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David L. Leon
Guest
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 Posted:
Wed Nov 09, 2005 5:41 am Post subject:
Suggestions for external cooling fans? |
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I'm considering installing an equipment closet in my garage. I know that
TiVos run really, really hot (I had one overheat in a very large media
cabinet in my bedroom.) Anyway,
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Charlie Hoffpauir
Guest
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| Posted:
Wed Nov 09, 2005 5:41 am Post subject:
Re: Suggestions for external cooling fans? |
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On Wed, 09 Nov 2005 01:49:08 GMT, "David L. Leon" <news@leonlaw.com>
wrote:
| Quote: | I'm considering installing an equipment closet in my garage. I know that
TiVos run really, really hot (I had one overheat in a very large media
cabinet in my bedroom.) Anyway,
|
Just provide an exhaust fan at the top with inlet at the bottom of the
cabinet, and monitor the air temp. If it gets high, add another fan.
Tivo's don't use enough power to generate a "lot" of heat, but if
there is no air changes, the air will of course heat up over time,
because the Tivo is "on" continuously.
Charlie Hoffpauir
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~charlieh/ |
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David L. Leon
Guest
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| Posted:
Wed Nov 09, 2005 5:41 am Post subject:
Re: Suggestions for external cooling fans? |
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That's what happens when you hit the wrong button, it sends too soon.
Anyway, I'd like to make a media closet for the garage, which can get kind
of warm in the summer months. The equipment includes a Yamaha THX receiver
(which generates a bunch of heat) an HDTivo (heat sensative) and a few other
items. I'm thinking of piping in a/c (the duct is close to the proposed
media closet) but I'm worried about how to shut it off in winter months (I
don't want hot air piping in there.)
Before I go re-inventing the wheel, what are the others doing for media
closets? Fans? A/c? I don't think vents will do it...
"David L. Leon" <news@leonlaw.com> wrote in message
news:oAccf.12474$q%.9815@newssvr12.news.prodigy.com...
| Quote: | I'm considering installing an equipment closet in my garage. I know that
TiVos run really, really hot (I had one overheat in a very large media
cabinet in my bedroom.) Anyway,
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Stryjewski
Guest
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| Posted:
Thu Nov 10, 2005 1:19 am Post subject:
Re: Suggestions for external cooling fans? |
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David L. Leon wrote:
| Quote: | That's what happens when you hit the wrong button, it sends too soon.
Anyway, I'd like to make a media closet for the garage, which can get kind
of warm in the summer months. The equipment includes a Yamaha THX receiver
(which generates a bunch of heat) an HDTivo (heat sensative) and a few other
items. I'm thinking of piping in a/c (the duct is close to the proposed
media closet) but I'm worried about how to shut it off in winter months (I
don't want hot air piping in there.)
Before I go re-inventing the wheel, what are the others doing for media
closets? Fans? A/c? I don't think vents will do it...
"David L. Leon" <news@leonlaw.com> wrote in message
news:oAccf.12474$q%.9815@newssvr12.news.prodigy.com...
I'm considering installing an equipment closet in my garage. I know that
TiVos run really, really hot (I had one overheat in a very large media
cabinet in my bedroom.) Anyway,
|
Positioning of units is fairly important, the hotter components at the
top. Having enough space between and around the units helps too. Venting
out the top of the cabinet will help, adding fans to the top vents to
pull fresh air from the bottom and out the top (in a garage, you may
need filters on the incoming air). If noise is not a concern, there are
arrays of fans made for computer racks that will move a lot of air, some
adjust speed based on temperature.
Radio shack has AC powered fans (70mm?). I have used ThermalTake USB
powered fans to move air around in a cabinet. I have wondered if some
of the USB laptop cooling units would move enough air around a unit to
make a difference? I'm assuming that a HDTivo has USB ports that at
lease supply power.
The other option instead of piping in a/c, is to pull "return" air to
the furnace through the cabinet. The return air will be room
temperature and might get your needed airflow without the heating vs.
cooling seasons.
Pete
pstryjew at att dot net |
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Scott Peterson
Guest
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| Posted:
Thu Nov 10, 2005 1:25 am Post subject:
Re: Suggestions for external cooling fans? |
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Charlie Hoffpauir <invalid@invalid.com> wrote:
| Quote: | Just provide an exhaust fan at the top with inlet at the bottom of the
cabinet, and monitor the air temp. If it gets high, add another fan.
Tivo's don't use enough power to generate a "lot" of heat, but if
there is no air changes, the air will of course heat up over time,
because the Tivo is "on" continuously.
|
With the Tivo air flow is important. The air enters the case on the
lower left side as you're facing the unit, moves across the mother
board and exits through the fan at the back.
I have a Tivo in a cabinet that's only open to the front. What I did
was put a small 3" instrument fan on the shelf next to the Tivo. It
blows cool air along the left side. It dropped the temperature inside
the the case 8 degrees C.
There are dozens of these fans. Look for one with a high rating for
air movement and low noise. It should be around $10. |
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wkearney99
Guest
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| Posted:
Fri Nov 11, 2005 8:25 pm Post subject:
Re: Suggestions for external cooling fans? |
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| Quote: | I'm considering installing an equipment closet in my garage. I know that
TiVos run really, really hot (I had one overheat in a very large media
cabinet in my bedroom.) Anyway,
|
You may want to arrange for airflow from your regular HVAC system instead of
using convection from the garage itself. Depending on where you live it's
not just the temperature to watch out for, there's also humidity. That and
airborne dirt. There's likely to be a lot more crud that'll collect on the
insides of everything if you just use the air from the garage.
See if there's a nearby set of HVAC supply *and* return ducts that you could
use. Feed the fresh flow in the bottom and the return out the top. A bit
of dryer-type flexible ducts would work in a pinch.
If you want to try starting with just the garage air then make sure you seal
it up well and use decent filters on both the the intake and the exhaust
grilles. You want just air circulating, not the dirt. That and don't try
using this closet for other garage storage purposes. You really want to
avoid letting airborne particulate matter get sucked into the devices.
Be sure design it such that adding HVAC ducts later won't be too much of a
hassle. Pick the right location and situate the equipment in there such
that you won't have to rearrange anything if/when you need to add ducts.
-Bill Kearney |
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