Comms Cupboard cooling

Forums › Home Workshop DIY › Comms Cupboard cooling

gcorgnet

1096 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 273

ID Verified

#270426 9-May-2020 11:50

Hey guys, this one could potentially go in Networking instead so sorry if I am posting in the wrong forum.

I have all my network gear in a built-in wardrobe (see photo)

My comms cupboard

I have a few things in there including:

- Unify USG and Switch
- 1x 4 Bay Synology NAS (soon to be 2)
- Arlo Base station
- 1x 3TB external Hard Drive
- 1x Sentry lite to keep some things powered in case of power cut
- 1x Intel NUC (running Home Assitant)
- 1x Philips Hue Bridge

I put a small temp sensor in there that tells me the temperature is about 29deg (when the rest of the room is about 19.5).

I'm starting to think I need to cool this down or at the very least provide better airflow (there is a regular door closing the built in cupboard)

Would I need to put a fan in there pushing air into the roof (what you see on the top of the pic is the ceiling)? A vent on the door maybe?

Would love to hear suggestions and advice.

Thanks,

Guillaume

1 | 2

4706 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 672

Trusted

#2479684 9-May-2020 11:54

29 degrees is fine. Most of your devices in your photo look to be passively cooled anyway. I would not worry about it.

Do whatever you want to do man.

Dingbatt

6804 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3694

Lifetime subscriber

#2479688 9-May-2020 11:57

I have used a computer fan and flexible ducting to extract the heat from my av equipment cupboard and transfer it to our hot water cupboard. A distance of about 4m. Clothes airing efficiency in the hot water cupboard is noticeably better.

“We’ve arranged a society based on science and technology, in which nobody understands anything about science technology. Carl Sagan 1996

ezbee

2651 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3089

#2479709 9-May-2020 12:31

Dingbatt
I like the idea of using the heat for something else giving it a second life airing the clothes.

Another idea is passive air movement just using a length of ducting, as a chimney.
The rising air in the chimney pulls in more air without a fan.
I can't find it but there was a NZ patent on something like this for use in cooling equipment racks.

Also the secret of that great NZ invention the Thermette , with its inbuilt chimney .
https://teara.govt.nz/en/zoomify/41838/thermette

gcorgnet
Good job wrangling the wiring , power cords and all the oddly shaped boxes tech comes in.
Standard Din sizes would be boring but more mini rackable.

SirHumphreyAppleby

2939 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1860

#2479711 9-May-2020 12:36

billgates:

Most of your devices in your photo look to be passively cooled anyway. I would not worry about it.

That's exactly why I would worry about it. A little air movement will bring down their temperatures quite a bit.

I'd probably just install a vent and monitor for now and through the warmer months. I'd install the vent above the door if possible.

Mehrts

1112 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 984

Trusted

#2479715 9-May-2020 12:45

I've got a similar setup in an old hot water cylinder cupboard which has been repurposed into the home network & server centre haha.

I put a 125mm plastic vent through the ceiling into the roof space. It's surprising how much air flows through via convection. I was thinking about using a fan if needed, but honestly it doesn't.

I placed a basic filter over the top of it all to keep dust and crap falling down into the cupboard.

I don't have any before/after temp results but at least with the air moving, it's not doing any harm.

gcorgnet

1096 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 273

ID Verified

#2479774 9-May-2020 14:23

THanks guys. I think I am keen on the ceiling vent.

@Mehrts would you please have a link to an example of what you put in? Is it a matter of making a hole and putting a plastic cover?

Samsung

Shop now on Samsung phones, tablets, TVs and more (affiliate link).

Mehrts

1112 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 984

Trusted

#2479785 9-May-2020 14:48

Basically one of these with a short length of pipe/duct that I had lying around to go into the roof space.

neb

11294 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 10018

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2479852 9-May-2020 17:42

SirHumphreyAppleby:
That's exactly why I would worry about it. A little air movement will bring down their temperatures quite a bit.

Was going to say that too, even a very modest amount of air movement can make a big difference. Just use some old computer fan and whatever ducting you can set up, as long as there's some air flow going through from somewhere.

pipe60

129 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 33

#2479925 9-May-2020 20:07

Would put in a fan kit with a thermostat, Vent only could allow heat to push down in middle of summer.

neb

11294 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 10018

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2480747 10-May-2020 17:52

pipe60:
Would put in a fan kit with a thermostat, Vent only could allow heat to push down in middle of summer.

If the temperature in the cupboard is ten degrees over ambient it's pretty much never going to be hotter outside than inside...

gcorgnet

1096 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 273

ID Verified

#2480750 10-May-2020 17:56

Well, the room cavity gets crazy hot in summer...

Apple TV

Stream your favourite shows now on Apple TV (affiliate link).

Froglotion

208 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 78

#2480773 10-May-2020 19:19

Yeah roof cavity can hit 40+ degrees on sunny days. Open a garage hatch in the middle of a hot day, it's like opening an oven door.

Having just a grille into the roofspace is a bad idea. I'd just monitor temps. It probably doesn't change in temperature that much in a cupboard. Photo isn't loading for me to know exact setup though. If you're worried about it, check the NAS operating temperature occasionally on via remote access. Just checked mine NAS is 38 degrees, the drives inside are averaging 40 degrees. I could turn on the 4 fans that are included in my cabinet, but i'm not worried by those temps to be honest.

Kickinbac

468 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 93

#2480857 10-May-2020 22:58

With a fan, the best you’ll achieve in the room is ambient temperature..

A hole in the ceiling may help, hot air rises, its called stack effect. But the air has to come from somewhere so would need an undercut the door or install a grille at low level. You will also be letting out warm air in winter when you want to keep it. This could be solved with a damper or blocking the duct.

wazzageek

1095 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 108

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2480905 11-May-2020 08:20

I've been considering that when I finally finish off my network cupboard putting in a fan in the top, connected to some solar cells - so when the sun is shining, the fan is going, extracting the air. (Either from the subfloor, or from a vent at the bottom of the cupboard.)

Of course, I hadn't considered what happens during winter, with all the nice warm air...

(To the OP: Your image of the cupboard seems to be hidden behind google - if one is not signed into a google account, you cannot see the image)

gcorgnet

1096 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 273

ID Verified

#2480923 11-May-2020 09:07

Sorry about the invisible image. here:

Cooms cupboard

1 | 2