I want a very quiet fan for my tube amps. So far everything I tried does not offer the whisper quite I would like. Anyone have a link to good quality quiet fans?
Thanks!
Thanks!
Any opinions on Cooling fans for Tube Amps?
- Thread starter pantoramasan
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ferninando
Lunatic Member
run a 12vdc fan at 9 or 6 volts for quietness.
2 or 3" is all you need.
get em on ebay by the dozen.
2 or 3" is all you need.
get em on ebay by the dozen.
chuckworkb
Super Member
Why cool your tubes?
Thanks, I will look into that.
sKiZo
Hates received: 92644 43.20°N 85.50°W
What amp?
Reason I ask is, maybe you can let convection do the cooling for ya. I did a custom case here and added lots of vent holes in the top plate as well as an open grid bottom with taller legs.
That allows the heat of the tubes to pull cool air in from the bottom and I get MUCH cooler tubes as a result of "chimney effect". Extra height on the transformer legs leaves a good gap around the base of those, and the wide spacing of the tubes out more than normal certainly helps.
Lot of work, but maybe you could retro the stock case you have for the additional venting anyway.
And ya, ANY fan can be a PITA to deal with depending on your musical preferences. And +1 on the tubes are meant to get hot thing. Mostly, I'd worry about the iron, but even then, if you can put a finger on a transformer and leave it there for several seconds without leaving a patch of skin behind, yer good.
Reason I ask is, maybe you can let convection do the cooling for ya. I did a custom case here and added lots of vent holes in the top plate as well as an open grid bottom with taller legs.
That allows the heat of the tubes to pull cool air in from the bottom and I get MUCH cooler tubes as a result of "chimney effect". Extra height on the transformer legs leaves a good gap around the base of those, and the wide spacing of the tubes out more than normal certainly helps.
Lot of work, but maybe you could retro the stock case you have for the additional venting anyway.
And ya, ANY fan can be a PITA to deal with depending on your musical preferences. And +1 on the tubes are meant to get hot thing. Mostly, I'd worry about the iron, but even then, if you can put a finger on a transformer and leave it there for several seconds without leaving a patch of skin behind, yer good.
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WOW, Beautiful work!
here is my reason for cooling, at least until I find something new to put them on. BTW, I am running 4 Dynaco Mark III's and using my Marantz 4270 Quad as a pre amp for 4 channel and soon quadradial sound. It gets a little hot after a few hours.
here is my reason for cooling, at least until I find something new to put them on. BTW, I am running 4 Dynaco Mark III's and using my Marantz 4270 Quad as a pre amp for 4 channel and soon quadradial sound. It gets a little hot after a few hours.
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ferninando
Lunatic Member
let the tubes get hot and cool the power transformer. most expensive to replace.
sKiZo
Hates received: 92644 43.20°N 85.50°W
Location, location, location!
I'm thinking air circulation could be improved immensely just by relocating the amps to the top shelf. Tubes like to "see the sky" as they say.
Problem is usually the rack itself having a hard time dealing with the extra weight way up top. Solution there is to add a reinforcing panel to the back of the bottom shelf to keep it from ... er ... racking sideways. All my tube stuff is up top ... also notice the damper legs underneath the amp raise it up higher to allow more air to flow for additional chimney effect.
My DIY cabinet has a full size plywood reinforcement panel behind the records, which is also handy for power distribution stuff ...
... and there are also plywood dividers supporting the next shelf up. Around 600 pounds on a whole bunch of teflon gliders and it gets moved a lot and has held up well over time.
In your setup, I'd think a full size hardwood panel replacing the two rear spindles on the bottom would do the trick nicely.
I'm thinking air circulation could be improved immensely just by relocating the amps to the top shelf. Tubes like to "see the sky" as they say.
Problem is usually the rack itself having a hard time dealing with the extra weight way up top. Solution there is to add a reinforcing panel to the back of the bottom shelf to keep it from ... er ... racking sideways. All my tube stuff is up top ... also notice the damper legs underneath the amp raise it up higher to allow more air to flow for additional chimney effect.
My DIY cabinet has a full size plywood reinforcement panel behind the records, which is also handy for power distribution stuff ...
... and there are also plywood dividers supporting the next shelf up. Around 600 pounds on a whole bunch of teflon gliders and it gets moved a lot and has held up well over time.
In your setup, I'd think a full size hardwood panel replacing the two rear spindles on the bottom would do the trick nicely.
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That's my immediate problem. Hopefully soon I can replace that shelving unit with something more appropriate and different placement of the amps. Right now I have a small amp cooling the bottom of that shelf, so it's not too bad, but I am looking for that whisper quite fan for the time being. Lot's of good suggestions from members. Thank to all...
My shelving unit is made of solid Mesquite. A very hard wood. I could try to move the amps to the top and next level down. That might work for now. Good suggestion...
sKiZo
Hates received: 92644 43.20°N 85.50°W
OK then, but DO give some extra thought to maximizing air space around the amps. Most folk can get away without any fans as long as there's good air circulation.
Another thought. My old HTPC ran hot and also had "issues" with air circulation. The solution was a laptop cooler. Low speed, large fan, and very quiet.
Maybe attach one spaced out from the bottom of the shelf above the amps. You'd need a USB port or a USB wall wart to power it up.
Another thought. My old HTPC ran hot and also had "issues" with air circulation. The solution was a laptop cooler. Low speed, large fan, and very quiet.
Maybe attach one spaced out from the bottom of the shelf above the amps. You'd need a USB port or a USB wall wart to power it up.
And yet another good idea...I think I have plenty of space between the amps.
I use a super quiet ThermalTake 120mm USB fan on the power transformer only, at lowest setting.
Together with a InkBird digital temp controller ($17), I let the system cool the PT when needed. I stuck the probe on the chassis near the PT and calibrated it with a laser gun.
Works great and gives me piece of mind as I listen to my system for long hours.
Together with a InkBird digital temp controller ($17), I let the system cool the PT when needed. I stuck the probe on the chassis near the PT and calibrated it with a laser gun.
Works great and gives me piece of mind as I listen to my system for long hours.
Thanks for the generous offer.
