Zinwell WB616R - Rack Mount version of WB616

[greynolds]

I was just about to purchase a WB616 today, and went to the Zinwell site to download the manual to double check a few things. I noticed that there is a rack mount version on the Zinwell web site, called the WB616R, which would be perfect for installation in the rack in my basement.

I called Solid Signal and they had not heard of the WB616R, so I called Zinwell. Solid Signal sells the WB616 for ~$127. Zinwell wants $300 for the WB616R. The WB616R is literally a WB616 that bolts to a rack mount faceplate, so I'm thinking that $173 is an excessive premium to charge :(. The guy who answered the phone at Zinwell said that the rack mount version is only sold direct, so it won't be showing up at places like Solid Signal. If they wanted $200 for it, I might have gone for it, but $300 is just plain crazy....

[litzdog911]

I wonder what Zinwell sells the "normal" WB616 for? $300 is rather steep!

[Michael D'Angelo]

Yea a extra $173 for a rack mounted face plate is crazy!!!

[dave29]

i can get the rack mount version and i have actually priced them before, but i cant remember the exact price, seems like it was around 250(i think)

[DBSNewbie]

It would be more cost effective to go with a Middle Atlantic Clamping Rackshelf (to hold down the WB616), a Custom Panel System Frame Kit with 16 3/8 " Punchouts (for the F Connectors), and 16 RG6 Jumper Cables (to connect the outputs of the WB616 to the 16 F Connectors on the Custom Faceplate).

It would look just as clean as the WB616R.

[greynolds]

The rack mount piece is for the WB616R is only a blank rack mount panel with 16 holes. The WB616 is then bolted to it by the 4 outer F connectors. A blank rack mount panel can be had for $10-20, 16 holes drilled and then the WB616 can be bolted to it. The only question is if there's a need for isolation bushings (such as Canare 1U-7/16) to keep all the outputs separated from each other. Based on the install guide (http://www.zcwc.com/tech_support/usermenual/multi_switch/usermanuals/wb_616r/wb616rmanual.pdf), there probably isn't even a need for isolation bushings. Even $250 seems pretty steep, when the WB616 is so inexpensive. For $200, I think I would bite as it would save the effort of drilling the holes in a blank panel (and making sure they're all lined up properly).

[greynolds]

The parts arrived this week and I drilled the holes in the blank rack panel today. It turned out to be really easy and came out looking great, IMO. I also mounted the Channel Vision CVT28PIA-II 8 way amplified RF splitter that I'll be using for OTA antenna distribution now that the multiswitch doesn't diplex it in for me. It turned out that the F connectors on the Zinwell multiswitch weren't spaced at nice easy to measure intervals, so I used my scanner to get a picture of the connectors and printed it out on my laser printer. This gave me a pattern that I could lay out on top of the blank rack panel and then use a punch to mark the locations for the holes. Before marking the holes, I put some masking tape onto the panel. I started with really small holes so the larger drill bit would line up properly for each hole. The final holes ended up being 7/16" (drilled on a drillpress to keep things nice and straight) and then installed a washer and nut onto each of the 16 outputs of the multiswitch. The entire job took me about an hour - someone who does this stuff all the time most likely would have been even quicker. If all goes as planned, I'll get this installed tomorrow.

Here are a few photos of how the custom rack panel came out:

http://www.geoff-reynolds.net/misc/ZinwellWB616RackFront.jpg
http://www.geoff-reynolds.net/misc/ZinwellWB616RackBack.jpg
http://www.geoff-reynolds.net/misc/ZinwellWB616RackFrontCloseup.jpg

[AlbertZeroK]

Okay, now I'm jellous! Is that a 2U blank?

Here's my Setup: http://iamjeremy.com/projects/3.jpg - I definately have to do something as it's not as clean as when I put it in.

[greynolds]

Okay, now I'm jellous! Is that a 2U blank?

Yes, it's a 2U blank. The multiswitch alone might just barely fit into a 1U blank, but it would be a close call. Since I wanted to mount the Channel Vision splitter too, 2U was the only way to go.

Here's my Setup: http://iamjeremy.com/projects/3.jpg - I definately have to do something as it's not as clean as when I put it in.

Nice - looks like you've got a few network cables :). A couple of blank panels and some careful drilling could clean up the various multiswitches and other parts you have off to the side of the rack.

The main issue with my rack setup is that I've only got room for a ~24" tall rack, so I've got to be very careful how I lay things out. I'll post some before (if I remember to take them) and after picks after I get the new multiswitch installed. My current setup has my Spaun 5x12 multiswitch screwed to the wall beside the rack. The rack currently has a pair of Canare 32 F connector patch panels, each 2U. The 12 outputs from the Spaun multiswitch fill most of 1 row on the top patch panel. The other 18 outputs on the top patch panel are currently unused, so this new panel will replace it and the Spaun multiswitch will obviously no longer be screwed to the wall.

I still haven't decided which way I'm going to go with hooking up my 2nd WB616. Currently, the 4 feeds from my dish go to satellite splitters. The splitter outputs then drive the main multiswitch (at the rack) and another multiswitch mounted in my media room (a Terk 5x8). I'll be replacing the Terk 5x8 with the 2nd WB616. The easiest solution (as in a little less re-wiring) would be to continue to use the splitters. However, cascading the 2nd WB616 from the rack mounted WB616 would eliminate the splitters and a bit of extra wiring - and wouldn't be a ton of extra work while I'm at it. There's also no way I could see myself ever needing all 16 outputs from the WB616 in the rack - it's sending 2 feeds to each of 4 rooms (other than the media room), which leaves 4 feeds to cascade to the 2nd multiswitch and 4 more spares that wouldn't be hooked up for now (and probably never would be).

Since the Spaun multiswitch also diplexed the OTA feed, I was using all 12 outputs, but some of them were being used only for the OTA feed - the Channel Vision RF splitter will obviously be handling this duty from now on.

[dave29]

looks very nice!!!! good job

[greynolds]

As promised, here are (finally) some shots of the finished job (and yes, I forgot to take some before shots...):

http://www.geoff-reynolds.net/misc/MediaWiring1.jpg

http://www.geoff-reynolds.net/misc/MediaWiring2.jpg

http://www.geoff-reynolds.net/misc/MediaWiring3.jpg

http://www.geoff-reynolds.net/misc/MediaWiring4.jpg

http://www.geoff-reynolds.net/misc/MediaWiring5.jpg

http://www.geoff-reynolds.net/misc/MediaWiring6.jpg

http://www.geoff-reynolds.net/misc/MediaWiring7.jpg

[codespy]

That looks nice and must have taken some time to create, however, you've created a problem regarding the location of the rack.

You are now in violation of NEC 110.26(A)(1),(2),(3), which is the National Electrical Code dealing with workspace clearances in front of your electric service panel.

Hopefully you live in an area where the inspector does drive-by's if you have future remodeling at your house. :D

[greynolds]

That looks nice and must have taken some time to create, however, you've created a problem regarding the location of the rack.

You are now in violation of NEC 110.26(A)(1),(2),(3), which is the National Electrical Code dealing with workspace clearances in front of your electric service panel.

Hopefully you live in an area where the inspector does drive-by's if you have future remodeling at your house. :D

Thanks for pointing this out - I actually wasn't aware of this when I mounted the rack, but it certainly makes sense :(. In looking at what I could find for the code online, working space width needs to be 30 inches. What isn't clear is if that working space needs to be centered on the panel or not. If not, I should actually be ok, though I might need to tuck that bundle of cables back a bit (the door on the panel opens without obstruction from the cables - the angle the pictures were taken from is a bit deceptive in that regard). If the 30 inches has to be centered on the panel, then I might have a problem if we get a by the book inspector (which is likely in our town). I would have mounted the rack on the right side of that space it's in but some of the cables coming in from the left (from the grey tube above the Open House box) aren't long enough to reach - someone got over zealous making things look neat at some point. If an inspector ever gives us trouble, I can shift the rack to the right and splice in extensions for the coax cables that would be too short. The CAT5 cables coming from that same feed go to the Open House box for telephone use, so they don't need to reach the rack anyway. All the other wires come in from above and have more than enough of a service loop to relocate with no problems. I'm pretty sure the rack would just barely fit vertically on the other side of the space - the pipe at the top might make getting the 2 top mounting screws in a bit of fun.

[codespy]

The 30" wide rule (or the width of the equipment whichever is greater) does not automatically mean center. In your picture, the 30" rule would start at the exact right side of your panel and proceed 30" to the left.

The only kicker in this is that you must maintain 36" clearance in front of the panel (measured from the face) by 30" wide. And this zone extends from the floor up to the bottom of the ceiling in your case. No obstructions may extend into this zone.

Hope this helps your install.

Inspectors around my area are pretty picky about this stuff.

[Lee L]

Around here too. At an office building, we had to move a large piece of gear going to a 750 kw generator due to the fact that the panels were not the same depth so one stuck out an inch from the rest. This caused one panel to not have the full 30x36 inch box clear (by an area about 2 inches wide and one inch deep. The electricians had to detach the panel and move it off the wall to flush it up.

No problem except for the 5 2 inch conduits that ran out the top to 90s that ran straight across to the main disconnect panel. They had to come in and dremel out a piece of conduit at a joint and sqeeze it together.