Closet system

[ivseenbetter]

I have a very large closet that hangs off the side of the room I want to put my HT gear in. What I was thinking of doing was actually cutting a hole in the wall so that I can install the equipment in the closet and then have the faceplates to everything facing inside the theater room. That way I could go over and throw in games and movies without having to go into the other room…plus, I think it will look neat to see all the different equipment I have installed. I thought the easiest way to build this is to get some L brackets and attach them to the studs in the wall and then lay a shelf across the L brackets (one set for each piece of equipment). I figure I can throw some edging around the opening to frame it and it may look pretty decent. Anyway, how much space should I place between a piece of equipment and the next shelf above it? It’s a closet so there isn’t any airflow in the room so I want to leave enough room for the components to breathe but I have no idea how much I should really leave. I don’t want to leave too much because I don’t want the opening in the wall to be as tall as I am 

Any suggestions?

 

[Midcow2]

6" - 8"

I have a very large closet that hangs off the side of the room I want to put my HT gear in. What I was thinking of doing was actually cutting a hole in the wall so that I can install the equipment in the closet and then have the faceplates to everything facing inside the theater room. That way I could go over and throw in games and movies without having to go into the other room…plus, I think it will look neat to see all the different equipment I have installed. I thought the easiest way to build this is to get some L brackets and attach them to the studs in the wall and then lay a shelf across the L brackets (one set for each piece of equipment). I figure I can throw some edging around the opening to frame it and it may look pretty decent. Anyway, how much space should I place between a piece of equipment and the next shelf above it? It’s a closet so there isn’t any airflow in the room so I want to leave enough room for the components to breathe but I have no idea how much I should really leave. I don’t want to leave too much because I don’t want the opening in the wall to be as tall as I am 

Any suggestions?

When I was reseraching buying my Marantz, I was also seriously considering the Onkyo 905 which runs very hot . I have the Maratnz 8002 in an Amoire that is closed most of the time; I have the back cut-out so it is open, but the front and sides are closed.

However without air flow, in a closed cabinet Onkyo recommends 6-8" in each direction. This keeps the ajacent air buffer large enough to provide cooling without addtional fan airflow.

Actually the shelf above my AVR is only about 2-3" air gap and about 2" on each side. However, the whole back has been cut-out and is open behind the AVR. Marantz and it stays cool to the touch in an enclosed environment. Normally the front doors shown open, are closed.

My lower powered DVD has closer shelf clearance. about 2".

If you are totally enclosed you might want to follow the Onkyo recommendations closer. But, from the way you are describing you closet you will have open area behind you equipment. If so, then a couple of inches sides and top should work well.

 

[ivseenbetter]

When I was reseraching buying my Marantz, I was also seriously considering the Onkyo 905 which runs very hot . I have the Maratnz 8002 in an Amoire that is closed most of the time; I have the back cut-out so it is open, but the front and sides are closed.

However without air flow, in a closed cabinet Onkyo recommends 6-8" in each direction. This keeps the ajacent air buffer large enough to provide cooling without addtional fan airflow.

Actually the shelf above my AVR is only about 2-3" air gap and about 2" on each side. However, the whole back has been cut-out and is open behind the AVR. Marantz and it stays cool to the touch in an enclosed environment. Normally the front doors shown open, are closed.

My lower powered DVD has closer shelf clearance. about 2".

If you are totally enclosed you might want to follow the Onkyo recommendations closer. But, from the way you are describing you closet you will have open area behind you equipment. If so, then a couple of inches sides and top should work well.

I appreciate the info. I will definitely have a ton of open space behind the eqipment (several feet of space)...and a will have a few feet to each side as well. I'm just worried that there is no way for the air to be cooled in the closet other than what will come in through the opening I will cut in the wall. If the whole room becomes hot, won't the space around the equipment not matter anymore due to the fact that all the space will be hot as well? Maybe I am over thinking this though. Perhaps plenty will come in through the opening in the wall I will create.

 

[redman_43]

Why don't you start with just the "hole in the wall" method. Just don't make the hole too big. If it doesn't work out for your situation, there are plenty of "active ventilation" solutions out there that will actually pull in the cooler outside air and push out the warmer trapped air.

I have no idea of the quality of these or how they rate against similar priced items, but here are just a few of the things I've been looking into.

http://www.coolcomponents.com/

http://www.windywilly.com/index.html

 

[Adam]

...there are plenty of "active ventilation" solutions out there that will actually pull in the cooler outside air and push out the warmer trapped air.

That's the first thing that popped into my head, too. You could certainly set up a ventilation system for your closet if required, and it doesn't have to be right by the electronics (to help keep the noise down).

 

[ivseenbetter]

Yeah. I guess I could just get one of those active systems to help things out if it gets too hot. I felt like I might be overthinking it. I may be making a slight change to my plans though. I figured out how big the whole in the wall would need to be to expose the face to all of my equipment and I was kind of overwhelmed by the amount of area I would have to open up. To show off everything, and taking into account breathing room between each component, I would have to open up a hole in the wall that is 54" tall. That is almost as tall as my wife! I'm not sure if I want to open up the closet that much. Now I am considering just leaving an opening for the receiver and the game/dvd components. Then I only need to open it up an 18" hole.

 

[Midcow2]

on a good path

Yeah. I guess I could just get one of those active systems to help things out if it gets too hot. I felt like I might be overthinking it. I may be making a slight change to my plans though. I figured out how big the whole in the wall would need to be to expose the face to all of my equipment and I was kind of overwhelmed by the amount of area I would have to open up. To show off everything, and taking into account breathing room between each component, I would have to open up a hole in the wall that is 54" tall. That is almost as tall as my wife! I'm not sure if I want to open up the closet that much. Now I am considering just leaving an opening for the receiver and the game/dvd components. Then I only need to open it up an 18" hole.

I think you might be overthinking, but thta is good
You could start with a small hole i nthe wall and if that doesn't do it you could always add a muffin fan or a higher level of active circulation!.

Good luck! i like you "closed closet" idea.

 

[bandphan]

Have you looked into a pre-fabed rack?

http://www.atlassound.com/Product.aspx?id=1189

 

[bandphan]

http://www.middleatlantic.com/enclosure/main.htm another good rack company

 

[ivseenbetter]

I think you might be overthinking, but thta is good
You could start with a small hole i nthe wall and if that doesn't do it you could always add a muffin fan or a higher level of active circulation!.

Good luck! i like you "closed closet" idea.

Yeah. I probably am overthinking it. It seems to be a common problem on this board. Lots of folks spend too much time thinking about "what is the best option" when a perfectly good solution stares them in the face. I have fallen victim to it myself.

Have you looked into a pre-fabed rack?

http://www.atlassound.com/Product.aspx?id=1189

Thanks for the links bandphan. Those look expensive and since they don't list the price I assume they are costly. I'm trying to do this "on the cheap" though. I'll probably stick to my homemade rack. With the way I plan to set up the wall I think it will still look pretty sharp.

 

[ivseenbetter]

Have you looked into a pre-fabed rack?

http://www.atlassound.com/Product.aspx?id=1189

I have been a fan of any type of rack since I was a young boy. Pre-fabed or homemade...a rack is never a bad thing!

Lame joke but I couldn't help it.

 

[Midcow2]

http://www.middleatlantic.com/enclosure/main.htm another good rack company

BANDPHAN,

Is there any subject yoy don't have at least some knowledge on ? Wow, you provide a lot of great information in ideas aon a wide variety of topics. Thanks very much!

 

[bandphan]

Thanks for the links bandphan. Those look expensive and since they don't list the price I assume they are costly. I'm trying to do this "on the cheap" though. I'll probably stick to my homemade rack. With the way I plan to set up the wall I think it will still look pretty sharp.

Some have cad drawings so you could get some design ideas

 

[ivseenbetter]

Roger that! I will take a look at those...now that you mention it I do remember a link to some cad drawings!

 

[bandphan]

BANDPHAN,

Is there any subject yoy don't have at least some knowledge on ? Wow, you provide a lot of great information in ideas aon a wide variety of topics. Thanks very much!

itb baby, There alot here that know way more than i ever will on the principal side. Im just fortunate to turn a hobby into a living.

 

[Rickster71]

I thought the easiest way to build this is to get some L brackets and attach them to the studs in the wall and then lay a shelf across the L brackets (one set for each piece of equipment). I figure I can throw some edging around the opening to frame it and it may look pretty decent.
Any suggestions?

A lot depends on your carpentry skills.
You will have to cut out a stud to fit components between them. Studs are on 16" centers; components are wider.
Then you'll have to reframe the opening. If you have an attic right above there, you could use the stud cavity as an exhaust vent. Or just vent the closet ceiling with a quiet bath exhaust fan.

 

[bandphan]

I have been a fan of any type of rack

 

[ivseenbetter]

One of the all time bests!

 

[BrawlingBigJim]

I am in the process of doing the same thing in my theater room. I went with the middle atlantic rack and a few shelves for my components. The prices are actually quite reasonable and it makes the whole job much easier. I plan to have my room completed by the end of this month. I will post pics when completed.