.
I used Kindorf for the door slides. (I found it to be simpler to do guillotine doors instead of mucking about with hinges and slam latches.

The prototype worked out so well that I went ahead and started a second one.....

[David Raehn]

Here's some more...

[rr97guy]

I like it only thing I would change were I building a rack like this is splurge for some recess spring loaded handles. I once built a 14 space just like this for a FOH drive rack and I used 1/2 inch plywood. Nice job David.

[Tom Smit]

Simple, but effective. I like it.

[David Raehn]

I may yet make up a template and rout out for the recessed handles, but for now I have somewhere around $45 in both cabinets (including the twist-lock power inlets). I need to make one more (16U) for my power distro and give these things a couple months of abuse. If they show themselves worthy, I'll make the splurge for the handles.

And some Duratex....

[byacey]

My small cargo trailer is 61 inches wide inside, the larger trailer 94 inches. I made my racks 30 inches wide allowing me to go 2 wide in the smaller trailer, or three wide in the larger. The extra space on the sides allows for scoop handles to be used, offers more breathing room for the equipment and extra space for power bars, cabling, etc.. I wouldn't suggest this for everyone, but it works for my requirements.

The racks are 22 1/2" depth, front to back. I can put four wide in the 94" wide trailer. I try and carefully plan out different pack arrangements when designing cases and racks.

[David Raehn]

Byacey, I like the power distro in pic #78! I thought about doing one like that but decided to have a bigger one for the whole event. Still building it though (not quite enough time, as usual).

I checked and I have way too much rack rail in stock. I have somewhere around 30 sticks of 44U rail. I'm thinking about making them available here in the for sale section. To be competitive, do you think 50 cents per space per rail (cut to request), plus shipping, would be reasonable?

[byacey]

That's just the local distro for the amp rack. This local distro has 4 circuits, with 4 duplex outlets on the inside of the rack for the amps, and a couple duplex on the outside for convenience.

The main Distro is housed in the same size rack as the others, with a separate compartment in behind for feeder cable storage. In fact, I can stow all my ac cabling, 100 feet of AWG #3 feeder, tails, 60 feet of #10 twist locks, and about 200 feet of various stage AC cables all in the storage compartment.

I built the main distro first and had the front panel laser cut from a cad file I designed myself.

The local distro I built after I bought a special Greenlee knockout punch for the receptacles. The breakers in the amp distro are a SquareD series that have chassis mount lugs, and have screw terminals on the feed and load side of the breaker. The housing is a rack mount box re-purposed from an old DuKane school PA system.

[byacey]

I checked and I have way too much rack rail in stock. I have somewhere around 30 sticks of 44U rail. I'm thinking about making them available here in the for sale section. To be competitive, do you think 50 cents per space per rail (cut to request), plus shipping, would be reasonable?

Honestly, I don't recall what it's worth; but your price seems pretty fair. I would word it as a buck a space, as you need two rails, Ie: 12 spaces= $12.00.

I stockpiled a bunch some time ago, but I don't recall what I paid for it. I don't know how much building you are doing, but I would keep some on hand for your own use.

[y2kindyz]

Byacey, I like the power distro in pic #78! I thought about doing one like that but decided to have a bigger one for the whole event. Still building it though (not quite enough time, as usual).

I checked and I have way too much rack rail in stock. I have somewhere around 30 sticks of 44U rail. I'm thinking about making them available here in the for sale section. To be competitive, do you think 50 cents per space per rail (cut to request), plus shipping, would be reasonable?

Hey David, were you going to sell any of your extra rack rail? Is am interested if you plan on selling some

[David Raehn]

It is still available. Let me know.