Main > Main Forum
cocktail cab fan placement and air direction question
<< < (3/3)
Level42:

--- Quote from: ahofle on September 17, 2006, 01:50:54 am ---I would think having the fan at the bottom like that would be just fine, provided you have some way for the air to enter at the top (preferably the other side) to create a flow inside the cabinet.  I think that flow would more than compensate for heat's tendency to rise.

--- End quote ---
You are completely working against nature this way. Hot air rises. Cabs (yes cocktails too) use this effect (chimney effect) to cool the parts like Power Supply, PCB and monitor. There's holes on the underside to let in air, and holes near the top to let it out. Because of the build-up of heat, the air will start to rise, exiting through the top holes. This automaticaly draws in cool air from the bottom holes that will transport through the cab and take up heat from the parts etc. etc.

This is usualy enough for cabs with real arcade PCB's. I'm hoping to MAME my cocktail fan-less, because I hate the noise. Since I probably will only play (very old) vertical games on it, I will use a very old mobo, which I may underclock and see if I can run it with coolers without fans.
ahofle:

--- Quote from: Level42 on September 19, 2006, 10:32:55 am ---
--- Quote from: ahofle on September 17, 2006, 01:50:54 am ---I would think having the fan at the bottom like that would be just fine, provided you have some way for the air to enter at the top (preferably the other side) to create a flow inside the cabinet.  I think that flow would more than compensate for heat's tendency to rise.

--- End quote ---
You are completely working against nature this way. Hot air rises. Cabs (yes cocktails too) use this effect (chimney effect) to cool the parts like Power Supply, PCB and monitor. There's holes on the underside to let in air, and holes near the top to let it out. Because of the build-up of heat, the air will start to rise, exiting through the top holes. This automaticaly draws in cool air from the bottom holes that will transport through the cab and take up heat from the parts etc. etc.

--- End quote ---

We're only talking about thermal convection here, not a tornado or hurricane.  All I'm suggesting is that the air current generated by a small fan is more than enough to move the hot air down and out if you are unable to find a suitable location for a fan near the top of the cocktail (which is what the OP mentioned).
Navigation
Message Index
Previous page

Go to full version