cooling enclosed equipment

Jeff1
Jeff1 Posts: 34
edited November 2007 in Electronics
I have a denon avr and directv r10 dvr inside of an entertainment center behind a glass door. The dvr runs constantly at 43 degrees C (normal) when the denon is not on. When both are on, however, it gets pretty warm inside. I have one approx. 2" hole in the rear for wiring now. I am thinking about adding a fan to the rear for exhaust. I have a swithed AC outlet on the denon, and a USB port on the dvr. I could power a fan either way, but I would probably need a thermostat if I went with usb power since it really doesn't need to run constantly. Also I would prefer a quiet fan. Does anyone have any suggestions?
Post edited by Jeff1 on
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  • bikezappa
    bikezappa Posts: 2,463
    edited November 2007
    Connect a quiet fan to the switched outlet and let it run/cool when ever the Denon is on.
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  • Shizelbs
    Shizelbs Posts: 7,433
    edited November 2007
    bikezappa wrote: »
    Connect a quiet fan to the switched outlet and let it run/cool when ever the Denon is on.

    Can you point out a specific one?
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  • bikezappa
    bikezappa Posts: 2,463
    edited November 2007
    Not sure. Radio Shack? Google whisper quiet fan.
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  • hockeyboy
    hockeyboy Posts: 1,428
    edited November 2007
    You probably need to allow more room to vent back there. If you only have a couple of inches that wont be enough room to let the heat escape. If you can cut a vent near the top of the cabinet on the back that might help.
    My Main Gear
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  • WilliamM2
    WilliamM2 Posts: 4,796
    edited November 2007
    Shizelbs wrote: »
    Can you point out a specific one?

    I run a normal 12 volt 60mm computer fan in my rack, but I use a multi-voltage power supply. I can set it from 3 volts to 12 volts. 5 volts is the minimum needed to start the fan, and at that setting I can't even hear it from 2 feet away. Keeps everything very cool.
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  • phipiper10
    phipiper10 Posts: 955
    edited November 2007
    I bought a couple of fans from this guy a few years ago off ebay.

    http://www.windywilly.com/

    My stuff is all in an enclosed rack with glass front (kids). The amp fan is always on and the Receiver fan is triggered.

    They have done a good job.
    Analog Source: Rega P3-24 Exact 2 w/GT delrin platter & Neo TT-PSU Digital Source: Lumin T2 w/Roon (NUC) DAC: Denafrips Pontus II Phono Preamp: Rega Aria MK3 Preamp: Rogue RP-7 Amp: Pass X150.8 Speakers: Joseph Audio Perspective 2, Audio Physic Tempo Plus Cables: Morrow M4 ICs & Audio Art SC-5 ePlus, Shunyata PCs Misc: Shunyata Hydra Delta D6, VTI rack, GIK acoustic panels
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  • polkatese
    polkatese Posts: 6,767
    edited November 2007
    I use a couple of this brand:

    Papst 8412N/2GMLE (http://www.hardware.info/en-UK/productdb/bGNkbJiSmJrK/viewproduct/Papst_8412N2GMLE/)

    link is for descriptions only. I am sure you can find one etailer who carry it around here.

    so far, the quietest of the bunch that I tested (vantech is one of them).
    I am sorry, I have no opinion on the matter. I am sure you do. So, don't mind me, I just want to talk audio and pie.
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  • treitz3
    treitz3 Posts: 19,557
    edited November 2007
    Why don't you just increase the opening to allow for ventilation and call it a day? 2" is ridiculous, for ventilation and ease of hookup.
    ~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~
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  • Jeff1
    Jeff1 Posts: 34
    edited November 2007
    O.K., I found an old pc fan (12v), and a transformer that I had. I cut another hole (3" for the diameter of my fan) and mounted the fan to exhaust the heat. The fan is pretty loud and didn't drop the temp as the dvr says it is 49 degrees Celsius with the denon on with or without the fan on. My other dvr, an hr20-700 runs around 129F (53.9C) with much better ventilation in it's location. So...I suppose it's O.K., but it sure seems too warm to me. Would reversing the fan make a difference?
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  • thuchien
    thuchien Posts: 103
    edited November 2007
    I put 2 computer fan run by a 12 dc apdapter on top of my amplifier.
    Sony 60" XBR2
    PIONEER SC 05
    Samsung BD-UP 5000

    7.1 SETUP
    Infinity P-FR with 12" build in sub
    Infinity P-CC
    4 Infinity P QPS
    Kef sub 4000

    pure av PF60
    3 cobalt speaker cables
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  • MattN03
    MattN03 Posts: 558
    edited November 2007
    phipiper10 wrote: »
    I bought a couple of fans from this guy a few years ago off ebay.

    http://www.windywilly.com/

    My stuff is all in an enclosed rack with glass front (kids). The amp fan is always on and the Receiver fan is triggered.

    They have done a good job.

    Any problems with these fans? How loud are they? Did you notice any electrical interference with the fans? I have a glass enclosed rack also, and I believe the heat is getting to my DVR. I was thinking about buying the temperature sensing model.
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  • wingnut4772
    wingnut4772 Posts: 7,519
    edited November 2007
    I used a Parasound ZBreeze and I liked it a lot.

    ZBreeze
    Sharp Elite 70
    Anthem D2V 3D
    Parasound 5250
    Parasound HCA 1000 A
    Parasound HCA 1000
    Oppo BDP 95
    Von Schweikert VR4 Jr R/L Fronts
    Von Schweikert LCR 4 Center
    Totem Mask Surrounds X4
    Hsu ULS-15 Quad Drive Subwoofers
    Sony PS3
    Squeezebox Touch

    Polk Atrium 7s on the patio just to keep my foot in the door.
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  • MattN03
    MattN03 Posts: 558
    edited November 2007
    wingnut4772 wrote: »
    I used a Parasound ZBreeze and I liked it a lot.

    ZBreeze

    Any pics of how you mounted it?
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  • wingnut4772
    wingnut4772 Posts: 7,519
    edited November 2007
    MattN03 wrote: »
    Any pics of how you mounted it?

    I just sat it on top of my Anthem D2. I didn't have a rack really. It has little feet also.
    Sharp Elite 70
    Anthem D2V 3D
    Parasound 5250
    Parasound HCA 1000 A
    Parasound HCA 1000
    Oppo BDP 95
    Von Schweikert VR4 Jr R/L Fronts
    Von Schweikert LCR 4 Center
    Totem Mask Surrounds X4
    Hsu ULS-15 Quad Drive Subwoofers
    Sony PS3
    Squeezebox Touch

    Polk Atrium 7s on the patio just to keep my foot in the door.
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  • MattN03
    MattN03 Posts: 558
    edited November 2007
    I got one of Windy Willy's dual temperature sensing fans off Ebay last night. Maybe this will help keep the DVR cooler. I already had most of the rear cabinet cut out, but I think it was still getting too hot.
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  • wingnut4772
    wingnut4772 Posts: 7,519
    edited November 2007
    Those DVRs are toasters.
    Sharp Elite 70
    Anthem D2V 3D
    Parasound 5250
    Parasound HCA 1000 A
    Parasound HCA 1000
    Oppo BDP 95
    Von Schweikert VR4 Jr R/L Fronts
    Von Schweikert LCR 4 Center
    Totem Mask Surrounds X4
    Hsu ULS-15 Quad Drive Subwoofers
    Sony PS3
    Squeezebox Touch

    Polk Atrium 7s on the patio just to keep my foot in the door.
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  • MattN03
    MattN03 Posts: 558
    edited November 2007
    wingnut4772 wrote: »
    Those DVRs are toasters.

    DVR + Rotel amp in same cabinet doesn't help :(
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  • Deadof_knight
    Deadof_knight Posts: 980
    edited November 2007
    parts express has a couple different version around 60.00 $ a 12 dc plug adapter and 2 small 80mm fans for a computer work great too .Thats what I used all my stuff is stacked on seperate shelves however I ventilated every shelve with 5 , 2 inch holes via hole saw and then sanded smooth .The fans are mounted in the very bottom blowing air into the cabinet venting out the top every piece is like at least 4-5 inches from the next shelf. Everything stays quite cool.
    :cool: " He who dies with the most equipment wins Right ? "

    Denon 3300 Adcom 535 BBe w/sub out 1 pr 4.6s 2 pr of 4 jrs Recent additions Samsung Lns-4095D LCD, Samsung hd-960 DVD, Monster HT-5000 Power center    ,HPSA-1000 18" sealed DiY home sub.:D
    Black Laquer 1.2tl's w/ upgraded x-overs and Tweets BI-Amped with 2 Carver tfm-35's Knukonceptz 10ga cables
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited November 2007
    I did this install in an old desk of mine. It had an enclosed area that my computer was in and I just installed a 12v computer fan with a transformer and switch for simple on/off. The whole thing cost me about $10 from PE.
    If you are have tougher cooling issues than just a single fan, you might want to add another to suck air in. If you have an inlet fan and an outlet fan, that moves a whole lot more air than just a single fan. Also, make sure that your airflow is going across your electronics, not on top of. Pointing a fan straight at your AVR sounds like a logical idea, but it doesn't move heat as well as if the fan is blowing across it.
    Jake
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  • disneyjoe7
    disneyjoe7 Posts: 11,435
    edited November 2007
    Just for reference my R10 is running 49c normal, and it's usually this warm. For the record on a shelf by itself, with about 3" clearance and a closed back but with 5" behind it. Not ideal, but just something to compare it to.

    Speakers
    Carver Amazing Fronts
    CS400i Center
    RT800i's Rears
    Sub Paradigm Servo 15

    Electronics
    Conrad Johnson PV-5 pre-amp
    Parasound Halo A23
    Pioneer 84TXSi AVR
    Pioneer 79Avi DVD
    Sony CX400 CD changer
    Panasonic 42-PX60U Plasma
    WMC Win7 32bit HD DVR


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  • bigaudiofanatic
    bigaudiofanatic Posts: 4,415
    edited November 2007
    I would put two fans in one to pull air in and one to push air out. Even in computers its the same ordeal you have to keep air moving or you will just be moving the same hot air around. So that is what i recomend. The fans that I use are super quiet http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811999107
    After you get 'em go to radio shack and get a 12v av adaptor solder the red wires of the fans to positive and neg to neg. and whala. FYI the reason the dvr's run so hot is because the is not only a hard drive in there but also a prossesor. So It's like a mini computer persay.
    HT setup
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  • vonnie123
    vonnie123 Posts: 326
    edited November 2007
    I bought these fans from this ebay vendor. The fans are fairly inexpensive and were quiet. Service and delivery was prompt.


    http://cgi.ebay.com/COOLING-FAN-KIT-FOR-AV-RECEIVER-AMPLIFIER-DUAL-FANS_W0QQitemZ300170488451QQihZ020QQcategoryZ14981QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
    [
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  • MattN03
    MattN03 Posts: 558
    edited November 2007
    bigaudiofanatic wrote: »
    I would put two fans in one to pull air in and one to push air out. Even in computers its the same ordeal you have to keep air moving or you will just be moving the same hot air around. So that is what i recomend. The fans that I use are super quiet http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811999107
    After you get 'em go to radio shack and get a 12v av adaptor solder the red wires of the fans to positive and neg to neg. and whala. FYI the reason the dvr's run so hot is because the is not only a hard drive in there but also a prossesor. So It's like a mini computer persay.

    I like the idea of pulling and pushing the air through, but I'm unsure how to do that in my situation. The entertainment center has glass doors on the front and then I cut out sections of the rear trim directly behind the amp & DVR & DVD player. Here are some pics of what I'm working with. I figured I could mount one fan to the rear trim allowing air to be pulled out. Any idea how to push/pull air using two fans? The other side of the entertainment holds the receiver and Panamax 5100.
    2.JPG 273.4K
    1.jpg 212.4K
    3.jpg 258.7K
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  • disneyjoe7
    disneyjoe7 Posts: 11,435
    edited November 2007
    You're quickly finding that most entertainment centers are not designed with us in mind. I would either need to replace it, or remove the back board behind your equipment. You only really some back board to support the it. That's what I did when I had something like that. When you are pushing the amp just open the glass door, not prefect but it will work for now. ;)

    Speakers
    Carver Amazing Fronts
    CS400i Center
    RT800i's Rears
    Sub Paradigm Servo 15

    Electronics
    Conrad Johnson PV-5 pre-amp
    Parasound Halo A23
    Pioneer 84TXSi AVR
    Pioneer 79Avi DVD
    Sony CX400 CD changer
    Panasonic 42-PX60U Plasma
    WMC Win7 32bit HD DVR


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  • MattN03
    MattN03 Posts: 558
    edited November 2007
    disneyjoe7 wrote: »
    You're quickly finding that most entertainment centers are not designed with us in mind. I would either need to replace it, or remove the back board behind your equipment. You only really some back board to support the it. That's what I did when I had something like that. When you are pushing the amp just open the glass door, not prefect but it will work for now. ;)

    For now, I'm going to install the cooling fans at the rear of the equipment and see if that pulls enough hot air off. Hopefully, that is all I'll need to do.
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  • FicmanS
    FicmanS Posts: 134
    edited November 2007
    MattN03 wrote: »
    I got one of Windy Willy's dual temperature sensing fans off Ebay last night. Maybe this will help keep the DVR cooler. I already had most of the rear cabinet cut out, but I think it was still getting too hot.

    Very cool link... I've got to look into these...
    Rockin' In My House :D


    Pioneer 50 inch Plasma TV
    Denon AVR-3806
    Denon DVD-1930ci
    Polk Montor 70's
    Polk PSW-12
    Polk CS2
    Polk Monitor 40's
    Sirius Satellite Radio, Monster 3500MKII
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