Astronics / EADS / Racal 1261AM 13-Slot High-Performance, Medium Power VXI Mainframe

The Astronics/EADS/Racal 1261AM is a 13-slot C-Size VXI mainframe engineered for instrumentation and data acquisition systems requiring medium power distribution and advanced thermal management. Fully compliant with VXIbus specification Rev. 2.0 and VXI specification B.7.2.3, this platform delivers 500 W of usable power to support diverse module configurations in demanding test environments.

Technical Specifications

Slot Configuration: 13-slot C-Size VXI mainframe

VXIbus Compliance: Rev. 2.0; VXI specification B.7.2.3

Input Voltage: 115 Vrms ±10%

Input Frequency: 47 Hz to 63 Hz

Total Usable Power: 500 W

Maximum Power Consumption: 1130 W (power supply)

Operating Temperature: 0 °C to +55 °C

Operating Relative Humidity: Up to 95% at up to 30 °C rise; up to 45% at +55 °C

Operating Altitude: 5,000 ft (4570 m)

Non-operating Altitude: 40,000 ft (12,190 m)

Acoustic Noise: 56 dBA (fan speed control set to low)

Key Features

Advanced power supply with minimal ripple and noise; direct backplane connection

Independent power supply and fan assemblies

Pressurized plenum cooling system with molded card guides for optimized airflow distribution

Snap-on slot covers divert airflow from unused positions

Fault-tolerant three-fan cooling assembly with rear-pluggable design

Variable-speed fan control adjusts based on worst-case slot temperature rise (with system monitor)

Standard Monitor System (SMS) independently powered; checks VXIbus voltages, currents, airflow, and temperature against factory limits

Enhanced Monitoring System (EMS) option adds VXIbus and RS-232 interactivity with user-defined limits and out-of-limit interrupts

Optional inter-module shields (Option 52) reduce radiated noise between modules

Optional backplane connector shrouds (Option 51) minimize backplane radiated noise

Bi-color LED annunciators indicate system status

Electromagnetic Compatibility

FCC 47 CFR Part 15 Class B; EN 50081-1, EN 50082-1, EN 55011 Class B

Class A emissions available with Option 53

Typical Applications Defense and aerospace testing, industrial data acquisition systems, automated measurement platforms, and distributed instrumentation networks requiring modular expansion and fault-tolerant operation.