which brand cooling fan for oak cabinet?

[robodoc]

My stereo cabinet is solid oak. I would like to mount two cooling fans in the cabinet. What brands and styles do you guys prefer, and the best place to buy them? Thanks.

 

[Nemo128]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835185058

One fan to rule them all. LOL, i'm in a LoTR mood cuz of another thread.

If you want silent, that is the one. If you want performance/noise ratio, that is the one. If you just want maximum CFM, noise be damned, I'll sell you some 35mm depth 120mm Delta hi flows. 137CFMs each and they sound like mini jet turbines at full speed.

Also, contrary to popular belief, ball bearing fans are not quieter than sleeve bearing in reality. The quietest fans right now all use sleeve bearings. Ball bearing fans can just last longer.

 

[nibhaz]

+1 to Nemo

Scythes are where it's at.

 

[robodoc]

thanks for that. I had pictured in my mind some sort of fan that I could just drill a hole and then drop in the case. Not sure how that would work with the fan in that link. I was also looking for something that had maybe had more of a finished look with a grill, since the outside of my cabinets are finished oak hardwood. Also, looks like I would need a power converter since I think these fans run off 12V to me. Does that sound about right? Thanks for the brand name Scythe.

 

[Nemo128]

Powering those would be simple and i've got just the idea for it.

Get yourself a PATA to USB converter. They come with a molex to 120V AC adaptor. That is actually a DC/AC transformer with a molex on the end! You can use that to power it. You can even pick up a switch at your local hardware store (support local businesses please) and make it a switched fan setup.

You can check out xoxide and plenty of other sites for nice chrome grilles to give you a slick appearance. If you can find an image and specs of your cabinet, I can help you figure it all out. Could be a pretty sweet setup. Plus the satisfaction of DIY.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

I use Dual Scythe Sony 120mm Ultra Quiet Fans.

You can find a millions cooling systems online or you can just build one yourself.

Here are a few links:
http://www.coolcomponents.com/Cooling-Products_c_6.html?gclid=CJ7M0smo450CFSANDQodT0v0Cg

http://www.windywilly.com/id63.html

http://www.acousticpc.com/av_cooling_audio_ventilation.html

Here is the one I did myself:

 

[griffinconst]

+1 with Nemo or just get the most quiet one Radio Shack sells.
If your cabinet faces a wall on one side, you don't need any grills.
Set it or them up to suck air out, not blow in. This same sort of setup cured all of my heat problems.
Good luck.

 

[Nemo128]

griffin is correct, exhaust pressure is much better in this case than intake pressure. With only intake pressure, you'll just cause hot air pockets to form. Exhausting from the heat source is always more efficient than intaking to the heat source, if you can't do both.

 

[neoshmengi]

If you go the computer fan route, how do you power them? Can you get a molex to wall AC adapter?

Thanks

 

[griffinconst]

If you go the computer fan route, how do you power them? Can you get a molex to wall AC adapter?

Thanks

I just cut the end off an old cell phone charger and taped the wires together with the fan.
If that's not to your liking, I'm sure Radio shack will have something.
Just a note...if you plug it into the switched plug on your receiver, it will turn on and off with your remote. Good luck

 

[MidnightSensi]

Middle Atlantic makes a lot of cooling equipment for racks, but also stuff for custom cabinets.

120V fans with a wiring harness and such. Their site sucks but if you call them they are helpful.

You can buy Middle Atlantic stuff from bhphotovideo.com and other online retailers.

http://www.middleatlantic.com/

http://www.middleatlantic.com/rackac/cooling/cooling.htm

 

[highfigh]

Any fan will work, AC or DC. AC fans can be used easily with a switched outlet on a receiver or power conditioner and DC can be used with a wall wart, a relay and a 12V triggered jack on a receiver. If the fan makes too much noise, a voltage divider can be used to decrease the speed so it's more quiet. Brushless-slotless are needed, in order to not cause noise problems.

 

[olddog]

If your reciever has a 12v trigger switch would that work?

 

[highfigh]

If your reciever has a 12v trigger switch would that work?

Not to actually power the fan but it would latch a relay. The relay carries the current for the fan and you would use a wall wart for the fan's power supply.

This relay would work and it won't overtax the 12V trigger output, which is only good up to about 150mA.

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062483&CAWELAID=107595226

Radio Shack also has small project boxes and perforated phenolic board, which could be the housing for it. You could either hard wire everything or install some kind of jacks for the connections.

For anyone who wants to switch 120VAC, this relay would work and can be triggered by 12VDC.
http://www.controlsupply.com/itm03012.htm