Hi all,
I've got a few questions regarding using an ABS 19" Rack Case (1U if it matters). Essentially the question comes down to whether plastic is a good alternative to the more common sheet steel rack case?
The electronics going in are a few ASIC boards and a thin client board. Possible external PSU, but maybe internal.
Considerations:
- Grounding:
In a steel case, you would connect the GND wire to chassis GND in the event a live wire gets disconnected and touches the case, the GND wire would trip a breaker. This is no longer a consideration since ABS is an insulator, so does the GND wire thus become redundant? Are there still grounding issues / needs?
In optical use cases (think fiber distribution), not really a concern.
- Static Electricity:
Can there be a build-up of static electricity in the case? Are there any ESD considerations using a plastic case? If so, is passive vs active cooling a concern (ex: does a spinning fan create static electricity)?
- Thermals:
Due to the insulating properties of plastic, would I conceivably see higher temps as opposed to a steel case where there would be some heat transfer through the material? I assume with active cooling this would be mitigated, but what about passive cooling (think heatsinks only)?
- Durability:
Obviously plastic is less durable than steel. But, if the rack is only ever installed and left in place for a long time, does this really matter? I mean, you're not mounting/unmounting it daily. I imagine this is not that much of a concern, but I figured I would add it.
So what is your opinion on using an ABS plastic rack as opposed to steel? If I've overlooked something critical, please mention it.
Thanks in advance!