How to manage airflow into a wooden cabinet?

Status
Not open for further replies.
Renegade

Renegade

Staff member
Luminary
I got this basic wooden cabinet made to house the AVR, a PS3 and the power strip in 3 individual partitions. Problem is that it gets too hot as I didn't have the foresight to think about keeping it cool. So I keep the acrylic front door open when I using the setup.

I was thinking of getting some big holes drilled into the back and probably install some fans into those. Anybody has a better idea to help me out?

If not then I would need to know how to run these fans. :wacky:
 
You can get a 120 x 38 mm fan for 200-300 Rs. that can run on 230V AC. Buy a few of them, install the fans at the back of the cabinet so it can suck the heat out of the warm enclosures. Assuming the front of the cabinets are left open, this would ensure there is sufficient flow of fresh air from outside. If the entire cabinet is closed, one (or two) fans at one end should be the inlet and the one at the far end should be exhaust. You can wire them in parallel and connect them to the power strip.

How about a sketch of how this cabinet looks?
 
My AV amplifier

mydspz9fan2.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: Rockfella
Get an Antec AV cooler. The only proper way to cool your AV amp. Being in to gaming PC/and Audio Amplifiers for over a decade, without a temp gauge you never know what is the temp inside your enclosure . Too many fans or too less just dosnt ensure proper cooling. The proper Inflow and Exhaust (CFM) has to be maintained.

And Rishi those to many fans on the chasis on the AV is doing more bad to the sound than good. Vibrations imparted by those fans in to Chasis is bad for the sound. Modern AV equipment see fans as an evil,for a reason that is.
 
vvvinashhh said:
And Rishi those to many fans on the chasis on the AV is doing more bad to the sound than good. Vibrations imparted by those fans in to Chasis is bad for the sound. Modern AV equipment see fans as an evil,for a reason that is.
Click to expand...

Yeah I know. Where to have this Antec AV cooler?
 
Nice DIY Rishi, You can buy black fan grills and screw them on the fans to prevent accidents of some sort and the grills make it look a bit safer ;)[DOUBLEPOST=1367133435][/DOUBLEPOST]The cfm of Antec cooler is too low, 5-8 :confused:
 
Rockfella said:
Nice DIY Rishi, You can buy black fan grills and screw them on the fans to prevent accidents of some sort and the grills make it look a bit safer ;)[DOUBLEPOST=1367133435][/DOUBLEPOST]The cfm of Antec cooler is too low, 5-8 :confused:
Click to expand...

It's the old DIY using seven fans. The new one houses ten 80 mm fans to be used in tandem. :D
 
This is the cabinet. I am thinking of moving the AVR to the bottom shelf as that is more spacious. Install an inlet fan in the top bay and an exhaust in the bottom.

IMAG0326.jpg
[DOUBLEPOST=1367139975][/DOUBLEPOST]
Gannu said:
You can get a 120 x 38 mm fan for 200-300 Rs. that can run on 230V AC.
Click to expand...
Is it available online somewhere?
 
It should ideally be the other way round. i.e. inlet on the bottom and exhaust on the top because hot/warm air rises being lighter than cold air. Have 2 fans for each. i.e. 2 inlet fans on the lower most shelf and 2 on the top most. You can have it installed outside the cabinet so they do not occupy space inside the shelves. What about the holes for the fans? Do you have a hole saw to cut 120 mm holes?

Moving the AVR to the lower most shelf would be a good idea. The PS3 has a centrifugal fan inside so that section can be left free.

Can't find any cheaper fans online. Found one on eBay but that's too expensive. If you cannot find it online or locally, let me know. Can get you some from my local electronics shop here and courier it over to you. These fans throw a lot of air and have a metallic frame, not the plastic. Installed two of those inside the panels on our ships and they work well.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Renegade
Thanks, let me look around for those. No I do not have a tool to cut the hole. I was thinking of asking the local carpenters to make one. Unless if I can find a cheep tool to do it myself.
 
Local electronics shops should have these. You can ask around. Don't cut the holes by yourself unless you have a hole saw. The hole saw can be inserted into the chuck of a drill and the hole can be cut. I cut a few for my AV rack to accommodate the bunch of cables. Borrowed the hole saw from one of the contractors employed by our company. :P
 
IMAG0326.jpg

Renegade said:
This is the cabinet. I am thinking of moving the AVR to the bottom shelf as that is more spacious. Install an inlet fan in the top bay and an exhaust in the bottom.

View attachment 21045[DOUBLEPOST=1367139975][/DOUBLEPOST]Is it available online somewhere?
Click to expand...

I'd take the shelfs out and nail them so that the AVR is on the top with maximum space. Imagine just turning the cabinet up side down. You'll have to take the nails out and hammer them back.[DOUBLEPOST=1367167714][/DOUBLEPOST]Was talking about these marked in red circles and hammering them back as per your needs. If you keep the AVR on the lower shelf it will get very dusty and dog (if u have one) might piss on it :confused: .. happened with me once :banghead:
OR just keep the AVR on top ;)
 
The cabinet is closed from all 4 sides so it does get hot enough.[DOUBLEPOST=1367174535][/DOUBLEPOST]
Rockfella said:
If you keep the AVR on the lower shelf it will get very dusty and dog (if u have one) might piss on it :confused: .. happened with me once :banghead:
OR just keep the AVR on top ;)
Click to expand...
Don't have one and the cabinet has a front door. Take your point though.
 
Rockfella said:
Hmm, bro bigger fans comparatively have higher cfm low noise, go for at least 120 mms :)
Click to expand...

I know. I already had six pairs of CoolerMaster 80mm silent fans in my home, so went with them. My AV amp internal power amp is class AB which being highly Class A biased emits a lot heat. Under full load it can consume upto 1300 watts of input power which is equivalent to my 1.5 Ton AC!!!

It has an inbuilt pair of fans along with by my five pairs DIYed on the hood. Under normal listening the air ejected is quite warm.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top Bottom