The “Magic” Behind the Scenes - Building an AV Rack

PCD takes pride in the selection and deployment of audio visual equipment to match the needs of the client and to the facility in which it is being installed. To that end, PCD carefully plans the rack construction with vigilant detail to ensure that the finished product functions properly but also looks neat, orderly, and clean. This kind of care helps to insure future serviceability by consistent and methodical dressing of cables and standardized wire identification.

“An improperly assembled AV rack leads to negative consequences for the system’s performance, and the end users are the ones that suffer,” said Ann Brigida, CTS, CStd, AVIXA’s senior director of standards.”

Assembly & Mounting

Keeping the electrical power wiring away from the audio and video circuits, and the network cables separately dressed and out of the range of the more sensitive signals is always a high priority. In the end, our systems are clear and put together with a passion to ensure long life and quality of signal from source to display or loudspeaker system.

Cable Management

This process involves wiring either within the rack or from devices spread throughout the site. In many cases this is hundreds of wires, each with a specific source and destination that is completed by using plans that have been drawn from point to point by PCD Engineering Techs.

Finish Work

In order to ensure quality control, every attempt is made to “build” the racks at the PCD shop. There we test for connectivity and then ship to the job site to bring the hundreds of wires from the other devices into the rack. This takes a special skill set of not only knowing which wires to connect but also the placement of the wires in such a way to easily trace each individual wire if needed for servicing.

Learn more about AVIXA’s new 2019 industry standards for rack building here.