Middle Atlantic FAN Panel 50 CFM Textured - QTFP-1

Middle Atlantic QTFP-1 3U Rack Fan Panel, 50 CFM, 120VAC

Overview

The Middle Atlantic QTFP-1 is a 3U active rack fan panel engineered to move 50 CFM of airflow through standard 19-inch rack enclosures at 120VAC — the kind of workhorse thermal component that keeps NVRs, PoE switches, and access control appliances running within operating temperature limits when passive convection isn't enough. At 2 inches deep, it fits into tight rack layouts without consuming valuable equipment real estate, and the textured black powder coat finish matches Middle Atlantic's standard rack aesthetics cleanly.

If you're running a populated security rack — multiple NVRs, a managed switch, and an access control panel stacked together — passive airflow typically falls short within the first year of operation. The QTFP-1 (often searched as QTFP 1) addresses that directly with forced-air circulation designed for standard rack enclosure integration.

Key Features

• 50 CFM Active Airflow: 50 cubic feet per minute of forced air is enough to meaningfully drop internal rack temperatures in a populated 12U–16U enclosure. That translates directly to longer component lifespans for NVR hard drives, PoE switch ASICs, and power supplies — all of which have MTBF curves that drop sharply above their rated thermal ceilings.
• 3U Rack Format, 19-Inch Wide: The standard 19-inch width and 3U height (5.25 inches tall) means this panel drops into any EIA-standard rack without modification. No custom brackets, no adapters. If your rack already has open 3U space above or below heat-generating equipment, this installs in minutes.
• 120VAC Power Input: Mains-powered at 120VAC means no DC power conversion required and no dependency on PoE budget or auxiliary low-voltage supplies. Wire it to a switched AC outlet strip in the rack and it's independent of your network equipment.
• 2-Inch Shallow Depth: At only 2 inches (5.1 cm) deep, the QTFP-1 doesn't intrude into cable management space at the rear of the rack. Shallow-depth fan panels are specifically useful in wall-mount enclosures and shallower racks where rear clearance is limited.
• Textured Black Powder Coat Finish: The textured black powder coat matches Middle Atlantic rack enclosure aesthetics — relevant when the rack is customer-visible in a lobby, reception, or open IT closet. Bare metal or mismatched finishes read as unfinished to end clients.
• Active Component Classification: Unlike passive vented blanks, this is an active component — it draws power and moves air mechanically. That distinction matters for load calculations: account for its AC draw when sizing your rack's power strip or PDU.
• 2 Mounting Points: The panel secures to the rack via 2 mounting points, consistent with standard rack panel retention. No cage nuts required beyond what your rack already uses.

Integration & Compatibility

The QTFP-1 mounts in any EIA/ECA-310 compliant 19-inch rack — the same standard used by virtually every rack enclosure in the Middle Atlantic product line and across the broader commercial AV and physical security market. It's a natural pairing with network video recorders and densely populated PoE network switches that generate sustained heat loads during 24/7 operation.

This panel is rated for domestic use only — it is not available internationally, so confirm your deployment is a North American 120VAC installation before ordering. International sites running 230VAC infrastructure will need a different SKU.

For rack thermal management planning: 50 CFM is well-suited for moderate-density security racks (10–20 rack units of populated equipment). Very high-density deployments — full 42U racks loaded with servers or large NVR arrays — may require multiple fan panels or higher-CFM units.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What voltage does the QTFP-1 require?

A: The QTFP-1 operates on 120VAC. It is not rated for international voltage (230VAC) and is listed as not available internationally.

Q: How many rack units does the QTFP-1 occupy?

A: The QTFP-1 occupies 3U (5.25 inches tall) in a standard 19-inch rack.

Q: What is the airflow rating of the QTFP-1?

A: The QTFP-1 is rated at 50 CFM (cubic feet per minute) of active airflow.

Q: How deep is the QTFP-1? Will it fit in a shallow-depth rack?

A: The QTFP-1 is only 2 inches (5.1 cm) deep, making it compatible with shallow-depth rack enclosures and wall-mount cabinets where rear clearance is limited.

Q: Can the QTFP-1 be used in outdoor or harsh-environment installations?

A: The QTFP-1 is designed for standard rack enclosure use. No environmental ingress protection (IP) rating is specified, so it should be installed inside a closed rack enclosure rather than exposed to dust, moisture, or extreme temperatures directly.

Q: What finish does the QTFP-1 have?

A: The QTFP-1 has a textured black powder coat finish, consistent with Middle Atlantic's standard rack product line aesthetics.

Marty Allison

The QTFP-1 is one of those components that rarely gets budget attention until something fails. I've seen NVR drives degrade 18 months early in racks that had no active cooling — the heat soak from adjacent PoE switches and power supplies is real, and 50 CFM of forced air at 120VAC makes a measurable difference in sustained component temperatures in a populated 19-inch enclosure.

Technical Highlights:

• 50 CFM Airflow: Moving 50 cubic feet of air per minute through a sealed enclosure is enough to prevent the thermal stratification (hot top, cool bottom) that typically kills the equipment sitting in the top 6U first.
• 2-Inch Depth: At 2 inches, this panel doesn't fight with rear cable management. In wall-mount enclosures where depth is 12–18 inches total, that matters — you're not sacrificing cable radius space to install it.
• 120VAC Mains Power: Being AC-powered means it's completely independent of your PoE switch budget. No derating required on your network switch — it draws from the rack's AC strip directly.

Deployment Considerations:

• Install the QTFP-1 at the top of the rack (exhaust position) or bottom (intake position) depending on your enclosure's natural convection direction — most security racks benefit from top-mounted exhaust pulling hot air up and out.
• This unit is 120VAC only and explicitly not rated for international deployment — if you're specifying for a site that runs 230VAC, this SKU is the wrong choice regardless of adapter availability.

The QTFP-1 is the right call for a 10–20U security rack in a telecom closet or IT room running NVRs and PoE switches 24/7 — particularly where the enclosure door stays closed and passive convection alone won't keep drive temperatures below 45°C.