Middle Atlantic MULTI SHELF 1/2in. HIGH 11in. DEEP BLACK FINISH - MS-11

Middle Atlantic MS-11 Half-Space Rack Shelf, 11in Deep, Black

Overview

The Middle Atlantic MS-11 is a half-rack-unit open shelf engineered for mounting small ancillary devices inside standard 19-inch equipment racks. At just 0.5U high and 11 inches deep, the MS-11 occupies minimal vertical real estate while giving you a solid, flat platform rated for up to 15 lbs — enough for a rack-mounted power distribution unit, a small NVR chassis, a managed PoE switch, or a UPS controller head. If you're integrating a Middle Atlantic rack enclosure with security or AV equipment and need a thin filler shelf that won't eat half your rack, this is the part to reach for. It also turns up under the search variation MS 11 among integrators ordering from structured cabling bills of materials.

Key Features

• 0.5U Profile (0.5 in / 1.3 cm tall): A full rack unit is 1.75 inches. At half that, the MS-11 gives you a usable platform without sacrificing the surrounding rack space you've allocated for active gear. In a 12U wall enclosure where every unit counts, this matters.
• 11-Inch Usable Depth (27.9 cm): Sized for shallow-form-factor devices — rack-mount power controllers, patch panels with short tails, cable management accessories, or small shelf-mounted equipment. Deep enough to be useful; short enough to clear rear cable management channels in most mid-depth enclosures.
• 15 lb Weight Capacity (6.8 kg): Handles the majority of passive and light-active rack components. A typical 4-port PoE switch in a 1U chassis weighs 4–6 lbs; a desktop-class NVR around 8–10 lbs. This shelf will support either without reservation.
• 19-Inch Rack Width (48.3 cm): Standard EIA-310 width — fits directly into any 19-inch two-post or four-post open rack, open-frame relay rack, or enclosed rack cabinet without adapters.
• 2 Mounting Points: Secures to the rack rails at two points, one on each side. Standard for a 0.5U shelf — keeps hardware count low and speeds installation in multi-shelf configurations.
• Black Powder-Coat Finish: Blends cleanly into black rack enclosures common in server rooms, security head-end closets, and AV equipment rooms. No mismatched finishes when paired with other rack accessories in the same enclosure.
• 1.8 lb Shipping Weight (0.8 kg): Ships light — relevant when you're ordering a dozen shelves for a multi-rack deployment and calculating freight. Shelf hardware overhead stays negligible.

Integration & Compatibility

The MS-11 installs in any standard 19-inch rack rail system — two-post open frame, four-post open frame, or enclosed cabinet. It is not a sliding shelf and carries no built-in cable management; it is a fixed platform. For installations using network video recorders or similar compact chassis that need horizontal support without dedicated rack ears, this shelf provides a clean mounting surface. Pair with cage nuts and rack screws appropriate to your rail type (square-hole, round-hole, or threaded) — the MS-11 mounts via standard rack holes, so fastener selection depends on your rack, not the shelf itself.

What's in the Box

• 1x Middle Atlantic MS-11 half-space rack shelf

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the weight capacity of the MS-11?

A: The MS-11 is rated for 15 lbs (6.8 kg). This is sufficient for most passive rack accessories, small managed switches, rack-mount power controllers, and compact NVR or DVR chassis.

Q: How much vertical rack space does the MS-11 occupy?

A: The MS-11 is 0.5 inches (1.3 cm) tall, which equals one-half of a standard 1U rack unit (1.75 in). It occupies one half-unit slot in your rack's vertical space.

Q: Will the MS-11 fit in a standard 19-inch rack?

A: Yes. The MS-11 is 19 inches wide (48.3 cm), matching the EIA-310 standard rack width. It installs in any compatible two-post or four-post 19-inch rack or enclosed rack cabinet.

Q: What is the usable depth of the MS-11?

A: The usable shelf depth is 11 inches (27.9 cm), suitable for shallow rack accessories, power distribution units, or small equipment that does not require a full-depth platform.

Q: Is the MS-11 a sliding shelf or a fixed shelf?

A: The MS-11 is a fixed open shelf with 2 mounting points. It does not slide or extend. For applications requiring pull-out access, a sliding keyboard or component tray would be needed instead.

Q: What finish does the MS-11 come in?

A: The MS-11 ships in a black finish, compatible with standard black rack enclosures common in security head-end rooms and equipment closets.

Marty Allison

The Middle Atlantic MS-11 is one of those parts that shows up on almost every rack integration job I spec — not because it's glamorous, but because the 0.5U profile solves a real problem: you've got a 12U or 18U wall enclosure, every unit is accounted for in your design, and then a small device like a cellular communicator or power controller shows up on-site with no rack ears. The MS-11 gives you a 15 lb platform in half a rack unit to land it cleanly rather than zip-tying it to the side of the enclosure.

Technical Highlights:

• 0.5U Height (0.5 in): Takes up half a rack unit — in a tight 12U wall mount, that's the difference between fitting your full equipment list and having to upsize the enclosure mid-project.
• 15 lb Weight Capacity: Rated for 6.8 kg, which covers the vast majority of rack-mount security head-end accessories: small managed switches, IP gateway modules, rack-mount UPS controllers, intercom servers.
• 11-Inch Usable Depth: Shallow enough to clear rear cable management in most mid-depth enclosures, but still gives you a full 27.9 cm of horizontal surface — more than adequate for shallow-chassis devices.

Deployment Considerations:

• The MS-11 is a fixed shelf — it mounts at 2 points and does not slide. If the device you're landing needs frequent pull-out access (keyboard tray, service laptop platform), specify a sliding tray instead.
• At 19 inches wide, it fills the full rack opening. If you're mounting it in an enclosure that has rear-mount cable rings or a cable runway immediately behind the rails, verify your enclosure's interior depth accommodates the 11-inch shelf plus your cable dressing before ordering.

The MS-11 is particularly well-suited for security head-end closets where a mix of rack-eared and non-racked equipment lands in the same enclosure — think access control panels, power supplies, or small network appliances that need a horizontal home without consuming a full rack unit.