Amp cooling/rack

[dmeyer07]

Hey guys/girls, here's my problem:

I have 2 amps that i want to place on top of my subwoofer box because i'm lacking space for them. I want to place both of these amps in one large Amp Rack. I want the amp rack to match the subwoofer box, 3/4" MDF Carpeted Black. The deminsions of the Amp Rack are going to be 51" wide, 11" deep, & 4" high. The amps placed inside will fit with about 1.5"-1.75" space on all sides, and aprx. 8" Space in the middle, between the 2 amps.

I want the amp rack to have a cover over it. I'm probably just going to keep it MDF Black Carpeted with hidden hinges installed so i can acces the amps when needed. This is for mostly security reasons.

I'm looking at Stinger's SF2 Cooling Fans. The specs of the fan are:
(Stinger’s largest 12 volt DC fan for maximum cooling. 4.65 inches square x 1-1/2 inches deep, 106 cubic feet per minute air flow.)

If i mount 4 of these fans on the cover of the amp rack, 2 on each side, using the push-pull method of cooling will i have adaquete cooling in the rack?

Any and all help is appreciated!
Thanks alot guys/girls
-David

[William from NOLA]

106 cubic feet per minute is a lot. I seriously doubt you'd need 4. I would only use two on one side, basically to push the air over the amps. You dont' really need to have the amps ice cold. All are designed to be in still air anyway, so in actuality, you will probably only really need one, but it would be best to use two of them so there are no dead air spots.

[dmeyer07]

So you feel that two will do the job? I was just worried about hot days, with the amps being in that rack with the cover closed over them. Also i'm going to be playing them rather hard, and occasionaly long times.

Also i don't fully understand what you mean be both fans on one side. Shouldn't one fan by on one side, and then another fan be on the complete opposite end of the box, so the air circulates the whole box, this is how it is in bcae1's diagram, so i figured that to be right.

I want these fans to be controlled automatically by a thremostat, does anyone have any recommendations, a link would be nice. OR at least some kind of thermometer to give me the temperature inside the amp rack.

Thanks for the help.
-David

[Ryan from Ohio]

Its going to cost you some money if you want to get a thermostat on your amps. Last time I checked Dakota Digital was the premire place offering such things.

The thermo is about $270 for the display and $40 for the actual "thermometer" to place on the amp.

Trying to hook the fans up as you describe probably isnt impossible, but a tad tricky and more than likely costly.

IMHO you would be best to use a relay to control the fans off your remote wire.

[dmeyer07]

Okay, well thanks for the advice, i figured i'd just use the rem. lead or w/e and hook them up via that, i was just looking for some cheap solution to getin a temp of the inside of the box and a display.

[William from NOLA]

So you feel that two will do the job? I was just worried about hot days, with the amps being in that rack with the cover closed over them. Also i'm going to be playing them rather hard, and occasionaly long times.

Also i don't fully understand what you mean be both fans on one side. Shouldn't one fan by on one side, and then another fan be on the complete opposite end of the box, so the air circulates the whole box, this is how it is in bcae1's diagram, so i figured that to be right.

100 cubic feet per minutes is really a LOT of air that is moved. The only reason I have said to put them both on one side is to make sure that the entire amp is cooled and not just one or two sides of it, but then again now that I thought about it, it probably doesn't matter which way you use.

If you use the push-pull method, then you would only be moving 100 feet of air total. If you used the other way, it would be double the airflow because you have much more inlet space, but of course all of this would be if you sealed it up around the fan.

[dmeyer07]

Ok so the final verdict then is to optimize cooling for the 2 amps that are going to be in this rack, place both fans on one side, having one drawing air in, and the other sucking air out? I'm sorry its like 6 am and i'm a lil tired not thinking clearly so that last thread is a lil confusing....
thanks
dave

[William from NOLA]

I would say position each fan to be in the center of each amp and have it suck air out. They both would suck outward (must face same direction).

[dmeyer07]

ok thnx, i'll see how it works out

[dmeyer07]

[QUOTE=Ryan from Ohio]Its going to cost you some money if you want to get a thermostat on your amps. Last time I checked Dakota Digital was the premire place offering such things.

The thermo is about $270 for the display and $40 for the actual "thermometer" to place on the amp.

STEMPG2: Improved Temperature Gauge now features an adjustable high temperature warning that flashes the readout when temperature exceeds a preset limit. Includes one external sensor. 700 - 1800F $79.00

This seems like a reasonable way to go. I figure if i mount the one external senso in the box, that should give me a general temperature. I don't need exact, i just would like to have an idea of what is going on in there.

[ridr4lif]

I dont know if i read that correctly...but doesnt that say 700-1800 F? If your amps are running that hot there is a BIG problem.
TEDD

[William from NOLA]

lol, that's rather high...

[dmeyer07]

lol, that's rather high...
I think that they ment -700 - 1800 or w/e the specs were, because if your amp ever got near 700 degrees you do have one hell of a problem...

[dmeyer07]

Any rec. on what wood to use, or should i just use some mdf. I used 3/4" mdf on the box, so should i just go ahead and use that again, for makin the amp rack?

Also any one who has had expierence with building these before, any tips?

Thanks in adavance

[William from NOLA]

Anything you want really. It's not essential to have a certain rigidity as in a subwoofer enclosure.

[Ryan from Ohio]

I would use 1/2 wood, liquid nails and nails.

Build it as tight to the amplifiers as possible. Within a 1/2" from the top.

[dmeyer07]

I don't know alot about building amp racks, so i don't fully understand why you want it to be built as tight to the amps as possible. Is this to minimize the ammount of air space in the box, so the fans have to move as little ammount of air as possible?

[dmeyer07]

I have another question, the fans that i want to use (Stinger sf2) are 1 1/2" deep. So how would i go about mounting them on the cover of the amp rack if there is only 1/2" space above the amps. Do the fans have to be mounted flush with the amp rack cover's surface, or can they be mounted inch above it...
Thanks
Dave

[dmeyer07]

Okay well i guess i'll just begin construction onthe amp rack, and worry about the fans later on. I'll be sure to keep ya up to date on my progress.
Pics will be posted.

[Ryan from Ohio]

Sorry for the dealy been a busy guy lately (new G/F :) )

I would mount the fans on the end of the amp rack. The idea is to keep the airspace minimum so the fans can draw more air flow over the warm amps thus cooling them better.

Build it whatever it takes to make the amps/fans fit. If you have to put the amps on a raised platform inside the rack do so.

[dmeyer07]

Sorry for the dealy been a busy guy lately (new G/F :) )

I would mount the fans on the end of the amp rack. The idea is to keep the airspace minimum so the fans can draw more air flow over the warm amps thus cooling them better.

Build it whatever it takes to make the amps/fans fit. If you have to put the amps on a raised platform inside the rack do so.

Okay sounds good, and once again thanks for all of your help, its been well helpfull. And have fun with the new G/F bro.

Dave

[dmeyer07]

Okay well i began construction on the amp rack today, i decided to just keep it simple, so yeah...

Well anyway i'll post pics once im done...

[Ryan from Ohio]

Im going to start designing mine here in the next few weeks. Im going to take advantage of my few "optional" button on my alarm. Lets see what I come up with :D

[dmeyer07]

Sounds good, well have fun w/ that....

[Justin from Detroit]

I fear for you and your car, Ryan.

[Ryan from Ohio]

lol

Im starting to remember all that Monster Garage I was watching last year....hehe

[dmeyer07]

Monster garage is the shiznit