Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum

Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: Silverwind on August 22, 2005, 10:55:23 pm

Title: Air vents/fan filters
Post by: Silverwind on August 22, 2005, 10:55:23 pm
Where to buy fan vents/filters?  I would like to buy one for the bottom of my cab to draw in cool air and one at the top of my cab to vent out the hot air.

I looked through happs and didn't see anything.  Does anyone have any ideas?  I was thinking maybe a 12" x 6" vent or something similar.  Thanks!
Title: Re: Air vents/fan filters
Post by: Franco on August 23, 2005, 05:33:23 am
I just used some PC fans and vents. You should be able to pick some up cheap as chips of eBay. That way you can just hook them up to your existing PSU.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v325/Francoberasi/DSC00960.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v325/Francoberasi/DSC00957.jpg)
Title: Re: Air vents/fan filters
Post by: Pik4chu on August 23, 2005, 12:17:30 pm
good place for cheap fans
http://www.allelectronics.com/cgi-bin/category.cgi?category=220&type=store

filters...hmmm unless your cab is well sealed I feel they are a bit overrated. but either way.
here are some 80mm and 120mm fan grills (http://search.store.yahoo.com/cgi-bin/nsearch?catalog=svcompucycle&query=filter) Also if you get the bigger fan and lower hte votlage you will get more airflow/noise than the smaller fans.  This can be done by hard wiring the connectors to use 5v instead of 12. or adding a pot to fine tune it.
Title: Re: Air vents/fan filters
Post by: Silverwind on September 08, 2005, 06:49:44 pm
What I ended up using was a 14" wide x 4" tall air conditioning vent from lowes for $7.
Title: Re: Air vents/fan filters
Post by: Ken Layton on September 09, 2005, 12:08:10 am
If you have a W.W. Grainger store near you (and you have an account with them) you can get all sorts of small fans and matching air filters there.
Title: Re: Air vents/fan filters
Post by: javeryh on September 09, 2005, 12:12:07 am
Is there any shot of Midway speaker grills being able to conceal a fan?  There's not much room for the air to flow but it's all I've got right now. 

Does anyone know where to get 6x9 fan covers to match these?

(http://img360.imageshack.us/img360/2613/speakercover9bw.th.jpg) (http://img360.imageshack.us/my.php?image=speakercover9bw.jpg)

THANKS!!!
Title: Re: Air vents/fan filters
Post by: RetroACTIVE on September 09, 2005, 01:02:22 pm
Not sure where.. if any "Midway Fan Grill" exists.

I'm putting the 199mm fan in my cab this weekend:
http://www.rockler.com/ecom7/product_details.cfm?offerings_id=6572

It has a removable filter.  I'll have to build a custom bracket for it.  It may be too noisy for some people, but I liked the package so I'm going to give it a shot.
Title: Re: Air vents/fan filters
Post by: Silverwind on September 09, 2005, 01:12:49 pm
The noise on my fans is noticable but not too bad.  I do not seem to notice when i'm in the middle of a game.

What I am going to do is add a fan speed controller for it so I can adjust it if needed.
Title: Re: Air vents/fan filters
Post by: JCL on September 09, 2005, 02:08:37 pm
How important are fans? Could good passive venting be adequate?

Has anyone done any measurement with and without fans turned on? Does it really reduce the temp of the CPU (or other PC hotspots) and/or the monitor?
Title: Re: Air vents/fan filters
Post by: RetroACTIVE on September 09, 2005, 03:14:55 pm
To be honest... I really don't know how important fans really are.  As a general rule it is better to keep electronics as cool as possible.  Good convection cooling is probably sufficient (vent at the bottom and one at the top, hot air rises and draws in fresh cool air)... the fan is just one more gadget to put in the cabinet.

Everybody has thier opinion on this issue I'm sure... me, I just like plugs wires lights switches and stuff... and what the heck.. the fan surely is not hurting anything.
Title: Re: Air vents/fan filters
Post by: Pik4chu on September 09, 2005, 03:26:51 pm
good place for cheap fans
http://www.allelectronics.com/cgi-bin/category.cgi?category=220&type=store

filters...hmmm unless your cab is well sealed I feel they are a bit overrated. but either way.
here are some 80mm and 120mm fan grills (http://search.store.yahoo.com/cgi-bin/nsearch?catalog=svcompucycle&query=filter) Also if you get the bigger fan and lower hte votlage you will get more airflow/noise than the smaller fans.