Cooling a closed entertainment cabinet

[VanGoghComplex]

I just got a new entertainment center with glass doors to help deter my chilluns from unwanted button-pressing.

Unfortunately, it also deters my PS4 from cooling.

I was originally going to just put fans in the back of the cabinet on opposite sides of the section holding the console, but then I looked at it again...

There's an upper and lower shelf, and about a 7/8" wide 31" long rectangular gap between the from of the shelf and the back of the doors. I figure that gap has a much greater cross section than a 120mm fan. Now I'm thinking I'll put one in the lower cabinet (no console there) as an intake, and one in the top cabinet as an exhaust.

Anyone done something like this? Got any lessons learned to share with me?

 

[Redleader]

AC Infinity makes some items for this purpose. Ive used their fans with good results but not those specific products.

https://www.amazon.com/stores/AC+Infinity/page/51F09617-415B-4359-B5CF-93F864D309F7?ref_=ast_bln

 

[pendragon1]

I just got a new entertainment center with glass doors to help deter my chilluns from unwanted button-pressing.

Unfortunately, it also deters my PS4 from cooling.

I was originally going to just put fans in the back of the cabinet on opposite sides of the section holding the console, but then I looked at it again...

There's an upper and lower shelf, and about a 7/8" wide 31" long rectangular gap between the from of the shelf and the back of the doors. I figure that gap has a much greater cross section than a 120mm fan. Now I'm thinking I'll put one in the lower cabinet (no console there) as an intake, and one in the top cabinet as an exhaust.

Anyone done something like this? Got any lessons learned to share with me?

take a couple 140mm fans, wire them to a usb plug, plug into your ps4, then drill holes where you want to mount them.

 

[doyll]

Keep in mind you need equal area on both intake and exhasut. If one has a fan in it than other should be bigger. What flow in must flow out for more to flow in. Air flow is just like water flow. It's equal and oppoiste actions. Just mounting and intake or exhaust fan (don't need both) with enough venting does not mean air will flow from intake through case to where you want the cool air and then when heated on out of case the way you want. Think of cabinets / cases as a window van under water with windows open and fans as propellers pushing water in / out of van through those windows. For water to move through van all water entering van has to have same amount of water leaving van. The study of airflow is called fluid dynamics for a reason.

 

[VanGoghComplex]

In on the bottom level, gap between front of shelf and back of doors > 120mm², out on the top (right behind where the offending PS4 sits), standalone Noctua speed controller plugged into a 12v wall wart.

Firing up the FF7 remake now to see how it does!

 

[The Mad Atheist]

take a couple 140mm fans, wire them to a usb plug, plug into your ps4, then drill holes where you want to mount them.

Lol, did that to my entertainment center years ago. Bought some 1/4inch ply to replace the hard paper board and mounted 80s or 120s to cool my A/V stuff.

 

[Nobu]

View attachment 246485
In on the bottom level, gap between front of shelf and back of doors > 120mm², out on the top (right behind where the offending PS4 sits), standalone Noctua speed controller plugged into a 12v wall wart.

Firing up the FF7 remake now to see how it does!

Might have dead spots in the extreme corners directly above/below your fans on the other shelf, but it should be sufficient to keep the air from getting too hot if your equipment isn't poorly positioned.

 

[VanGoghComplex]

Might have dead spots in the extreme corners directly above/below your fans on the other shelf, but it should be sufficient to keep the air from getting too hot if your equipment isn't poorly positioned.

It does a good job. The fan on the top right is positioned directly above the PS4, so it does a good job as an exhaust. I placed the bottom left fan where it is to maximize distance between the two, more than anything else. The PS4 still ramps up, of course, but isn't hotboxing itself anymore so the noise isn't nearly as offensive.

 

[chameleoneel]

It does a good job. The fan on the top right is positioned directly above the PS4, so it does a good job as an exhaust. I placed the bottom left fan where it is to maximize distance between the two, more than anything else. The PS4 still ramps up, of course, but isn't hotboxing itself anymore so the noise isn't nearly as offensive.

In addition to the intakes you have added: I would trying making a duct for the exhaust from the console and have the duct lead to exhaust fans.you might be surprised at what some cardboard and rubber can do.

 

[doyll]

I've made a lot of ducting in computer cases using file folders instead of cardboard. draw the duct layout on folder stock, cut with razor knife and straight edge, bend sides using straightedge with a flap on last edge to glue onto other side.

Another drawing of duct below

 

[chameleoneel]

I've made a lot of ducting in computer cases using file folders instead of cardboard. draw the duct layout on folder stock, cut with razor knife and straight edge, bend sides using straightedge with a flap on last edge to glue onto other side.


View attachment 265276

Another drawing of duct below

That's awesome! thanks for posting that.