Rear support brackets for heavy PoE switches

[speckytecky]

We have a few TP-Link PoE Network Switches in our cabinets and are noticing that they are sagging on the supplied front brackets. Does anyone know of a product available (rail perhaps) to sit under the rear end to give some support?

[FN-GM]

Have you considered a rack mountable self? Might be easier than finding a rails that fit the switch.

[southhamster]

Find an old switch, take it apart and use/hack the case=free shelf!

[achedgy]

I use a couple of long zip ties to act as a sling, gives them a bit of support!

[speckytecky]

Thanks @FN-GM Yikes the prices! How on earth can they justify them I wonder?

Have you considered a rack mountable self? Might be easier than finding a rails that fit the switch.

[synaesthesia]

4 cage nuts with long bolts. One offcut of material from the DT department. One shelf made

[FN-GM]

Thanks @FN-GM Yikes the prices! How on earth can they justify them I wonder?

 

How much do they cost?

[Michael]

That's strange that's happening -

 

With HP PoE switches, which are deeper and heavier, they always come with longer/rectangular brackets - something like 2.5-3 inches long, instead of the standard 1 inch square bracket for lighter models. So long as the 4 cage nuts are properly secure, then really it shouldn't sag at all.

 

Do you know how much the switch weighs? I think the heavier HPs are around 6-7KG.

[speckytecky]

Now that sounds a really innovative and inexpensive solution. Thanks indeed @achedgy

I use a couple of long zip ties to act as a sling, gives them a bit of support!

[nicholab]

Cable management bars can be used.

[Gaz]

Shelves don't cost much and they are a less ghetto solution.

Allrack 1U Fixed Vented Cantilever Data Cabinet Shelf (300mm Deep) SHELF1U300

LMS DATA 1U Fixed Vented Data Cabinet Shelf (350mm Deep Cantilever) CABSHELF-FE-350-1U

[chazzy2501]

@achedgy Zip tie chains for me as well!

[localzuk]

We've got some chunky switches in our cabs - we found the amount of sagging depends on the quality of the cab! Our old cabinets sag tremendously. The steel is noticeably thinner and therefore gives a little when something is mounted in the cab. The new ones, not a bit of sag at all - even with a heavy Cisco router mounted in there.

[speckytecky]

The TP-PoE switch weighs in at 6.7 KG. Some super answers here. Your recommendation @Gaz sounds well worth testing. In the meantime I'm going to try some cable ties. The particular cabinet in question is fairly new, was supplied and fitted by an external company but they didn't even fit it square and the left side is inaccessible because they have mounted it tight to the ceiling and left wall. Not using them again! Thanks all for your extremely useful answers. The shelves I was looking at @FN-GM were closing on a ton!

[FN-GM]

Thanks all for your extremely useful answers. The shelves I was looking at @FN-GM were closing on a ton!

 

You must have been looking at the wrong thing! ha ha

[pete]

1U metal blanking panel. Place in the U underneath the switch at the back and attach with cage nuts (not plastic press-studs)

 

Assuming your switches feed air from side to side, you shouldn't affect cooling.

 

You may need to move the back posts in the cabinet forward by an inch or so, assuming wall-mount cabinet with adjustable front and rear posts.

[Michael]

The TP-PoE switch weighs in at 6.7 KG. Some super answers here. Your recommendation @Gaz sounds well worth testing. In the meantime I'm going to try some cable ties. The particular cabinet in question is fairly new, was supplied and fitted by an external company but they didn't even fit it square and the left side is inaccessible because they have mounted it tight to the ceiling and left wall. Not using them again! Thanks all for your extremely useful answers. The shelves I was looking at @FN-GM were closing on a ton!

 

If it's not square, that's not going to help at all. Must be a nightmare getting the screws in. Another tip I can offer (may sound obvious), is to hold the switch up from the back whilst screwing it tight from the front. Much easier with two people when installing, especially with larger/heavier switches.

[speckytecky]

It would be feeding air quite nicely if the 'experts' who fixed it to the wall hadn't put it snug against the ceiling and left hand wall. Numpties - not getting them back in again that's for sure.

 

1U metal blanking panel. Place in the U underneath the switch at the back and attach with cage nuts (not plastic press-studs)

 

Assuming your switches feed air from side to side, you shouldn't affect cooling.

 

You may need to move the back posts in the cabinet forward by an inch or so, assuming wall-mount cabinet with adjustable front and rear posts.