Configurator Overview & FAQs

Subracks, also known as a card cages, are used for reception of printed circuit boards (PCBs) in the 19” euroboard form factor or 19” plug in units (PIUs)

Dimensions based on the 19” form factor according to IEC 60297-3-10x or IEEE 1101.x standards

It depends on the complexity of the configuration, but most can be finished within 10 minutes.

If a standard subrack kit meets your requirements for size, EMC shielding, and degree of ruggedization, then it can be used as the basis of the configuration to save time.
When starting with a kit, only the top/bottom covers, rear protection, card guides and subrack handles can be modified.

Most common configurations are supported by the configurator.

To learn more, click here.

If you don’t see what you are looking for, contact us. Not all standard products are offered in the configurator, and if a standard product doesn’t exist, then a custom solution may be possible.

The default shipping method is unassembled, flat packed. For an additional fee, assembly is possible.

This configurator supports 3U and 6U subracks, offered in 28HP, 42HP, 63HP and 84HP widths.

• Height: U = unit, U = 1 ¾” = 44,45 mm
• Width: HP = horizontal pitch, 1HP = 2/10” = 5,08 mm

Depending on selections for top/bottom covers, board depth, and subrack depth some sizes may not be available.

Additional space may be desired behind the backplane for cable management or cooling purposes. If EMC protection is needed, the subrack depth will automatically be extended 60mm beyond the backplane. Additional space may be possible depending on the subrack type selected and the requirements for top/bottom covers.

Test reports are available for:

• EMC test VG 95373 Part 15
• Seismic / earthquake
• KTA 1401 certificate (equipment for nuclear power plants)
• Shock and vibration test to IEC 48 / IEC 61587
• Accreditation for the Russian market to GOST

Test reports can be found within the resource library.

nVent SCHROFF offers both Stainless Steel and Textile gasketing.

To learn more, click here.

For simplicity, five subrack types have been pre-defined to meet the demands of most applications.

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Perforated top covers are available but only for certain board mounting location and subrack depth configurations.

• Covers for light subracks will slide into groves in the horizontal rails.
• Covers for flexible, heavy and rugged subracks must be bolted to the side panels.

To learn more, click here.

Depending on the combination of the subrack type, board mounting location, and subrack depth, either a fixed rear panel or rear hood may be available.

If the subrack is EMC protected, then rear protection is required. If the subrack is not EMC protected, then rear protection will be offered if the subrack depth allows for additional space behind the backplane (ie for cable management)

This configurator gives two options for the electrical interface:

• Backplane
• Connectors only

A combination of backplane and connectors is possible by selecting the backplane option, and then within the board mounting section, selecting your required quantity of guide rails with DIN connector fixing. The guide rails with DIN connector fixing can only be placed where they will not interfere with the backplane.

To learn more, click here.

A variety of guide rails are offered in this configurator.

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One piece card guides are plastic molded. For certain combinations of lengths and groove widths the plastic molds do not exist. In this case, Schroff offers a multi-piece design card guide consisting of two plastic end pieces connected an extruded aluminum middle section. Within the configurator, the one piece design is the default; the multi-piece design will only be offered if a one-piece design is not available.

To learn more, click here.

Boards with 1.6mm +/- .2 thickness are compatible with 2.0mm groove width card guides. Boards with 2.0mm +/- .2 thickness are compatible with 2.5mm groove width card guides.

Guide rails for standard applications are 2 HP, guide rails with coding are 4 HP wide.
(HP = horizontal pitch, 1HP = 2/10” = 5,08 mm wide).

All guide rails, with the exception of robust type, are designed to snap into the rectangular cut-outs on the horizontal rails. Printed HP markings on the horizontal rails ensure proper positioning.

For subrack type "Flexible with Heavy Rails", "Heavy", or “Rugged” the guide rails can also be screwed to the horizontal rails for additional protection against shock and vibration.

To learn more, click here.

Coding prevents plug in units from being mounted in the wrong slots. Coding is possible with 1101.10, and 1101.10 offset, accessory type, and accessory strengthened guide rails.

• For 1101.10 and 1101.10 offset guide rails, the coding pegs are installed directly into the guide rail and corresponding IEL or IET handle on the plug in unit.
• For the accessory and accessory strengthened guide rails a coding block, clipped into the horizontal rail next to the guide rail, is required. The coding pegs are then installed into the coding block and corresponding IEL or IET handle on the plug in unit. This configurator offers one coding block per slot for 3U and two coding blocks, one to be installed on the top horizontal rail and one on the bottom horizontal rail, for 6U.

To learn more, click here.

Two types of board level ESD protection may be possible:

• ESD clip for alignment pin – provides conductive contact between the alignment pin of the IEL or IET handle, and the horizontal rail. In accordance with IEEE. Only compatible with 1101.10 guide rails.
• ESD clip for guide rail – provides conductive contact between board and horizontal rail, on both the solder side and the component side. Compatible with 1101.10 offset and standard type guide rails, and with Accessory type when used with a coding block.

To learn more, click here.