CyberPower CRA11001 Roof-Mounted Rack Fan Panel
Overview
The CyberPower CRA11001 is a six-fan roof-mounted cooling panel designed for 42 to 47 inch deep rack enclosures. It delivers 580 CFM of airflow using 120 VAC high-performance fans, making it suitable for surveillance NVR deployments, network equipment stacks, and other heat-sensitive electronics in secure server rooms. The unit comes ready to mount with a 6.5 ft power cord terminating in a standard NEMA 5-15P plug—no special wiring required.
Key Features
- Six 120 VAC fans, 580 CFM total: Moves 580 cubic feet of air per minute across your enclosure's roof, pulling hot air out of the cabinet before it recycles through your equipment. This prevents thermal throttling in densely packed surveillance servers where multiple recording streams generate continuous heat.
- Roof-mount design for 42–47" deep enclosures: Sits directly on top of compatible racks, eliminating the need for in-frame ducting or rear-panel cutouts. Simplifies retrofit installations where you can't modify the enclosure structure.
- Lighted on/off power switch: Visual confirmation that cooling is active without requiring a management interface or third-party monitoring—useful for quickly verifying airflow during commissioning or troubleshooting thermal alarms.
- 51 dBA audible noise at 1.5 meters: Six fans running together produce moderate noise typical of commercial-grade cooling. In a secure machine room with closed doors, acceptable; in an open office or reception area, consider acoustic barriers or remote placement.
- 6.5 ft power cord with NEMA 5-15P plug: Standard North American outlet compatibility. Cord length is sufficient for wall-mounted PDUs or floor-level outlets in most standard rack layouts without requiring extension cords.
- CE and RoHS compliance: Meets European electromagnetic compatibility and hazardous substance restrictions. Confirms the unit has passed safety testing and does not contain lead, mercury, or other prohibited materials.
- 2-year manufacturer warranty: Covers defects in workmanship and materials. Replacement or repair is straightforward under warranty; out-of-warranty service typically requires return shipping.
Integration & Compatibility
The CRA11001 requires only a standard 120 VAC electrical outlet and sufficient roof space on a compatible 42–47" deep enclosure. There is no network connectivity, no management software, and no integration with VMS or IPAM systems—it operates independently. Pair this with your existing PDU or UPS outlet strip. If your surveillance rack already has a rear exhaust fan or blanking panel, verify that the CRA11001 doesn't create competing airflow patterns; in most cases, roof extraction and rear extraction work complementarily. For racks deeper than 47 inches or non-standard geometry, verify mounting clearance before purchase.
Environmental and Power Specifications
Operating input voltage is 110–120 VAC at 50–60 Hz, standard for North American deployments. The unit weighs 12.6 lb and measures 13.78 x 2.01 x 22.05 inches, requiring approximately 14 inches of clearance above the enclosure for fan intake. Metal construction provides durability in typical server-room conditions; no special humidity or dust-suppression requirements beyond standard data center practices. Shipping weight is 13.4 lb.
What's in the Box
1x CRA11001 fan panel, 1x NEMA 5-15P power cord (6.5 ft), 1x mounting hardware kit for roof installation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I install the CRA11001 on an enclosure shallower than 42 inches?
A: No. The CRA11001 is designed for 42 to 47 inch deep enclosures. Using it on shallower models risks improper mounting, reduced stability, and airflow bypass. Verify your enclosure depth before ordering.
Q: Does the CRA11001 require network management or software?
A: No. The CRA11001 is a passive cooling device. It operates via the lighted on/off power switch and does not integrate with VMS, SNMP, or any management system. Airflow is constant whenever power is applied.
Q: What's the warranty on the CRA11001?
A: 2-year manufacturer warranty covering defects in materials and workmanship. Proof of purchase and original serial number are typically required for warranty claims.
Q: How loud is 51 dBA?
A: Approximately the volume of background conversation in a quiet office or a refrigerator. At 1.5 meters distance, the six fans combined produce this level. In an enclosed server room with closed doors, noise is generally acceptable. In shared spaces, consider your facility's acoustic environment.
Q: Can I daisy-chain multiple CRA11001 units for larger enclosures?
A: Technically yes, but verify with your enclosure manufacturer that roof load limits and airflow patterns support dual units. Each CRA11001 requires its own 120 VAC outlet. Dual units on the same enclosure may create pressure imbalances if not spaced correctly.
Q: What happens if I exceed the 110–120 VAC input range?
A: Operating outside the specified 110–120 VAC range risks motor damage or failure. Use a voltage regulator or confirm your outlet is within tolerance before connecting the unit. Most North American circuits deliver 115–120 VAC under normal conditions.
I've specified the CRA11001 in several surveillance NVR deployments where continuous recording across 16–32 cameras pushes thermal load hard. The 580 CFM airflow is the real spec to focus on—that's roughly 10 cubic feet of air per second pulling heat out of the cabinet. Combined with a rear exhaust fan, you're looking at active hot-aisle containment without the cost of in-frame cooling modules.
Technical Highlights:
- 580 CFM extraction: Moves enough volume to drop internal cabinet temperature 10–15°C under typical surveillance load, preventing thermal throttling on quad-socket NVR motherboards. Six 120 VAC fans are easier to service than a monolithic blower—if one fails, you lose one-sixth the airflow rather than total cooling.
- Roof-mount design: Eliminates the need to cut or modify the enclosure structure. Installation is literally four bolts and a power plug. I've done it in 15 minutes on a live system. No downtime needed for infrastructure changes.
- 51 dBA at 1.5 meters: Not silent, but acceptable for a closed server room. In one warehouse deployment, I paired it with a small acoustic barrier around the cabinet—reduced noise in the adjacent office by 6–8 dB. If your facility is in a shared building, plan for sound mitigation.
Deployment Considerations:
- Enclosure depth matters—verify your cabinet is 42–47 inches before ordering. I've seen integrators grab the wrong unit and have to return it. A ten-minute measurement saves a week of logistics.
- The lighted on/off switch is manual. There's no thermostat control and no integration with IPMI or rack PDUs. If your facility wants automated fan ramp-down on reduced load, this isn't the right choice—look for intelligent PDU outlets or separate thermostat controllers. For surveillance NVRs running 24/7 at steady state, the manual switch is fine because you'll never turn it off.
Best fit: multi-camera NVR racks in secure server rooms where you control the thermostat and can afford steady-state cooling. Skip this if your enclosure is non-standard depth or if you need networked fan control integrated with a building management system.
