APC Netshelter Soundproof 17U Server Rack Enclosure 120V Maple - AR4017A

APC by Schneider Electric AR4017A Soundproof 17U Freestanding Server Rack Enclosure

Overview

The APC by Schneider Electric AR4017A is a 17U freestanding soundproof server rack enclosure designed for environments where noise mitigation is a hard requirement — think executive offices, open-plan workspaces, retail back-of-house, or any location where active server equipment sits within earshot of staff or customers. At 1005mm tall with a 750mm width and 1130.4mm depth, this is a full-depth cabinet with enough real estate for mid-density compute loads. The maple wood veneer finish and blind front door make it look more like office furniture than a data closet, which is exactly the point. Explore the full APC by Schneider Electric catalog for complementary power and infrastructure products.

Key Features

• 17U Rack Capacity: Seventeen rack units gives you enough space for a small server, patch panel, a managed switch, and a UPS in a single enclosure — sufficient for branch-office or departmental deployments without oversizing the footprint.
• 840 kg Maximum Weight Capacity: That 840kg load rating means you're not going to stress this cabinet even with a fully loaded 2U server, drives, and a tower UPS. For reference, most dense 2U servers top out around 30–40 kg — this cabinet has headroom to spare.
• Acoustic Soundproofing: The defining feature of this enclosure is its soundproof construction. Active cooling hardware — fans, spinning drives, PSUs — generates sustained broadband noise. If this rack lives in a workspace rather than a dedicated equipment room, the soundproofing directly reduces acoustic fatigue and meeting interference. This is the differentiating reason to choose the AR4017A over a standard open-frame or mesh-door rack.
• Wood Veneer Blind Front Door with Key Lock: The maple veneer finish integrates visually into office environments where a black mesh cabinet would stand out. The blind (solid) door design contributes to acoustic performance by eliminating the open panel gaps that standard mesh doors leave. The keyed lock adds physical access control — relevant if the rack is accessible to non-IT staff.
• Built-in Basic PDU, 100–120V / 50–60Hz: A basic PDU ships installed, so power distribution to rack equipment is ready on day one without sourcing a separate unit. The 100–120V AC input range covers standard North American circuits without needing a step-down transformer or dedicated outlet type.
• 19-inch (48.3cm) Standard Mounting: Fully compliant with EIA-310 19-inch rack standards, so any standard 1U, 2U, or 4U rackmount equipment fits without adapters. The minimum mounting depth of 690mm accommodates full-depth servers that shallow cabinets cannot house.
• 1130.4mm Total Depth: The deeper footprint compared to a standard 1000mm cabinet is a direct consequence of the acoustic treatment — the soundproofing material adds to the cabinet's internal and external dimensions. Measure your installation space carefully before ordering; this cabinet will not fit in a shallow alcove or tight closet.
• Freestanding Form Factor: No wall anchoring required for installation, which matters in leased office spaces where structural modifications are restricted. Position it where airflow is available, level it on the casters or feet, and connect power.

Integration and Compatibility

The AR4017A accepts any standard 19-inch rackmount equipment conforming to EIA-310, including 1U through 4U servers, patch panels, managed switches, KVM drawers, and rackmount UPS units. The built-in basic PDU handles power distribution for typical branch-office loads on a 100–120V circuit. If your equipment demands a metered or switched PDU, you would need to replace or supplement the included basic unit. The enclosure's 690mm minimum mounting depth means short-depth appliances and deep 2U servers both fit within the same cabinet. For deployments requiring a UPS solution, a compatible rackmount UPS can be installed inside the 17U space, though this consumes rack units and must be factored into your capacity planning. Pair with a managed PoE switch if the enclosure will also house network infrastructure serving IP cameras or VoIP endpoints.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the maximum weight this rack can support?

A: The AR4017A is rated for a maximum load of 840 kg, which comfortably accommodates dense server, networking, and UPS equipment combinations typical of branch-office and departmental deployments.

Q: Does the AR4017A include a power distribution unit?

A: Yes. A basic PDU is included and supports 100–120V AC input at 50/60 Hz, covering standard North American circuits.

Q: What is the rack unit capacity of the AR4017A?

A: The AR4017A provides 17U of usable rack space in a freestanding form factor.

Q: What are the external dimensions of the AR4017A?

A: Width is 750mm, depth is 1130.4mm, and height is 1005mm. The minimum mounting depth for installed equipment is 690mm. Plan accordingly — the 1130.4mm total depth is larger than standard 1000mm cabinets due to soundproofing construction.

Q: Is the front door lockable?

A: Yes. The blind wood veneer front door includes a key lock, providing basic physical access control suitable for environments where the enclosure is accessible to non-IT personnel.

Q: Is the AR4017A suitable for a standard office environment?

A: Yes — that is the primary design intent. The maple wood veneer finish and soundproof construction are specifically designed for deployments where the rack must coexist with office workers, executive spaces, or customer-facing areas where a standard mesh-door data cabinet would be visually or acoustically disruptive.

Jerry Tildsen

The AR4017A comes up whenever I'm designing a small server deployment that has to live outside a dedicated equipment room. That 1130.4mm total depth is the number most installers miss when they first quote this cabinet — it is not a standard 1000mm footprint, and it will not fit in a shallow closet or narrow alcove. Measure twice before this one ships.

Technical Highlights:

• 840 kg Load Rating: For a 17U cabinet, an 840kg capacity is substantial. You could fill every unit with dense compute, add a tower UPS on the floor, and not approach the structural limit. This is not a constraint you will hit in a normal branch-office build.
• Soundproof Construction with Blind Door: The acoustic treatment is the reason this cabinet exists. The blind maple veneer door eliminates the gap-driven sound leakage that mesh doors allow. This directly matters when the server is 10 feet from a conference table or executive desk.
• Built-in Basic PDU (100–120V): The included PDU is a convenience, not a premium feature — it handles basic power distribution on a standard North American circuit. If you need metered outlets, remote switching, or higher amperage, you will need to source an upgraded PDU separately and account for the rack units it consumes.

Deployment Considerations:

• The 690mm minimum mounting depth accommodates full-depth 2U servers, but verify your specific equipment's depth against the internal clearance before ordering — the acoustic lining reduces usable interior space compared to a same-footprint standard cabinet.
• The 1130.4mm total depth is the most common site-survey miss. Confirm floor clearance, door swing room, and aisle depth before delivery — returning a cabinet this size is expensive and logistically painful.

The AR4017A is the right call for a professional services firm, law office, or retail flagship location that needs a small server presence on-site but cannot or will not dedicate a separate equipment room. It is not the right choice for a data center row, a high-density compute environment, or any site where depth constraints are tight.