DIY- $15 Low profile exhaust

[dubbers123]

Hey guys, Since I've received a lot of great information that you guys have all shared with me here I figure its only fair that I try to educate the community myself. Though this might not be a perfect set up It is certainly simple. I think the Micro guys will find this especially useful for keeping a low profile exhaust vent where space is an issue.

First I started out with a 4" RE personal fan that I got from target for about $7. Make sure that the cage of the fan can split apart. There should be 3 small phillips head bolts and nuts holding this together.
Then go into home depot and pick up a 4" PVC toilet flange adapter, which is around $5

I also picked up some small sheet metal screws for securing the fan to the PVC of the flange, and some 1-2" nut and bolts to secure the whole unit to the top of my cabinet.

I mated the fan to the flange and using a 1/16" drill bit I drilled one pilot hole and installed one screw, Carefully making sure to center the fan inside of the PVC (the blades should be partially inside of the PVC). There is a very close tolerance here, A cm one way or the other will make the fan hit the side of the PVC, so spin the fan blades to make sure its free. Once you have it where you want it you can drill 2 more pilot holes and screw it down. Its now ready to be Mounted.

The PVC flange has a "street" end. Which means that a 4" PVC elbow will fit directly over the the opening, To add a coal filter (my next project) or just to make a light filter.

I currently have 2 on the top of my cab and my temps went from 84 to a steady 72 with no intake holes.

Hope this can be useful to somebody.

 

[strictlybongz]

to be quite honest thats actually pretty fucking inovative and crafty, most diy fan shit you see is absolutely fubar, this is clean, solid aqnd mountable, if the parts are readly sourcable at any target than id say its pretty dope.

 

[dubbers123]

Figured I should post a picture of them mounted. Crappy pic, please don't pay attention to my ghetto light bar as its temporary until I decide what I really want to do with it (have to fit 10 bulbs as low profile as possible)

 

[Biatchzxz]

Very cool dude I'm super interested myself. Might Just have to go the Depot and try to do this today. If i'm sucessful ill post of my pics of the setup. So cool deals +rep for u

 

[solarz]

Figured I should post a picture of them mounted. Crappy pic, please don't pay attention to my ghetto light bar as its temporary until I decide what I really want to do with it (have to fit 10 bulbs as low profile as possible)

Go to lowes/home depot...get the bathroom lighting fixture (the 5 bulb one) for about $20. Then get 5 "Y" splitters and then connect your clfs to the splitters. You'll have your ten lights and it is easily wired and mountable.

solarz

 

[solarz]

and BTW...Wally's has those fans for 5bucks (were 3 bucks over the winter months). I have a shit load of them around...lol.

solarz

 

[gdbud]

And I have been looking for those fans all winter. I would like to use in my cabinet.

 

[blynx]

Once they are installed, how loud are they?

 

[dubbers123]

They are not very noticeable. but my cab is within a closet, you have to put your ear up to the door to hear the slightest hum of both of them on at the same time. I suspect that a carbon filter would serve as a muffler as well. but ill let you know when i get that far.

 

[Kalicokitty]

I love those little fans, I always buy 5 or more when I see them on sale.
Nice DIY, thanks for sharing

 

[touchofgrey]

Once they are installed, how loud are they?

Great idea dubbers!

I've got one and just went out to the box and plugged it in. They're pretty loud, but more air noise than motor noise. Then I plugged it into the outlet with the speed control and it was a lot quieter slowed down so that's an option depending on how much air you need.

However, as with any axial fan, they might not have much power to overcome static pressure like a scrubber.

 

[dubbers123]

Thanks guys. Hey touch by speed control outlet do you mean its wired to a dimmer?

 

[touchofgrey]

Thanks guys. Hey touch by speed control outlet do you mean its wired to a dimmer?

No, you don't want to use a lighting dimmer, it will damage the motor. They make a similar rotary device for small motors. This is what I'm using http://www.drillspot.com/products/681135/leviton_6616-1xi_fan_motor_speed_control

The spec sheet will typically say for shaded pole motors but the pass & seymour model says shaded pole and split capicitor motors. So that's just about anything.

One thing I should add, the speed control needs to be in the fan circuit after the timer. I didn't do that the first time I used one of these and slowed down the timer motor too.

 

[dubbers123]

Thanks, I'll keep that in mind for my next grow room design.

 

[gdbud]

However, as with any axial fan, they might not have much power to overcome static pressure like a scrubber.

I was thinking more of keeping the moving the air around inside the cabinet.