HP Rack System/E User manual

Hewlett-Packard
Rack System/E User’s Manual
J1500A HP Rack System/E41
J1501A HP Rack System/E33
J1502A HP Rack System/E25
HP Part Number 5967-6409
Printed in July 1998

Notice
The information contained in this document is subject to change without notice.
Hewlett-Packard makes no warranty of any kind with regard to this material, including,
but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular
purpose.
Hewlett-Packard shall not be liable for errors contained herein or for incidental or consequential
damages in connection with the furnishing, performance, or use of this material.
This document contains proprietary information that is protected by copyright. All rights are
reserved. No part of this document may be photocopied, reproduced, or translated to another
language without the prior written consent of Hewlett-Packard Company.
Hewlett-Packard Company
333 Logue Ave.
Mountain View, CA 94043
© Copyright 1998, Hewlett-Packard Company.

iii
Contents
1 Safety and Regulatory Information................................................................1
Safety Warnings.................................................................................................1
Grounding......................................................................................................1
Leakage Current............................................................................................2
Power Limitations ..........................................................................................2
Cabinet Stability.............................................................................................2
Accessories ...................................................................................................2
2 Description .......................................................................................................3
Standard Racks .................................................................................................3
Physical Specifications..................................................................................4
Accessories........................................................................................................7
3 Installation Guidelines...................................................................................11
Floor Space and Loading.................................................................................11
Rack Space .................................................................................................11
Installing Equipment in the Rack .....................................................................11
Ventilation and Heat Dissipation..................................................................11
Installing Rail Mounted Equipment into the Rack........................................12
Stability........................................................................................................13
4 Procedures .....................................................................................................19
Receiving .........................................................................................................19
Unpacking, Handling and Moving................................................................19
Secure the Rack..........................................................................................21
Repackaging the Rack for Shipment...........................................................22
Installation of Standard Rack Accessories ......................................................22
Installing Universal Shelf..................................................................................23
Installing Keyboard Shelf.................................................................................24
Installing Monitor Shelf.....................................................................................26
Installing Filler Panels......................................................................................28
Installing Lifting Hooks.....................................................................................29
Installing Spacers.............................................................................................30
Installing Front Door.........................................................................................31
Installing Cable Guide......................................................................................33
Installing Side Panels.......................................................................................35
Reversing Rear Door.......................................................................................36

1
1 Safety and Regulatory Information
For your protection, this product has been tested for conformance to various national and
international regulations and standards. The scope of this regulatory testing includes electrical
and mechanical safety, electromagnetic emissions, immunity, ESD, acoustics, and hazardous
materials.
Where required, certifications are obtained from third party test agencies. Certification marks
appear on the product label. In addition, various regulatory bodies require some information
under the headings below.
This product and related documentation must be reviewed for familiarization with safety
markings and instructions before operation.
WARNING The WARNING sign denotes a hazard. It calls attention to a procedure,
practice, or situation which, if not done correctly or adhered to, could result
in injury. Do not proceed beyond a WARNING sign until the indicated
conditions are fully understood and met.
CAUTION The CAUTION sign denotes a hazard. It calls attention to an operating
procedure, practice, or situation which, if not done correctly or adhered to,
could damage or destroy part or the entire product. Do not proceed beyond a
CAUTION sign until the indicated conditions are fully understood and met.
Safety Warnings
The following warnings and cautions are applicable to the System/E rack. Please observe all
safety precautions and warnings.
This product has not been evaluated for connection to an IT power system (an AC distribution
system having no direct connection to earth (ground)- according to EN60950.
Grounding
WARNING This is a safety class I product and has a protective earthing (grounding)
terminal. There must be an uninterruptable safety earth ground from the
main power source to the product’s input wiring terminals, power cord, or
supplied cord set. Whenever it is likely that the protection has been
impaired, disconnect the power cord until the ground has been restored.

Chapter 1 Safety and Regulatory Information
2
Leakage Current
WARNING Due to types of products that can be installed in this cabinet, there is a risk of
high leakage current (3.5 mA). Reliable ground circuit continuity is vital for
safe operation of this product. To reduce the risk of electric shock, earth
(ground) connection is essential before connecting the power supply. Never
operate this cabinet with the ground conductor disconnected.
Power Limitations
CAUTION To reduce the risk of overload, do not load any single PDU with more than a
maximum of 16 Amperes. In addition, do not load a single NEMA 5-15 or
IEC-320 receptacle with more than 15 Amperes.
Cabinet Stability
CAUTION To reduce the risk of cabinet instability, fully extend the anti-tip mechanism
before extending any devices. Extend only one device at a time. Do not
stand or sit on any extended device. Qualified service personnel should do
all non-operator servicing.
Accessories
CAUTION This product is designed for use with specific electrical accessories (i.e.,
PDUs and fans). The use of any other accessory is not recommended or
supported.

3
2 Description
The HP 19-inch Electronics Industries Association (EIA) racks, options, and accessories are
designed specifically to meet the needs of HP computer and instrumentation customers and
make installing devices in rack mounting systems simple.
Standard Racks
Your standard HP rack is a welded steel frame with removable top, rear doors, casters, leveling
feet and an anti-tip mechanism as shown in Figure 2-1. The top piece is 16-gauge, cold rolled
steel. The base piece is 11-gauge, hot rolled steel. Threaded grounding studs are provided near
the base of every column, and at the top rear.
Racks heights are measured in meters, inches, EIA units, and “U.” 1 EIA unit equals 1 U, which
equals 44.45 mm (1.75 in).
Internally, rails that hold your equipment lock into slots in the vertical mounting columns and
are fastened to the columns with screws. Columns are numbered for easy placement. The
extendable anti-tip mechanism is bi-directional. An extendible top adds 8U of height. Tie-
together kits allow easy, secure mating of cabinets. Tops and doors are perforated for maximized
cooling. Tied together racks with the accessories are shown in Figure 2-2.
Anti-tip mechanism
Top cap
Front
Figure 2-1. Two Basic Racks (excluding Rear Door) Tied Together

Chapter 2 Description
4
Figure 2-2. Two Views of Tied racks showing Accessories
Physical Specifications
The physical specifications for the System/E racks are given below.
Packaged Height Width Depth Weight
1.25m (E25) Rack 1.48 m (58.5 in) 1.016 m (40 in) 1.22 m (48 in) 124.5 kg (274 lbs)
1.6m (E33) Rack 1.84 m (72.5 in) 1.016 m (40 in) 1.22 m (48 in) 133.2 kg (293 lbs)
1.96m (E41) Rack 2.2 m (86.5 in) 1.016 m (40 in) 1.22 m (48 in) 142.7 kg (314 lbs)
Unpackaged
1.25m (E25) Rack 1.26 m – 25U
(49.5 in) 59.7 cm (23.5 in) 92.7 cm (36.5 in) 72.7 kg (160 lbs)
1.6m (E33) Rack 1.61 m – 33U
(63.5 in) 59.7 cm (23.5 in) 92.7 cm (36.5 in) 78.6 kg (173 lbs)
1.96m (E41) Rack 1.97 m – 41U
(77.5 in) 59.7 cm (23.5 in) 92.7 cm (36.5 in) 85.5 kg (188 lbs)
The following parts are standard with every System/E rack.
Top Cap and Forehead
The top cap is 16-gauge, cold rolled
steel (CRS). The top cap and forehead
are attached at the factory. The top of
the rack incorporates a ventilation path
through the roof of the rack and a
convection current heat exit for the heat
generated by the installed equipment.
Heat removal can be augmented with an
extractor fan assembly.

Chapter 2 Description
5
Heavy-duty Columns
The rack columns are a folded design
made of 12-gauge rolled steel that
supports up to 2000 lbs. Running up the
inside of the fold are square mounting
slots for the rails, and screw holes for
securing the rails. The hole placement
conforms to EIA standards.
The mounting columns are welded into
place at the bottom corners of the frame,
and bolted at the top. The columns
accept supporting rails into mounting
slots. Each support rail pair attaches
between the front and rear columns. The
equipment is then mounted on the
support rails.
The mounting columns have pre-
positioned threaded inserts pressed into
the hexagonal accessories holes in the
front faces of the columns. The inserts
are positioned to accept tie brackets,
hinges, latches, and PDUs.
One
EIA unit
or “U”
Threaded inserts
Anti-Tip Mechanism
Standard on the System/E is a
retractable anti-tip mechanism. Located
at the bottom center of the rack, it
provides temporary additional stability
when installing or removing equipment
components. It is recommended that
you extend the anti-tip mechanism prior
to extending any slide-out equipment.
WARNING The stability work sheets should be used whenever a new system is
configured, or a change to a system is made, to assure rack stability.

Chapter 2 Description
6
Heavy-Duty Casters
Each System/E is provided with four,
7.6 cm (3 in) diameter, smooth rolling,
heavy-duty urethane casters to facilitate
moves over short distances. The casters
are rated at 454.5 kg (1000 lbs) per
caster.
CAUTION A fully loaded cabinet’s maximum gross weight of 995 kg (2188 lbs) can
overload a raised floor.
Leveling Feet
Four adjustable leveling feet come with
the rack for stability and leveling.
Levelers are located in each corner to
level and stabilize the rack. For
maximum accuracy, use a level while
adjusting the feet.
Rear Door
The rear door comes installed from the
factory. Standard is a right-opening,
perforated rear door with a lockable
slam latch and sheetmetal catch
providing ventilation and security. The
rear door can be mounted to open from
either the left or the right. They are
perforated for maximum airflow. They
lift on and off their hinges when open to
about 45 degrees. The 1.96 m door
weighs 11.8 kg (26 lbs). The 1.6 m rear
door weighs 9.1 kg (20 lbs). The 1.25 m
rear door weighs 7.7 kg (17 lbs).

Chapter 2 Description
7
Accessories
To complement the functionality of your standard rack, a wide assortment of accessories is available.
These accessories are shown below. These accessories allow you to complete your system with only the
items you require while providing you a certified and tested solution.
Tie-together kit
J1512A
J1513A
Cable guide
E7723B
PDU
E7670A
E7671A
E7672A
E7674A
E7675A
E7676A
Side panel
J1506A
J1507A
J1508A
Front door
J1509A
J1510A
J1511A
Filler panel
J1514A Lifting hooks
J1521A
Monitor tray
J1519A
Keyboard tray
J1518A
Universal shelf
J1520A
PDUs
The HP Power Distribution Units (PDUs) are designed to provide flexibility for your power
requirements. To provide power to the rack, a PDU must be ordered as an accessory. There are
different types of PDUs available for different voltages. All input leads from the mains, except
safety ground, are interrupted in the event of a short circuit.
The PDUs can be mounted both vertically and horizontally on the rear rack columns, depending
on your rack configuration. If you purchased the bundle containing both the 10 and 16-amp
products, you can connect them to each other with the provided cord. Use the EIA holes for
horizontal mounting, and the accessory holes for vertical mounting.
Each rack can be equipped with up to four PDUs. Each PDU must be purchased as an accessory.
Figure 2-3 shows some PDU Mounting schemes.

Chapter 2 Description
8
Figure 2-3. PDU Attachment Schemes
A maximum of four PDUs can be installed in the 1.6m and 1.96m racks.
Refer to the installation instructions that come with the PDU units E7670A, E7671A, E7672A,
E7674A, E7675A, and E7676A for instructions, details, warnings and safety certificate.
Circuit Protector
The PDU is equipped with a circuit protector for each power phase. If one phase shorts or
overloads, one or both of the circuit protectors in the PDU trip. Unplug the PDU before trying to
locate and correct the electrical problem then reset both circuit protectors on the PDU to restore
power to the rack.
European Cabling
Some products sold in Europe are shipped without a power plug on the end of the PDU cable. It
is the responsibility of the customer to supply the correct installation according to local electrical
and building codes.
Optional Cables
The following option cables are available.

Chapter 2 Description
9
P/N Volt/Current Connector Plug
Type Length
E7742A 250V / 10AMP C13 C14 90”
E7743A 125V / 10 AMP C13 5-15P 90”
E7798A 250V / 16AMP C19 C20 2.5m
E7799A* 250V / 16AMP C19 L6-30P 2.5m
E7800A 250V / 16AMP C19 None 2.5m
E7801A 250V / 16AMP C19 L6-20P 2.5m
E7802A 120V / 16AMP C19 5-20P 4.5m
E7803A 250V / 16AMP C19 L6-20P 4.5m
E7804A 250V / 16AMP C19 320-C20 4.0m
E7805A* 240V / 16AMP C19 L6-30P 4.5m
E7806A 240V / 16AMP C19 none 4.5m
* For use with an Uninterruptable Power Supply (UPS) only.
Front Door
Standard is a right-opening, perforated front door with a lockable slam latch and sheetmetal
catch providing ventilation and security. The rear door can be mounted to open from either the
left or the right.
Support Rails
Some equipment is supported in the rack by support rails running from front to back. The rails
are screwed to the vertical columns
Only after securing a pair of rails with screws can equipment be installed.
The mounting slots in the columns are positioned to make support rail placement convenient in
EIA units.
Rack Lifting Hooks
Four lifting hooks can be fitted to the top of the rack. Together, they can support the weight of a
rack loaded to maximum recommended gross weight. Each hook is capable of supporting 248.6
kg (547 lbs). Maximum recommended gross weight is 995 kg (2188 lbs).
Side Panels
Sectioned side panels are injection molded PC-ABS plastic and come in two sizes: 9 EIA unit
and 8 EIA unit. All three racks use the 9 EIA unit panel at the bottom, and 8 EIA unit panels for
the remainder. Pull out-and-off side panels allow fast and easy access from either side for
installation, servicing, and removal of equipment.
Filler Panels
To ensure adequate cooling in racks using extractor fans, all unused front panel space must be
covered with blank filler panels and the rear door must be closed.
Filler panels are 1 U in height, and snap on and off without tools or mounting hardware.

Chapter 2 Description
10
Keyboard Tray
A pullout keyboard tray is available. The keyboard tray can be installed with either a sitting, or
standing, operator in mind. The tray is mounted on rollers that allow it to be retracted or
extended.
Monitor Mount Kit
An optional universal monitor mounting kit is available. A shelf that can be mounted for a
sitting, or standing operator. The shelf has channels cut from it that accommodate the securing
clamps.
Universal Mounting Rails
Some equipment is supported by and anchored to universal rails made of cold rolled steel that
weigh 2.7 kg (6 lbs) and support up to 68.2 kg (150 lbs). Hollow metal blocks have lips that fit
into the support rails and holes for screws. The blocks are slid into contact with the equipment,
and are then attached to the rail with screws.
Spacers are fit between the rails and the columns.
Ballast
Ballast is available in 30 lb. kits, and may be required when using slide-mounted products and/or
keyboard/ work surface products. Use the stability work sheets to determine ballast
requirements.
CAUTION Do not ship racks with ballast installed.
CAUTION Always mount ballast in the rear of the rack.
NOTE The anti-tip assembly is not a substitute for ballast.

11
3 Installation Guidelines
The following section defines the floor loading requirements, and set up guidelines.
Floor Space and Loading
Observe floor loading requirements (especially raised floors) and ensure adequate space
before moving your Rack System/E, and all safety items while moving.
At maximum gross weight, the floor must be able to support 677-kg/ sq cm (2000 lb./sq
in).
WARNING It is the customer’s responsibility to determine the floor loading capacities at
the installation site, and for the entire route when moving. Failure to do so
could result in personal injury and/or equipment damage.
Because the weight is concentrated on the four casters, a maximum weight rack requires a
reinforced floor. Hewlett-Packard recommends removing components and moving them
separately when moving a rack over a floor (especially a raised floor) of unknown capacity.
WARNING Heavily loaded racks may require reinforced tiles or a sub structure on a
raised floor.
Rack Space
Select a location for the rack that will afford adequate space for the door to open freely, and
slide-mounted equipment to be extended.
Door Clearance
The rack requires a minimum of 600 mm (23.6 in) for rear door clearance. The same amount is
required for the front door, if installed.
Cable Access
The base of the rack stops 100 mm (3.9 in) short of the rear door, providing an access path for
power and signal cables.
Installing Equipment in the Rack
Two main considerations should be kept in mind when installing equipment into racks: weight
and balance (especially for slide-mounted equipment), and heat dissipation. This section
includes some worksheets for calculating the weight and balance for slide mounted products and
an optional work surface.
Always install equipment from the bottom to the top to keep the center of gravity as low as
possible. The order that you put them should be based on how well a given piece of equipment
promotes or impedes heat removal, if heat removal is an issue.
Ventilation and Heat Dissipation
Most HP products draw air in through the front and exhaust out the back. The Rack System/E is
designed to accommodate this cooling scheme. Any trapped heat will be convected through the

Chapter 3 Installation Guidelines
12
top perforations. In special cases such as back to back product mounting, the aid of an extractor
fan may be necessary, as illustrated in Figure 3-1.
Figure 3-1. Air Flow through the HP Rack System/E
When the proper system is installed, internal temperature rise is typically less than 15C (27F)
over ambient temperature.
NOTE Hewlett-Packard recommends that the customer monitor the internal
temperature of the rack. The internal temperature should not exceed the heat
rating of any installed instruments.
Installing Rail Mounted Equipment into the Rack
Equipment is installed by first attaching equipment rails between both front and rear columns, as
shown in Figure 3-2. A clip nut goes behind the rail and a spacer block at the top hole the EIA
unit. This is the same hole the screw lines up with.
Figure 3-2. Attaching Rail to Column
Equipment is placed on the rails, and secured with rear tie-downs, as shown below in Figure 3-3.

Chapter 3 Installation Guidelines
13
Figure 3-3. Attaching Rear Tie-Downs to Rail
Stability
For stability, the sum of the moments above the 32 U critical height must be less than the sum of
the moments below the 32 U critical height. As long as the weight above critical height is less
that the weight below, the moments will most likely cancel. The center of gravity of the cabinet
itself is well below the critical height, adding stability. Because the racks are deeper than they
are wide, they are more stable from front to back, than side to side, as shown in Figure 3-4.
X’
W
X
Y
11.0
Vertical axis 10 degrees
Z
1.25m 25U
1.6m 33U
1.96 m 41 U
62.4” 32U
Critical
height
Figure 3-4. Critical Height
TAN 10 degrees = 11.0 / Z
Z = 11.0 / TAN 10 degrees
Z = 62.4 in ( 1.58 m)

Chapter 3 Installation Guidelines
14
As you can see from the illustration on the right, 1.25 m racks are “unconditionally” stable, and
1.6 m racks are very difficult to overload, as they extend only 1 U above the critical height.
For 1.6 m and 1.96 m racks, add the weights of the units which have centers of gravity above 32
U, then compare the sum of the weights below 32 U. Always configure racks for the majority of
the weight below the critical height.
Assumptions / Disclaimers
The center of gravity for the racks is found in the geometric center. Centers of gravity of
products is assumed to be at their Front/Back, Left/Right centers. Grossly imbalanced equipment
will void the calculations. If doubt exists, stability should be verified by tip-over testing, per UL-
1950, SECTION 4.1.
Slide-Mounted Products
Slide-mounted products and work surface/keyboard products need weight and balance
calculations performed to determine the need for ballast to reduce the risk of cabinet instability.
The worksheets for both are provided on the following page. If both slide-mounted and work
surface/keyboard products are being used, calculate both and add the results.
To reduce the risk of rack instability when operator serviceable, slide-mounted products are
installed, use the following worksheet to determine the need for additional counterweight ballast.
If there are no operator serviceable, slide-mounted products in the rack, this worksheet can be
ignored.
An operator serviceable, slide mounted product is defined as any product which can be extended
from the rack for servicing without requiring the use of any tool. A product requiring the use of a
tool to facilitate servicing or extending the product is the definition of trained service personnel
serviceable only. When a trained service personnel serviceable only product is extended, the use
of the anti-tip mechanism is required, but counterweight ballast is not. See Figure 3-5.
Also note that some HP products preclude the use of counter weight, due to their mounting
depth. These products are appropriately labeled, and require that the rack anti-tip mechanism
used before the slider product is pulled out. Also, it is recommended that no more than one slider
product be pulled out at one time, to ensure the greatest possible stability.
NOTE No slider products may be withdrawn or extended at the same time the work
surface is in use.

Chapter 3 Installation Guidelines
15
250 N
or
56.25 lbs
@ max
height = 2 m
Figure 3-5. Moment Illustration for Slide Mounted Products
Weight and Balance Worksheet:
1. Total the weight of operator serviceable slide-mounted products:
A=________lbs; B=________lbs; C=_________lbs; D=_________ lbs; . . .
2. Total the weight of all fixed and trained service personnel serviceable products:
a=________lbs; b=_________lbs; c=__________lbs; d=_________ lbs; . . .
3. Calculate the moment for both the operator serviceable slide-mounted products (M1) and the
fixed and trained service personnel serviceable products (M2) totals from above:
Model M1 M2
1.25 m -10.46 ft-lbs + (a + b + c + d + ....) * 1.00 ft
1.6 m -49.5.4 ft-lbs + (a + b + c + d + ....) * 1.00 ft
1.96 m
(A + B + C + D ...) * 1.25 ft
-97.2 ft-lbs + (a + b + c + d + ....) * 1.00 ft
M1 = Moment on rack with all operator serviceable slide mounted products extended.
M2 = Moment of all fixed and trained personnel serviceable slide mounted products and rack.
M2 moment calculations assume a 1.00 ft center of gravity for installed products.
If M1 is less than or equal to M2, no additional counter weight is needed.
If M1 is greater than M2, use the formulas below to determine the required counter weight.
Each ballast kit (C2790A) weighs 30 lbs.
Force (in lbs) = M1 - M2 ft-lbs / 2.46 = amount of force required @ 2.46 ft
X = Force lbs / 30 lbs = number of C2790A 30 lbs ballast kits to install, where
“X” is rounded up to the next highest integer, e.g., 1.2 = 2 ballast kits.

Chapter 3 Installation Guidelines
16
Work Surface/Keyboard
To reduce the risk of rack instability when using a work surface or keyboard mounting kit, as
illustrated in Figure 3-6, use the following worksheet to determine the need for additional
counterweight. If there are no work surfaces or keyboard mounting kits in the rack, this
worksheet can be ignored.
NOTE No slider products may be withdrawn or extended at the same time the work
surface is in use.
Figure 3-6. Moment Illustration for Work Surface / Keyboard
NOTE Always ensure leveling feet have been deployed.