Cooling my AV cabinet - Fan options?

[Mullzy]

Not sure if this is the right place... figured it might be better than Off Topic or General.

I'm looking for cooling solutions for my A/V cabinet, possibly using PC fans. My PVR box (or dvr/tivo depending on where you live) gets really freaking hot and of course so does my xbox 360. The cabinet is open at the front and back but is pretty deep so both of these units can really heat up the ambient temperature in their shelf. I actually don't have the 360 in the cabinet yet as I'm too scared of frying it.

I'm thinking 1 or 2, 120mm fans could move enough air to keep both of these units from raising the ambient temperature of their respective shelves much above room temp. I've considered just using an old PSU I have kicking around to run the fans but I was wondering if anyone had a better suggestion.

I've googled a bit but I don't seem to be able to find out if you can run PC fans on AC power. I imagine there must be some sort of adapter for this.

Any thoughts? Anyone seen a good application of the type of cooling we take for granted in the PC world, but with an AV cabinet?

Thanks!

 

[WoodButcher]

Radio Shack, Variable transformer. I got one for my camera as I used that one for my router. Old telephones , answering machines, the output is marked on them.

 

[Capitalizt]

Why not get a couple small USB fans and plug them into your Xbox 360?

You can point them in any direction, and don't need to worry about any more plugs.

 

[Mullzy]

Thanks Wood, I'll check that out.

I thought about the USB fans too... but then I noticed how hot my PVR has been getting in the summer months so I figured I might as well try to cool the whole cabinet. I guess with a little hub I could theoretically run some extra fans, I'll have to look more into it.

 

[Zepper]

http://www.jab-tech.com has a power supply with a molex for output that would work fine for several fans - you can't run DC fans on AC w/o some sort of supply as mentioned (it's right on J-T's home page). If there is a computer in your AV cabinet, you could get a slot cover plate to bring PC power to external jacks - J-T has those too. While you're at jab-tech, look at the medium or low speed Yate Loon 120mm fans for your AV cabinet.

.bh.

 

[Mullzy]

Thanks a lot Zep. Looks like what I'm after.

 

[Mullzy]

So I'm finally getting back to this.

So far I've only been able to find 2 options for powering some PC fans through a converter from a standard wall plug.

FrozenCPU
http://www.frozencpu.com/produ...ter_w_4-Pin_Molex.html
$16.95 + $14.35 shipping = $31.30 (+tax/exchange)

Jab-Tech
http://www.jab-tech.com/12v-DC...Connector-pr-3776.html
$9.95 + $17.30 shipping = $27.25 (+tax/exchange)

Both are over $30 by the time you factor in shipping and tax (I chose the cheapest shipping available for both). Anyone know of some other online retailers that might have better shipping rates to Canada? Or better yet... a Canadian retailer that sells this type of product. I've been through all of the ones I would normally use without success.

Thanks!

 

[PCTC2]

you can buy a standard 12v AC/DC Power Supply at any electronics shop and then splice wires and cover with splicing tape.

 

[WoodButcher]

Originally posted by: PCTC2
you can buy a standard 12v AC/DC Power Supply at any electronics shop and then splice wires and cover with splicing tape.

I bought one at Walmart for 10 bux. You can get universal power supply for a digital camera, The transformer from an unused answering machine or telephone, printer, scanner router, many appliances use transformers, read the specs printed on them an find the voltage you want. I made the very same thing for my kids xbox w/ a 7v supply. The universal supply is better than a molex from your pc or xbox. You can set your fanspeed and if you only want to run the xbox you don't need the pc on. I've got one of those bricks you listed that came with a hard drive adapter and It would work but it also gets pretty warm. Why spend so much? Scavenge a bit I'll bet you find something in your own home.