Hi all
If you are good at soldering and would like to get a little hitech when cooling your components, you might try using the Enermax 120mm 12vdc fans with built in speed control and a Velleman electronic thermostat. The Enermax fans can be purchased from mwave.com for $15.99 each plus shipping. The fans are the ball bearing style and will last longer than the sleeve type. The have a built in speed control that can be set from around 1500rpm to 3500rpm. The Velleman theromstat kit runs on 12vdc and can control the Enermax fans with its built in relay. The thermostat is adjustable from 40 to 85 degrees F. The Velleman kit can be purchased from Jameco.com or Partsexpress.com for around $19.95 plus shipping. I mounted two of the Enermax fans in a two position rack mount panel and have a baffle that directs the air flow upwards though a ventilated rack shelf that my Outlaw 7100 sits on. I have the thermostat sensor mounted above the 7100 and have the thermostat set to come on at 80 degrees F. There is enough hystersis in the thermostat to prevent constant cycling. Works great, but does take a little time to put together.
Regards,
TCIII

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If you are going to send someone to save the world, you better make sure they like it the way it is.

I failed Electricity 101.

Radio Shack has a 3.5 inch ac fan which I can just plug into the wall. With the dc fan TCIII suggests, I'd need to use a transfromer/power brick, right? TCIII, is each of your fans on a separate circuit with its own plug?

Beyond the fans, Radio Shack has black project boxes of varying sizes and lighted switches. Several fans strung together and controlled by a clean-looking panel would be a nice thing.

I think I have found what I need here:

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

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MeanGene's Home

Sorry I didn't get a chance to experiment with the cooler installed in the rack. Just pluggin it in and running it, it does make some noise, but I really need to install it in my A/V rack and give a listen. I hope to get to it this weekend.

Here are some links to cabinet cooling that you may want to take a look at. This is 115 VAC and plugs right into you power strip or whatever you are using.

PROGRESSIVE THERMOSTATIC FAN CONTROL
Take a look at the FC-4-1C
http://www.lashen.com/vendors/map/power/mprs1.asp

Quiet Fans - Qfan < 30 db
http://www.rackmountsolutions.net/Fans.asp

You may also want to check out:
http://www.activethermal.com/index.htm

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MeanGene's Home

[This message has been edited by MeanGene (edited June 01, 2003).]