Home theatre equipment cooling

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jamesla

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Master Geek

Topic # 59115 27-Mar-2010 10:43

I'm using a criterion tv cabinet similar to this one http://www.noelleeming.co.nz/tvs-dvds/television-cabinets-racks/criterion-eh210-entertainment-centre-black/prod45080.html and I know a lot of people use cabinets like these so I was wondering what you guys do for cooling?

Inside the cabinet I have a really low power htpc, an av receiver and an xbox 360 and temperature levels just get to hot (mainly the receivers fault) Currently I've put my htpc on top of the cabinet and have taken the top draw out (mine has a top draw) to provide more airflow for cooling but this obviously isn't a long term solution.

Surely this has happened to someone else, have you guys experienced any issues with heat and what have you done to correct this? I was thinking something like putting a really quiet fan in there to blow the heat back out, unfortunately there is no room for an AV rack which would be the ideal solution.

richms

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Reply # 311884 27-Mar-2010 16:05

friend had that issue, 120mm case fans in the back of it blowing in at the bottom and out at the top, and cutting the shelf back so there was a decent gap at the front when the door was closed took care of it.

Fans are only a few w each so just left them on all the time on an old PSU for a cordless phone - only 9v so they go slower so less noise.

Richard rich.ms

fahrenheit

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Reply # 311917 27-Mar-2010 18:17

AVR's should have decent headroom to breathe. Sacrifice the shelf above it (if you can).

Xbox 360's draw in air from the front and sides, so you want to leave plenty of room around it if it is behind a glass door. The exhaust air needs to ideally be well clear of the inside of the cabinet as any hot air that remains inside will be recycled through the console.

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buzzy

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Reply # 312392 29-Mar-2010 13:28

Is the heat actually causing a *problem* with any of the equipment? If all the equipment works, then you're trying to fix a non-problem.

I'd check the operating specs for the receiver - should be in the manual - and measure whether the ambient temperature in the cabinet is hotter than the maximum recommended operating temperature. So long as you're under that temp, there's no problem :)

jamesla

85 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 312400 29-Mar-2010 13:57

yeah it gets pretty hot when the draw is in as that means it has no headroom, when touching it is noticeably hot enough to make anybody worried (almost cant touch it) it's fine without the draw which gives it about 30cm of head room.

i'm starting to seriously consider cutting out a big whole in the back of the cabinet so i can put a fan in but that will be a hugggge hassle, hopefully someone posts a better idea

wellygary

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Reply # 312401 29-Mar-2010 14:08

Drill a bunch of big a$$ holes in the bottom of the draw and over with mesh to stop things falling through.This will give you some head room, but I hink you are going to need to find a place in the back to cut open to improve the ventiliation,

jonathan18

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Reply # 313219 30-Mar-2010 22:36

BTW, what's the brand of your receiver? I've read lots of comments here and elsewhere about some brands (esp Onkyo) operating at very high temperatures.

Do you think adding a fan will add signifcantly to the noise?

SepticSceptic

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Reply # 313539 31-Mar-2010 16:24

richms: friend had that issue, 120mm case fans in the back of it blowing in at the bottom and out at the top, and cutting the shelf back so there was a decent gap at the front when the door was closed took care of it.

Fans are only a few w each so just left them on all the time on an old PSU for a cordless phone - only 9v so they go slower so less noise.

+1 - Had same issue with Xbox, etc.

12 v Fan powered @ 6v DC, enough airflow, while remaining quiet,,,,,

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