How to ventilate AV Cupboard

[Tackle_Berry]

Hi,

Anyone got any ideas on how to ventilate an AV cupboard.

The cupboard contains Sky box, 2 Microservers, router, gigabit switch,AV receiver, Blu-Ray player and Xbox. Cupboard is around 1.2m x 1.2m and 2.4 high. This is on a ground floor with a bedroom above it, so an extraction fan going to the loft is not possible.

I was thinking of getting a 20cm PC fan above the door to ventialte the hot air out the top of the cupboard into the hallway. But not sure how I would power it.

Has anyone got any other ideas, would like to keep the power and noise down.

 

[jellybeard999]

Easiest way to power it would be to run a long cable to the PC and run it off the PSU or USB (if it can provide enough power)

 

[oceaness]

You'll need at least two vents even if you only decide to use one fan.

Here's what I'd do.

1 intake at the bottom 1 exhaust at the top. Might need more 3 pin extension length depending on proximity of PC to vent location. 1 Fan filter for the intake to help keep dust down.

YOUR BASKET
1 x Corsair AF120 Quiet Edition Low Noise High Airflow - Dual Pack (CO-9050002-WW) £19.99
1 x Lian Li PW-F2 3-Pin Y-Splitter Fan Extension Cable £4.99
1 x OcUK Value 120mm Plastic Fan Filter - 120mm x 120mm £2.99
Total : £27.97 (includes shipping : FREE).

 

[jellybeard999]

I'd go bigger than 120mm - more like 300mm or whatever those massive side panel fans are. Might be easier to use a bathroom extractor fan?

I'd put a vent at the bottom and extractor at the top, but leave the bottom passive. I can't see it making much difference, it's just to prevent heat build up.

I'd look to extract into the space between floors if possible - unless you can somehow mask the vent with a box canvas or something?

 

[Tackle_Berry]

I have a spare decent 20cm fan so think I will use that at the top blowing out into the hallway, and maybe have a intake at the bottom with a dust filter or maybe just have a some holes.

The main problem I have is powering the PC fan, is there a safe way to power one to mains?

I did think bathroom extractor fan but they take a lot of power.

 

[Mark A]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AC-to-DC-...urement_Equipment_ET&var=&hash=item2ec94de7ae

Something like this if you want it to run at 12v. I use a multi voltage one to use an old 200mm case fan as a desk fan.

 

[Maccapacca]

Use a louver in front to cover it up and undercut the door to get ventilation from the bottom.

 

[Tackle_Berry]

Thanks would these two work giving me the option to adjust fan speed and would it be safe.

Adapter

with

Multi voltage plug

Use a louver in front to cover it up and undercut the door to get ventilation from the bottom.

Good idea on louver

 

[StevenG]

I've used bathroom extractor fan for mine, intake is just the air coming in the bottom of the door and i exhaust into my stairway.

cost me £20 for the extractor and just fit it onto a plug top.

 

[Tackle_Berry]

I've used bathroom extractor fan for mine, intake is just the air coming in the bottom of the door and i exhaust into my stairway.

cost me £20 for the extractor and just fit it onto a plug top.

Do you know whether it's good on electricity? Think I will probably go with PC fan route, if I can connect it safely.

 

[ci_newman]

I've used bathroom extractor fan for mine, intake is just the air coming in the bottom of the door and i exhaust into my stairway.

cost me £20 for the extractor and just fit it onto a plug top.

Isn't that incredibly noisy to have running all of the time though?

 

[StevenG]

Isn't that incredibly noisy to have running all of the time though?

no its an inline, 14w fan and isnt that loud at all!

if you can get the air flow then pc fan route would be great, could even get something like a t-balancer and have the fans only come on when the temp gets to a certain level.