APC by Schneider Electric AR8393BLK NetShelter VX 42U Seismic Right Side Panel Black
The AR8393BLK is the factory-matched right side panel for the APC NetShelter VX 42U seismic enclosure series — a direct replacement or completion piece for integrators finishing out or expanding seismic-rated server and network equipment deployments. At 1920mm tall and 810mm wide, it closes off the full right-side profile of a 42U rack frame, keeping airflow managed, aesthetics consistent, and personnel protected from rack-interior hazards in high-density equipment rooms and data centers.
Overview
Side panels on seismic racks aren't cosmetic — they're part of the enclosure's structural and airflow management system. The power and rack infrastructure lineup from APC by Schneider Electric treats panels as rated components, and the AR8393BLK is purpose-built to fit the NetShelter VX seismic frame geometry. If you're deploying in a seismic zone, replacing a damaged panel, or standardizing the look across a multi-rack row in a data center or telecom equipment room, this is the correct OEM part to specify rather than improvising with a generic panel that won't align to mounting points or meet the enclosure's certified configuration.
Key Features
- 1920mm panel height: Covers the full vertical profile of a 42U NetShelter VX frame — no gap at top or bottom, which matters for containment rows where air bypass at panel edges defeats hot/cold aisle separation.
- 810mm width: Dimensionally matched to the NetShelter VX seismic depth envelope. A mismatched generic panel at 800mm or 850mm won't seat flush against the frame, leaving gaps that compromise containment and create cable-snag points during maintenance.
- Right-side orientation: The AR8393BLK is specifically a right-side panel — confirm your rack layout before ordering. In a row of racks, the right panel of one unit is adjacent to the left panel of the next; getting the orientation wrong means ordering twice.
- Black finish: Matches the standard NetShelter VX black powder-coat finish. Relevant when your data center floor has mixed-rack rows and you need visual uniformity for asset identification and compliance photography.
- Seismic enclosure compatibility: Designed for the seismic-rated NetShelter VX variant, which has a different internal brace geometry than the standard VX. A standard-VX side panel may not mount correctly on the seismic frame — specify AR8393BLK, not a generic VX panel, for seismic deployments.
- No casters, no locking mechanism: This is a panel-only component — it mounts to the frame and stays fixed. Installation doesn't require tools beyond what came with the enclosure. Weight (shipping: 25.9 kg including packaging) reflects the steel panel construction, not added mechanisms.
- 25.9 kg shipping weight: This is a heavy steel panel — plan for two-person handling during installation. At 2007mm packaged height, a standard freight pallet shipment is the correct expectation; this won't arrive in a standard parcel box.
Integration & Compatibility
The AR8393BLK is designed for the APC NetShelter VX 42U seismic rack enclosure series. Verify your enclosure model is the seismic VX variant before ordering — the standard NetShelter VX and the seismic-rated VX share a visual profile but differ in internal frame geometry and panel mounting points. If your enclosure model number includes a seismic designation, the AR8393BLK is the correct right side panel. If you are deploying in a non-seismic NetShelter VX, confirm panel part number compatibility with APC's enclosure documentation before ordering.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is the AR8393BLK compatible with all NetShelter VX 42U models?
A: The AR8393BLK is designed for the seismic-rated NetShelter VX 42U enclosure. Standard (non-seismic) NetShelter VX frames may have different panel mounting geometry — verify your enclosure model before ordering to confirm compatibility.
Q: Does the AR8393BLK include mounting hardware?
A: The AR8393BLK is a panel component. Based on available product data, no separate mounting hardware kit is listed in the package contents — panels in the NetShelter VX series typically use the enclosure's existing frame mounting points.
Q: What are the physical dimensions of the AR8393BLK panel itself?
A: The panel is 1920mm tall, 810mm wide, and 23mm deep (2.3 cm). Packaged dimensions are 2007mm x 1080mm x 122mm with a total shipping weight of 25.9 kg.
Q: Is a left-side panel also available for the seismic NetShelter VX 42U?
A: The AR8393BLK covers the right-side position. APC offers matched left-side panels for the NetShelter VX seismic series — consult APC's NetShelter VX seismic accessories list for the corresponding left-side part number.
Q: Does the AR8393BLK panel lock?
A: No — this panel does not include a locking mechanism. It mounts to the enclosure frame without a separate lock. If physical security of panel access is required, review APC's locking panel options for the NetShelter VX seismic series.
The AR8393BLK gets ordered when a seismic rack row is going in and someone finally checks whether all panels are accounted for — usually it's during final fit-out or after a site audit. At 1920mm tall and 810mm wide, this panel covers the full right-side face of a 42U NetShelter VX seismic enclosure, and the seismic-frame-specific mounting geometry is why you can't substitute a standard-VX panel and call it done.
Technical Highlights:
- 1920mm x 810mm panel face: Sized to eliminate top-and-bottom air gaps on a full 42U frame — critical for any deployment using blanking-based hot/cold aisle containment where bypass air at panel edges undermines cooling efficiency.
- 2.3 cm panel depth: Thin enough to keep the rack row's footprint as designed without pushing adjacent enclosures out of alignment in tight data center floor tile grids.
- 25.9 kg shipping weight: Heavier than most people expect from a side panel — steel construction and the full-height form factor add up. Two-person installation and freight-aware scheduling are practical necessities, not optional caution.
Deployment Considerations:
- Confirm the enclosure is the seismic NetShelter VX variant, not the standard VX — the frame geometries differ and panel mounting points don't interchange cleanly between the two lines.
- The AR8393BLK has no locking mechanism; if your physical security policy requires lockable side panels, verify APC's locking options for this enclosure family before finalizing the accessory list.
Best fit for data center buildouts in seismic zones — particularly California, Pacific Northwest, and similar regions where seismic-rated enclosures are specified by code — where completing the enclosure's OEM panel set is part of the certified installation record.
