Review on CLOUDPLATE T2 Rack Mount Fan 1U - Top Exhaust Airflow for AV, Home Theater, and Network 19” Racks Cooling by Michael Murphy

The Cloudplate T2 is a great cooling solution for my 6U home network rack. The shelf lives under the stairs in the basement and is vulnerable to heat. I recently purchased two AC Infinity AIRPLATE S7 air conditioners for closet air circulation. To help airflow, I installed a fan under the rack to blow air through the components. It worked, but it was noisy and ugly. So Cloudplate T2 was bought to make the solution work a little better. The device is very durable and looks professional. The LED screen is bright and easy to read. The temperature sensor cable is long enough to reach all components and allows for a variety of dynamic fan modes. The options are easy to set up and rack mounting was quick. The fans appear to be of good quality. They have the ability to move quite a bit of air through the rack while being silent. In AUTO mode, my switch's temperature dropped 34 degrees Fahrenheit. I could probably increase it by turning on the fans, which would make it louder. But even at full power, I can't hear the fans outside the case. The only problem I have is that I think the Cloudplate T2 is too deep for standard racks. My rack is 13.8" and Cloudplate T2 is 13.5". If there were no extra cables, Cloudplate T2 would be a perfect fit. However, the power cord and temperature sensor stick out about half an inch, adding to the depth of the rack and making it cramped. If the cables had an L-shaped connector that was routed horizontally, or if the device were a little less deep, the fit would be better. I was able to clamp the unit to the back of the rack, but I'm concerned this will break the cables in the future. Perhaps longer screws could mitigate this problem. Overall this is a quality product and I expect it to keep my devices cool for a long time with proper maintenance.