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Cooling fans for tube amp

Just read a thread from 2005 about rack cooling fans. I'm having a custom built wood cabinet made with casters for my stack that includes an Audio Research D-90 that can get very warm after an hour or so.

Any new recommendations on what fan to use and how to set-up? Most computer fans don't have standard wall plug connectors.

I was thinking about a 4" diameter fan that will plug into my "Switched" power output off the SP-12 pre amp so it goes on auto whenever I power up. Should it "push" or "pull" the air? Mount on the back of the cabinet with a cut-out for airflow?

I may just run a power strip off the pre-amp's switched output to power one to two fans plus the subwoofer so they all only run when I power up the pre-amp and amp.

Also thinking of putting heat resistant tape/insulation on the underside of the wooden shelf directly above the amp.

Sound OK?

Or something better work w/o a major engineering project?
jamesk58

Showing 4 responses by bmcleod

bmcleod's avatar
bmcleod
57 posts
 
This place has a nice variety of units. Most have thermisters that turn the fan on automatically when it gets warm so you just leave them plugged in all the time. I have a pair on my HT amp that do a good job and are pretty quiet, but I can slightly hear them when nothing's playing. Or better yet find some nice wood grills and "open up" the sides of the cabinets so you don't need the fans.

http://www.activethermal.com
bmcleod's avatar
bmcleod
57 posts
 
The best option is to get two fans, one pulls air in from the bottom, the second pushes air out through the top - or from side to side, across the equipment. If you are going to get the 110 fans I would consider the rheostat idea to slow them down (noise), or wire them in series which would cut their speed in half.
bmcleod's avatar
bmcleod
57 posts
 
I stand by my statement, you want to move air through the cabinet and heat away from the equipment. You need a source for the air (vents or an input fan) and a place to exhaust the air (vents or an exhaust fan). You can do this without "blowing air on the tubes" (if you think that's a problem), but some may not be able to visualize this.
bmcleod's avatar
bmcleod
57 posts
 
So the original link I posted was because the company specializes in low noise cooling solutions. But you still might salvage your installation with newbee's rheostat suggestion (or as I did in a another cabinet, 2 fans in series).

Another suggestion would be to make sure your mounting screw holes are slightly larger than the screws, and add rubber grommets under the screw head as well as a rubber washer between the fan and cabinet (cut out of old innertube). I've done all of this to reduce mechanical vibration into the cabinet which otherwise becomes a nice transducer. However, you'll still need to slow down the fans.
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