John Sayers' Recording Studio Design Forum Archive

hi there,

I'm finally realising an idea I had for a long time but have some unanswered questions about it..

A few months ago I made a console for the mixer, racks and DAW from laminated fibreboard. It came out all nice with a centerpiece for the mixer, left wing with a desk which holds screen, kb, mouse and some rackspace and a right wing with rackspace and room for an iso box for the daw.
(real small img attached)

The idea i have is getting one of those active-cooled coolboxes for your car that run on 12V DC, put it in there, install a few 120mm silent fans for getting hot air out and thus having an actively cooled iso box.

Now for the questions:
1) the coolbox I'm planning on getting needs 12V but I don't know how much ampere it needs. I suppose getting a 1amp 12V adapter will be enough or could I smoke it if it's underrated ?
2) that same coolbox is made to cool a few cubic inches of space to 20°C below environment temp, will i smoke it if I try to cool a space several times larger ?
3) If the 1amp adapter would not be enough, how could i modify an old pc PSU i have lying around to give it power - if possible ??


Any thoughts, answers, ideas on this one ???


TIA,
Herwig

Hello,

1) the coolbox I'm planning on getting needs 12V but I don't know how much ampere it needs. I suppose getting a 1amp 12V adapter will be enough or could I smoke it if it's underrated ?

What are the requirements of the fan? It will usually say on a label on the side what it's rating is. Voltage & amperage. More than likely, it's rated in mA (milliamps).

2) that same coolbox is made to cool a few cubic inches of space to 20°C below environment temp, will i smoke it if I try to cool a space several times larger ?

You can either A: use more than one fan; B: use a larger fan.

You won't smoke it, but it may not have enough air flow to keep it cool.

Here's a couple ideas. Not only have a fan blowing the air out, but have a fan bringing fresh air in. For example, have the in flow fan at the bottom of the rack, and the out flow at the top (since heat rises). This will allow air to circulate through the rack and the equipment.

Hope this helps.

Just got out and bought the box anyway

What are the requirements of the fan? It will usually say on a label on the side what it's rating is. Voltage & amperage. More than likely, it's rated in mA (milliamps).

Doesn't read amperage, only wattage (32). If I remember correct W/V=Amps, so 32watt/12V=2,66amps... bummer for the 1A adapter idea.

You can either A: use more than one fan; B: use a larger fan.

Hmmm... should make a picture of it. The coolbox has a removable lid and the cooling happens in that lid.

Here's a couple ideas. Not only have a fan blowing the air out, but have a fan bringing fresh air in. For example, have the in flow fan at the bottom of the rack, and the out flow at the top (since heat rises). This will allow air to circulate through the rack and the equipment.

Was going to do that anyway 1 fan in, 2 out.

Hope this helps.

you wouldn't happen to know how to short a pc psu


Herwig

you wouldn't happen to know how to short a pc psu

I know there are typically 4 wires for each feed off the power supply. I haven't actually measured the voltage on them, but I would assume that at least one of them is either 12 or 15v.

Do you have a multi-meter? Power up the PSU and see what you get for voltage.

OH, and check to see if it's DC or AC voltage.

Quickly rigged up something - it works !

I've found some resources on how to jumpstart a PSU without motherboard attached (www.7volts.com - short the green wire with ground) and tested the 'cooling lid' with success. Will install doors and fans shortly and will report back with lots'o pictures (also on building the console).


thanks for the tips,
Herwig