2. amps-preamps
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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
undertow
1,033 posts
 
Radio shack sells Fans that you can mount easily, they are not noisey, and you can add a standard plug to them pretty easily, I did this a long time ago when I had a receiver in a cabinet which would turn on with the switched outlet on the receiver like you are saying. I would mount one probably sucking the Air out of the cabinet, so your not shooting the air at the amps, but pulling it out of the cabinet and shooting it out the back or something would probably be more effective, removing the hot air. Computers are set up this way as well.
ahal1's avatar
ahal1
8 posts
 
If u are somewhat of DIY (can u use a screw driver and electrical tape? ...:)): You might want to check out...good old RadioShack. I bought a fan, wired for connection to regular 110v (comes stripped wires - you'll need to connect wired standard plug -looks like the one on the site the previous response pointed to). It's relatively quite - I installed / mounted it on the back of my cabinet (cut an opening if it's not there already) and it keeps my tube equipment and the wood cabinet cool. It does very good job at that to the extent that even though I had planed to install a metal sheet on the top to prevent the heat from damaging the cabinet - it seems that I don't need to do it. I can hear the fan, up close, if the doors are open and there is no music playing. Hope this helps.
undertow
1,033 posts
 
Ahal1, has it right, thats exactly the one I am talking about.
slaw3
139 posts
 
Parasound makes an audio cooling unit called the Zbreeze you may want to check out, if you're non-DIY (like me).
http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=2PAZBREEZE
newbee
4,767 posts
 
Ahall, FWIW on a 110v fan you can probably add a rheostat and reduce the speed of the fan to a point where you will not hear it at all and you will also minimize any vibrations it would transmit (at full speed) into the cabinet. At least these were problems I experienced and that is how I solved them. FWIW.
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