Amp rack temperature?

I am in the process of making an amp rack...the amps are encased in an 18mm-ply frame, then 25mm hard foam, then a 18mm-ply skin.

I wanted to line the inside with 8mm carpet to cover the ply and glue/expanding foam mess between amps and frame...but am worried it will act as an insulator and build up heat in the rack.

My 12u rack consists of an Ultradrive, QSC 2450, QSC 4050 and a Proline 3000...often found in hot sweaty nightclubs.

I would like to install some computer fans in the rack to circulate it but my amps kick hot air out the back so couldn't mount fans on the back end and don't think it would circulate air with an amp pressed against it!

Does anyone have any advice or experience with this and can advise me whether or not carpet on the inside will be ok?

Bless up!

carpet will make very little difference - nearly all the cooling is from air circulation.

if you want to keep the rear lid on the case use a fan tray to suck hot air out the front of the rack.

IMO a 1U gap at the top of the rack will be enough venting anyway. amps are designed with enough internal fans for their own cooling. extra fans may result in excessive air being pulled through which will clog up filters quicker. whatever you do just make sure you don't get a situation where warm air is coming out and being sucked back into and amp - this can happen if you have air coming out beneath the intake for an amp higher up the rack.

sweet - the lids will be off when i'm using it anyway.

imageoven wrote: What is the intention of this idea?

To make it look nice inside and to cover up my messy expanding foam and pu glue work! 

You're making a one-time shockrack, to be disposed after an impact like a used bike helmet.  Were you trying to save money?

Use high density foam that rebounds, like everybody else uses in flightcases and racks. It'll damp vibrations better than rigid foam and work for years.