Need to vent tube heat?

FWIW I have my tubed amps on the bottom shelf of a cabinet. When used the doors in front of the amp is open. In the back of the cabinet I cut openings to accomodate two 120v fans wired in series. In that fashion they move lots of air, each fan at a lower speed. The fans draw the air over the amps and push it out the rear, The noise level is very low and not intrusive at all. After operating all day in about 6 cubic feet of space the amps are 'cool', relatively of course. You can get these fans at an electronics store for about $20 each plus some wire and a switch.

Zargon, I do use 5" 120v fans - they move a lor of air with less noise and vibration (only) when you use two in series. I've never used 5" 12v fans but I'd imaging the result would be similar. I got into the 120v models because I originally used just one and put it on a rheostat made for a fan (which was just a PITA - it didn't get enuf air movement when it was dialed down enuf to work quietly). The thing I wouldn't recommend is the smaller 12v computer fans. Not much air, lots of noise.

I live in the Central Valley in California - that may qualify for hot climate unless you live near Pheonix. :-)

I would find the addition of a venting system to the house more limiting than beneficial. Of course you could do it much the same as you would vent a dryer in the laundry room, not a big deal, but you wouldn't be able to move the location of the amp or cabinet much. You would still need the fan(s) and to accomodate the tubing from the cabinet to the wall you'd probably have to all for additional distance for the connecting tube. Oh, also consider, that the closer the fan(s) are to the amps the more efficient thier cooling action will be.

FWIW - I'd keep it as simple as possible and easily reversible.

Nsgarch, Out of curiosity, I looked up the fans you mentioned. The site sez that they have an automatic temp control function that is not only a turn on/off but actually controls the fan speed. Interesting and sounds great! But, there is no mention about how the automatic function is dialed in, something that would seem to me to be important, especially if the fans are placed some distance from the heat source.

Are you aware of how this works in actual use?

Then the heat control is actually external to the fan - now that makes sense to me.

No, I really have no interest in implementing that 'feature'. Actually, to the contrary, for me simple is better. I do have a tad of residualy noise in my set up (I can only hear it when the music is off, sort of just like another environmental noise) but being an anal audiophile I may give these a try.

Thanks.