Recommend inline filter box with drop in easily replicable HEPA / charcoal filters?

Forums › Home Workshop DIY › Recommend inline filter box with drop in easily replicable HEPA / charcoal filters?

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#3061137 10-Apr-2023 19:05

mattenz:

I think that HRV filters are a standard size: 300x300x100 (nominal). There are heaps of filter boxes out there with a similar form to the HRV one, though a slide-in filter is easier to work with. You could probably modify one to be pretty airtight with adhesive foam seals.

I'm really looking for something completely standard, no modifications required. A standard filter box, a standard filter size that multiple manufactures provide filters for. One a year or so I want to pull two old filters out and pop two new filters in.

I think I'll have to call an HVAC place and talk to someone.

Johnk

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#3061185 10-Apr-2023 19:18

I have not had a hands on with this model myself, but it may do the job. The Simx DCT2282, has a standard HEPA/Carbon 300x300mm filter.

timmmay

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#3061205 10-Apr-2023 20:16

Johnk:

I have not had a hands on with this model myself, but it may do the job. The Simx DCT2282, has a standard HEPA/Carbon 300x300mm filter.

Thanks, but looking at the diagram I think it looks almost exactly like what I have now, which is a filter you clip plastic bits onto the side. I'm after a filter box with drop in filters.

zenourn

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#3061913 12-Apr-2023 14:52

I'm looking at adding supplementary filters (charcoal and GU4) to my Cleanaire CL300 to eliminate the problem when it gets smokey outside (live rural). Cleanair themselves offer this:

SUPPLEMENTARY AIR FILTERS- Higher grade Air Filters are available if, for example, occupants suffer from hayfever, allergies or if outdoor air is polluted by odours. The “Quick-Fit” Bin Filter is a simple but effective system which can accommodate several types of filters in the same enclosure.

They are going to send me a quote and I'll likely pick up from them this week. Will let you know what it is like.

Daniel

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#3061934 12-Apr-2023 16:18

zenourn:

I'm looking at adding supplementary filters (charcoal and GU4) to my Cleanaire CL300 to eliminate the problem when it gets smokey outside (live rural). Cleanair themselves offer this:

SUPPLEMENTARY AIR FILTERS- Higher grade Air Filters are available if, for example, occupants suffer from hayfever, allergies or if outdoor air is polluted by odours. The “Quick-Fit” Bin Filter is a simple but effective system which can accommodate several types of filters in the same enclosure.

They are going to send me a quote and I'll likely pick up from them this week. Will let you know what it is like.

Daniel

its a bag filter inside a garbage bin thats DIY. kinda nuts considering they make metal air filter boxes for their commercial products.

zenourn

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#3063372 13-Apr-2023 22:31

tweake:

its a bag filter inside a garbage bin thats DIY. kinda nuts considering they make metal air filter boxes for their commercial products.

I picked it up today and yes, it is rather a number-8-wire approach, but it isn't actually all that crazy - the filter bags have a large surface area of over 1m^2 which means lower air velocity and should also last longer. All seals up reasonably well too. In terms of cost the actual filter box parts are rather cheap, it is the carbon filter which is the expensive part and looking at the cost of active carbon filter media I can see why.

The test of whether it actually works well will be if over the next several months we don't notice any smokey air coming inside.

tweake

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#3063609 14-Apr-2023 12:13

zenourn:

tweake:

its a bag filter inside a garbage bin thats DIY. kinda nuts considering they make metal air filter boxes for their commercial products.

I picked it up today and yes, it is rather a number-8-wire approach, but it isn't actually all that crazy - the filter bags have a large surface area of over 1m^2 which means lower air velocity and should also last longer. All seals up reasonably well too. In terms of cost the actual filter box parts are rather cheap, it is the carbon filter which is the expensive part and looking at the cost of active carbon filter media I can see why.

The test of whether it actually works well will be if over the next several months we don't notice any smokey air coming inside.

you might be surprised at how big the surface area of a box filter actually is.

i just cringe at seeing a professional company, that makes good commercial gear, use a rubbish bin as a filter box.

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timmmay

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#3074277 9-May-2023 15:43

I called and talked to All Round HVAC about this. They said they would have to custom make a filter box to fit two filters, I don't remember the cost but it was fairly pricey. The Smooth Air filter boxes look to be the closest match, but they don't look large enough for two filters, and I can't find out if 288 x 288 is a standard size.

I expect I'll take the easy option and buy the type that I have to basically tape to the conduit again. It's inelegant but it works. Maybe one day I'll come across a better solution.

timmmay

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#3309952 17-Nov-2024 20:15

tweake:

we use https://www.camfil.com/en-nz/products/general-ventilation-filters for work.

From another thread... @tweake if I wanted an easy to change filter for my positive pressure ventilation system, which has bits and pieces of different brands, would any of those ones from Camfil work? Every time I have to change my current filter I have to get up into the ceiling and spend half an hour getting the old filter box disconnected, and get the new one connected up, and taped up to prevent air ingress since my ceiling cavity doesn't smell great.

Also curious if there's any benefit to putting another filter inline with the HVAC ducted system. They simply have that basic filter on the return grill, which gets dusty fairly quickly, possibly because we have quite long soft carpet.

tweake

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#3309955 17-Nov-2024 20:31

for ventilation i would look at https://smartvent.co.nz/shop/filters/filters-2/150mm-filter-box-replacement-filter-included https://smartvent.co.nz/shop/filters/filters-2/200mm-filter-box-replacement-filter-included

for hvac see if you can fit a deeper filter in the return. you might be able to find a deeper replacement return. its easier to replace/clean if there is just one filter, but you can do two as long as first one is course filter and the 2nd one is a bigger finer filter. if you can't find an inline box, there is companies around that make them. its only a bit of folding sheet metal.

i suspect a lot of the ventilation sizing is from Europe and hvac sizing from USA.

tweake

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#3309956 17-Nov-2024 20:43

smooth air filter boxes. i forgot i had one of those.

Kickinbac

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#3310308 18-Nov-2024 17:49

This SIMX filter housing is already mentioned in previous comments https://smartvent.co.nz/shop/filters/filters-2/200mm-filter-box-replacement-filter-included

But I can say that I have installed this exact filter housing on my ventilation system at home. I put it in as the fresh air filter on my Lossnay system. This works out cheaper for replacement filters over the long term than the high efficiency OEM filter options. Plus you can buy cheaper compatible filters on Trade Me etc for around $60.

There are four knobs that unscrew to open a metal panel and the filter slides out sideways. The filter seems to seal okay inside the box. It's built far better that other options I could buy off the shelf without paying stupid money.

I haven't got any data on the pressure drop or airflow specs. In my application with 40 L/s its about 0.5 m/s which is quite low for a filter and that doesn't take into account the extended surface area of the filter media.

In my opinion, there's no point in buying something that you don't replace the filters regularly because they are expensive.

Kickinbac

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#3310317 18-Nov-2024 19:01

Photos of the SIMX filter housing I have:
It has foam on the side and door to sandwich it in the housing.

nzben

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#3310334 18-Nov-2024 19:52

Have a look at this. (Link below) It’s a brand called AC Infinity. I have only used their fans and controllers in a diy home ventilation system, and have found them very good, and very reasonable price.

The reseller is a grow shop in Auckland (free delivery) so they sell all manner of ventilation equipment, but you can just get the bits you want for any application…
This is an inline filter box that looks like it will do what you want. You can get it to suit your ducting size 4/6/8/10 inch, etc. comes with a standard MERV filter, not sure what the differences are to HEPA, but the specs on what microns it can filter out appears to be better than HVAC HEPA filters.

I presume they also sell replacement filters but looks like it’s standard size so will probably fit any thing from Bunnings, etc, although I’ve found their pricing to be better than most places anyway.

They also have other charcoal filters etc.

Can speak for other brands but the ac infinity stuff is good.

https://herbals.co.nz/products/inline-air-filter-box-6-150mm-ac-infinity?_pos=1&_sid=32c8c1dc9&_ss=r

AlDrag

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#3310337 18-Nov-2024 20:10

With the lossnay system, do you end up removing the filters from that and instead rely on the filters for this one to avoid further inefficiency?

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