Need help installing fan

OodleyBoodely · 03-10-2002, 03:00 PM

Hi! I finally decided to start my DIY hood project and have run into a little problem. I am planning to add an Icecap fan to the hood, but, have not purchased the fan, yet, and so don't know what size to make the opening for the fan. Also, does it need to be a round hole, or, a square hole.

One more thing, does the fixture sit (recessed) into the opening or does it mount flush over the opening? As you can see, I need help!

Thanks in advance for any replies.

hooked · 03-10-2002, 03:37 PM

Hey OB,

There are so many small fans you can use. I wouldn't try to cut any holes till you buy 1, or you can get the manufacturer to give dims. You can also try finding the 1 you want on the internet and you could possibly get the dims for the website. HTH /shrug

Jim

Doug1 · 03-10-2002, 07:13 PM

Looks like standard sized 4" fan , contact Andy or Chris, they can give you the mounting hole spacings and such
http://www.icecapinc.com/access.htm

Casie · 03-10-2002, 09:01 PM

Gabe just used a 4" hole drill and set our Ice Cap fans over the opening. There are little flanges that are predrilled for your screws and it all fits together perfectly. =)

boots · 03-12-2002, 03:13 PM

U may want 2 check radio shak they have a lot of fans, maybe try there web site.

HTH

reefguy · 03-12-2002, 05:22 PM

the one thing about those radio shack fans is that they're noisy! i have three-3" fans on my acrylic hood and man, it sounds like a spaceship! i've seen some supposedly quiet fans on FFE for like $40, but i'm not sure if they're really worth that much. has anyone tried to dampen the noise with a rubber gasket or something of that sort? i suspect most of the problem is that the hood is acrylic and not wood, so the sound really carries...

clearskys · 03-12-2002, 06:10 PM

If they are not noisy, they are not moving enough air!

I went to a local electronics store, (more specialty than radio shack), and they had 4" 110VAC fans for around $20. Come to find out, they are the same manufacture that Icecap uses, the only difference is that IceCap uses a temp controll to regulate the operation of the fans. They are the same type of fans used to cool network servers, ect...

The simple fact is that if air moves it makes noise. However the design of the impeller blades can reduce noise but not that much difference.

Junkzoo · 03-13-2002, 12:55 AM

Clearskys, could you post some info on the brand of the fans? got a spaceship sounding canopy here too, but icecaps ($60x 3 vrs. the $20 i spent on the 4 4" fans i got ((on eBay)) are making me think of changing,,)the speed control is no biggie for me, but it would be nice to quiet the fans a bit from what i have now,,,I'm a electrician , so i think i can track the ones you found if i got some info on them,,, Thanks,

OodleyBoodely · 03-13-2002, 08:31 AM

Thankyou all for the replies! I had considered the cheaper radioshack fans, but, wondered how long they would hold up over a marine tank. Icecap claims their fan is resistant to the saltwater environ and that they are silent(or, I imagine, as quiet as they get). Anyhoo, I like the idea of the temp probe to control the speed of the fan.

Casie, thanks for posting the pics! I think you answered my questions!

reefguy · 03-13-2002, 08:58 AM

oodley...i've been using the radio shack fans for over a year now with absolutely NO maintenance required. one thing i almost forgot to mention, though...if you can, get the ball bearing fans as they last longer in the harsh environment. hope this helps...

iceboxman · 03-13-2002, 09:10 AM

Just for the record, these fans that you are referring to are 4" 120VAC fans, whereas the one's in computers are 3"-4" 12VDC Fans. It wouldn't be worth the effort taking one of those fans, because they wouldn't suit the purpose.

Jimbo · 03-13-2002, 10:57 AM

Hi all

Thought I would put in my 2 cents, have 3 12v vans two for exast and one blowing over the 400 watt bulb, Keeps things cool and they are quiet. I'm going to add two more for redundancy with there own power supply. They are cheap at the computer store $6.

Have a great hump day!

iceboxman · 03-13-2002, 02:42 PM

I suppose that might be a cheaper way of going. Getting some cheap DC 12V fans and hooking them up to a 12V power supply of some kind.

OodleyBoodely · 03-16-2002, 05:08 PM

Thanks for the replies! Well, now you got me thinking of using the radio shack fans, again. Cost is definately a consideration here. I was not planning on getting the Icecap fan for a while yet, since I have to scrape pennies first.

Just how difficult would it be to wire the computer fans, and, what would be needed to do the job. Also, is it possible to wire the fans into the wiring on my VHO light hood so that the fans are on whenever the lights are on, or, would they have to have thier own power cord? Please be aware, I am completely ignorant of electronics-the extent of my DIY wiring involved putting a power cord on a LOA yard light-and it didn't blow up!

So, think K.I.S.S!

cyberchef · 03-16-2002, 09:20 PM

wiring the fans to your lights should not be an issue as long as they are all the same voltage. It would be a lot easier to use the 120Vac fans from radio shack and wire them into the lights. I have 2 fans ordered form hello Lights along with a few other items that I will wire into the lighting wireing. make sure that you wire the fans into the input side of the lights (IE: the side where the electricity comes into the ballast) and not into the output side, then just plug the wires into a timer and now your fans will be on the same timer as your lights. Also this should prevent the fans from having any effect on your lights as the fans draw very little electricity.

Also not all computer fans are 12V DC some are 120V AC depending on thier application. Just make sure when you get them that you get the 120V ac fans unless you want/know how to wire up the power supply for 12V DC fans (120V ac will be a lot easier and you won't save any $ with 12V fans after you buy the 12V power supply).

Need help installing fan

Howdy OodleyBoodley =)