mycabinetisgreen
Member
Interesting...what's the advantage to muffin vs. case fans?
Critique my concept: PC fan carbon scrubber
- Thread starter mycabinetisgreen
- Start date
thelionsden
Well-Known Member
You could use weather stripping on the carbon filter
thelionsden
Well-Known Member
Muffin fans have a higher cfm for less money
thelionsden
Well-Known Member
Just want to say I've been at this for many years before even trying and also a wide knowledge base of info that I have learned from personal experience as well not trying to be a know it all just wanted to contribute to the community and help you out and hope do decide to do this and also if u or anyone else needs my help just message me 
thelionsden
thelionsden
KrazyG
Well-Known Member
All I have is the eBay number 221849311810 hope this helps, re never had a problem with temps with this setup apart from when I accidentally disconnected a fan, been running 24hr for a year I use cooler master fans.
thelionsden
Well-Known Member
Just want to say I've been at this for many years before even trying and also a wide knowledge base of info that I have learned from personal experience as well not trying to be a know it all just wanted to contribute to the community and help you out and hope do decide to do this and also if u or anyone else needs my help just message me
Ty kindly I will definitely check it out for sure
xX_BHMC_Xx
Well-Known Member
FWIW, I have been running a 100cfm muffin and a 100cfm inline booster through my 4"carbon filter and have been getting zero airflow through the filter. I don't think these little fans have the juice to push/pull through the dense material.
mycabinetisgreen
Member
Definitely appreciate your feedback on that, I was admiring your setup yesterday. Love the light. Pity those fans wouldn't pull thru. Didn't see what kind of filter you were using, but I'm thinking activated charcoal chunks in a tube design as has been DIY'd in quite a few designs on various forums.
edit: I see you were using the Vivosun now from one of your posts. My bad. Were you using the same brand in-line booster?
xX_BHMC_Xx
Well-Known Member
Thanks! Yeah, Vivosun filter (240cfm rated), AC Infinity muffin fan (110cfm), and Vivosun inline booster (100cfm). The booster was just one of those cheap metal tube ones like they sell at Home Depot. They both work fine, just not enough to pull the heat out of my box. I've got a 190cfm inline Vivosun on the way. I'll update my thread when it arrives.
The problem with PC style fans is that they're designed for open air environments, or PC cases with low restriction. They can't handle the pressure created by our filters.
mycabinetisgreen
Member
That's what I was hoping to resolve by my arrangement of two on either end of the scrubber and two on the exhaust end, but I think once it's all said and done an inline fan like the one you've got en route will end up being more reliable and possibly even about the same price. Unfortunate, though, because I was very much hoping to keep sound to a minimum. I'm currently exploring options for that, though, such as a speed control and temperature control so that it operates at a lower CFM and is only on when necessary. From what I'm seeing that will likely add about half of the cost of the fan to the overall ventilation price, unfortunately, so that might not be doable. Time will tell.
xX_BHMC_Xx
Well-Known Member
If your plan works I'm gonna be pissed lol
mycabinetisgreen
Member
Yeah, but given the cost (and potential for failure) of the best fan options for that design, I think I may go with your plan instead.If your plan works I'm gonna be pissed lol
xX_BHMC_Xx
Well-Known Member
Yeah the inline I just bought was $60, I've definitely invested that already just trying to make this system work. You might be able to DIY a low-resistance carbon filter, but smell could be an issue.
mycabinetisgreen
Member
You got an inline for $60? Dang. I'm looking at 120+ for 4" inlines. That's roughly $85 US.
HalfBee
Well-Known Member
Here's an idea... You have the HARD sides of the box, mount a bathroom exhaust fan to the
ceiling (put some foam under if you want to control vibration too) they are cheap (20-40)
have 4 inch exhaust, some can be wired direct to dimmer switch for speed control.
The PC fans on my light are louder than the exhaust fan and run 24/7.
I put a standard 4 inch phat filter outside the box, if you need stealth put a foam lined
box over the top as a cover and air space buffer. Works for me and I haven't had a
whiff of wonderful escaping into the room since.
ceiling (put some foam under if you want to control vibration too) they are cheap (20-40)
have 4 inch exhaust, some can be wired direct to dimmer switch for speed control.
The PC fans on my light are louder than the exhaust fan and run 24/7.
I put a standard 4 inch phat filter outside the box, if you need stealth put a foam lined
box over the top as a cover and air space buffer. Works for me and I haven't had a
whiff of wonderful escaping into the room since.
mycabinetisgreen
Member
Looks like there's a vendor in my area that has the same fan for close to that price, but the real kicker is it includes a speed controller. I'd be very interested to know how you like it when you get it.
mycabinetisgreen
Member
Bathroom exhaust fan quieter than PC fans? That's impressive. I will definitely be looking at mounting foam and mounting on rubber to silence whichever fan we end up choosing. Thanks for the tips
I'll have to compare CFM/DB ratings for the bathroom fans vs. inline fans in our price range.
xX_BHMC_Xx
Well-Known Member
Got my new fan installed. It's definitely louder than the previous setup, but works much better as well. Temps in my box are in control now, and I have zero smell. I'll play around with the dimmer to see how quiet I can get it while still keeping temps in check
MJCanada
Well-Known Member
I see you already figured out that CPU fans won't cut it. They can't even move air when fighting heavy temp differences. I've tested this in my ice shack and they can't pull 30 degree celcius air down 8ft to the floor if the floor air is only 5 degrees celcius. The cold air is too heavy/hot air is too light. I inlined 4 fans exactly like you were talking about using, with nothing restricting them but the air temperature itself and it barely moved the air.
CPU cooling uses the "hot air rises" science to work... the fans can't really do much at all when restricted. They won't pull air through a carbon filter. They can pull it through those cooking filters(in oven range hoods).
Anyway, now that you've settled on going with an inline fan like the one pictured above. I'd suggest wrapping the fan, and the venting with noise deadening material. Foam works. Pink insulation works too. Anything soft that can soak up the vibration. You'll be surprised how much a little pink insulation can go to help deaden the sounds. Also, when bolting the fan to the case, I would suggest using rubber grommets. This will virtually eliminate the vibration transfer from the fan housing to the cabinet.
HTH
MJ.
CPU cooling uses the "hot air rises" science to work... the fans can't really do much at all when restricted. They won't pull air through a carbon filter. They can pull it through those cooking filters(in oven range hoods).
Anyway, now that you've settled on going with an inline fan like the one pictured above. I'd suggest wrapping the fan, and the venting with noise deadening material. Foam works. Pink insulation works too. Anything soft that can soak up the vibration. You'll be surprised how much a little pink insulation can go to help deaden the sounds. Also, when bolting the fan to the case, I would suggest using rubber grommets. This will virtually eliminate the vibration transfer from the fan housing to the cabinet.
HTH
MJ.