what have you guys used as fan covers on your cocktails?

[atog]

I see that the Midway plans call for a rectangular air vent cover on both sides.  I am probably going to put a fan on the bottom blowing out, and I do see a need for air intakes, but I don't know where to get anything authentic looking.

[whammoed]

A little pricy but you can't beat that original look:
http://www.arcadeshop.com/pics/speaker-cover.jpg

May I suggest you take air in from the bottom and out through a vent closer to the top...hot air rises so you won't be going against its natural flow that way.

[whammoed]

Seem to have them here for $6.95 but I have no experience with them:
http://www.gamedoc.com/

[atog]

Ah, is that 6X9 speaker cover the same thing they used for air vent covers on the originals?

And you think 2 fans is the way to go?  I was concerned about the noise factor and figured if I had just one blowing out on the bottom, it would pull the air from the vents, plus be quieter and more out of the way.

[whammoed]

Yes, same thing.
The original only had one fan but again I would think it would be sucking air in to vent out through the side.  Not sure though.  If you go this route I would get a more powerful AC fan as opposed to a 12V computer case type fan.  On my 19" cocktail I had one fan blowing in from the bottom, one blowing in from the side and one blowing out from the other side.  Remember, unlike the original you are running a PC in there and not just a game pcb.  Especially if you are using a more recent PC, they can be really good heat generators.  You want to keep that PC cool AND you have it in the same box as a CRT monitor.  Lots of heat you need to get rid of.

[FractalWalk]

I was concerned about the noise factor and figured if I had just one blowing out on the bottom, it would pull the air from the vents, plus be quieter and more out of the way.

Why on the bottom? It would be much more effective on the top with vents on the bottom. (you know the whole hot air rises thing).

[TehJefe]

Im not sure any of these people are still around on any of the boards, but their conversation mirrors the one in my head perfectly.

It seems to me that it would be more effecient to put an exhaust fan near the top of my cabinet. But then.. I dont want to be blowing hot air on the player's legs, and I dont want it to be big and ugly right next to the coin door or anything.
Cosmetically, the fan being placed underneath the cabinet is best, but practically, it seems a fan on either the front or back would be best....

[javeryh]

I used those exact 6x9 grills for my fan covers.  I have a 80mm fan on each side (one blowing in and one blowing out) and another 80mm fan on the bottom blowing in onto the monitor).  So far everything works...

[Quarterhorse]

Unless somebody did a "head to head" cab comparison with the same computers, monitors, we'd never really know the exact number of fans needed for YOUR cab and computer. 

On MY cabinet, I have one fan mounted at the base (discrete and unseen) blowing cool air into it.  It's never been hot, but then again the most it may be on would be for 5 or 6 hours in a party-type setting.  When I use it, not more than an hour or 2 at best.  My cab air can also ventilate out the speaker openings (I'm using computer speakers leaned up against the 6x9 midway openings) and there is still some ventilation at the top where the piano hinge is and at the holes going to the control panels. 

[TehJefe]

I have a 80mm fan on each side (one blowing in and one blowing out) and another 80mm fan on the bottom blowing in onto the monitor).

Yeah, I thought about doing almost exactly that, but I read some complaints about the hot air on the players legs.. youve never had that problem though?

[javeryh]

I have a 80mm fan on each side (one blowing in and one blowing out) and another 80mm fan on the bottom blowing in onto the monitor).

Yeah, I thought about doing almost exactly that, but I read some complaints about the hot air on the players legs.. youve never had that problem though?

Heh, I'll let you know - I'm not quite done yet.    So far though during some test runs I don't notice anything that would be uncomfortable though...