Bluebell 19" 1RU Chassis for up to 6 BC Series Cards
The BC160i is a major evolution of Bluebell’s BC160 rack frame for the BC Series of fibre optic interface cards. Like the BC160, it features dual redundant power supplies and can hold up to six single-slot BC cards of any type, but provides significantly enhanced card monitoring.
The BC160i is ideal for use in OB and live sound trucks, fixed installations and fly-away systems. BC Series cards plug into the rear of the frame so that all copper or fibre cabling is retained within the rack enclosure; system monitoring is presented on the front panel. External monitoring via an IP network is also available if an optional BM102i network card is fitted into a dedicated front panel slot. Both network card types are fully compatible with SNMP protocol v2.1.
The frame’s main internal motherboard now includes a microcontroller and memory, handling all card status data. A 3.8 inch, 480 x 116 pixel colour touchscreen on the front panel provides a continuous, colour-cod-ed display showing the status of the signals on each card: this has been designed to resemble the LED display of the earlier BC160 frame, for immediate familiarity. Much additional information is also available on-screen, including confirmation of card type, PSU status, supply rail voltages and internal temperature. There is also a per-slot page displaying card-specific data, the nature of which depends on the card type. A page is also available providing information and status of an optional BM102i network card, if one is fitted. A front panel USB port allows simple procedure for installing firmware updates from a flash drive.
Dual redundant power supplies (PSUs) are fitted as standard: each is capable of powering a frame fully load-ed with any BC Series card combination. The two PSUs have independent IEC AC inlets, and employ load sharing to feed the internal electronics, so there is no interruption should one PSU fail.
The standard frame uses convection cooling and will only require the provision of vertical spacing above and below in most installations to ensure satisfactory operation.