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Quieting inline fan

hellboggles

New member
I have 4 " inch vortex inline fan and it's LOUD as fuck

I'm trying to decide on a method to quiet it and make it as efficient as possible

Thermostat?

Fan control?

I'm using a GL120 grow boxbox so i need to have space...
 

habeeb

follow your heart
ICMag Donor
Veteran
you need to run it on a dimmer or whatever you call it

then you need to throw the fan in a box with soundproof foam

then you need to get silences for each side of the fan


then you can enjoy peace
 

RugerBaby

Autos are for pussies!
Veteran
OR you can just place your fan in the attic with some bungee cords holding it, to stop the vibrations. That's what I did with my 6" ActiveAir. My oscillating fan is louder than my centrifugal now.I also purchased a speed controller.
 
Last edited:

abnorml

Member
Hang from bunge cords, enclose, use insulated ducting, try to eliminate 90 degree bends in ducting.
 

erwingruber

Member
somewhere in this forum i found a thread about making a silencer . It is very easy and i have over 70% noise reduction with my version of construction. chicken wirw around the exaust classwool around the chickenwire and all this inside a box with intake from the fan and exaust to the room . Cost 15 - 20 euro
 

Open Eyes

Member
Use the box the fan came in and either line the inside or outside, or both, with thick dense foam that has lots of air holes inside. Add any of the other suggestions as well and your baby will be quiet as you want her to be.
 

Chrontek2009

New member
For some reason my account (hellboggles) was banned. The website won't tell me why...

Anyway, I had my fan backwards and it's much quieter but still loud. I hung it from bungees and the such too.

Ordered a speed controller and once the carbon filter is on I expect it to be fairly quiet.. :)

PS does anyone have a clue why I was banned?
 

Budsworth

Member
RoomPic9.jpg


That wood box up there is a 10" max fan can fan. It's surrounded by insulation. It's hung by rubber bungees. I also got a variable transformer to take the speed down to reduce nose. Though I realized after the fact, it can't be heard outside the house at full speed anyway.

Can hear it inside the house a bit. But it's on the main floor smack dab in the middle of the house. But the 10" is a big fan.

If you plan on getting a bigger fan and turning the speed down...avoid the "speed controller" and all the incantations of the "speed controller" (they're all made by the same people...different companies all print their name on it). It will create a "humming" noise and will shorten the life of your motor.

Have to bite the bullet and buy a variable transformer. Make sure it is rated for more than enough amps (fan should only use 75% of rated amperage...if fan is 7.5amp...you'd want one rated for 10amp...just an example).

Also remember not to turn it down too much. Fan uses the air rushing past it's motor to cool itself. Turn it down too much and it won't effectively cool it's own motor.


On edit:

This is a picture of the one to avoid. They all look the same...generally with a different companies name on them:

variable-fan-speed-control-controller-inline-exhaust_120462779337.jpg
 

habeeb

follow your heart
ICMag Donor
Veteran
^ you really only silenced half of the problem.

you also need dust silencers on both sides
 

Budsworth

Member
^ you really only silenced half of the problem.

you also need dust silencers on both sides

I assume this post was for me.


The setup you see there is temporary. I wanted to scrub the air and vent the hoods with one fan. I plan on buying another fan in a few months and making a leg of exhaust just for the hood (soon to be hoods). Just on a budget.

And I assume you meant duct silencer. Can't be heard outside the house now. Not even the slightest bit. I had to go outside and butt my ear up AGAINST the exterior wall to even get the sense that there might be something going on in there.

Though it would quiet it inside the house. So you're right about the mufflers in that regards. Mufflers, however, are way down my list of priorities for the room.

1. I need a better hood. Looking at getting an XXXL.
2. Need another 1000w rig. (Ballast, bulb, hood)
3. Need another fan for doing a "hood exhaust only leg"...and all the subsequent ducting.

...and about 7 or 8 more things. Mufflers would be the last thing. It is, however, on the list.
 

habeeb

follow your heart
ICMag Donor
Veteran
^ yeah the text was for you..

I just cant stand noise when I'm working.. and I'm a perfectionist

if you want to silence the jet, remember it can be tamed..
 

Budsworth

Member
^ yeah the text was for you..

I just cant stand noise when I'm working.. and I'm a perfectionist

if you want to silence the jet, remember it can be tamed..

Like I said, it's on the list. I'm fully aware. I had to prioritize with my budget. And when I realized it couldn't be heard outside the house...the priority of mufflers dropped dramatically. Not that I don't need them. I just need a lot of other things first.
 
G

grow nerd

BTW I built a 12" inline duct muffler that's constructed & works better (thicker gauge steel & better liner) than SunCourt's version. About 1/2 - 1/4 price. Cost me:

  • $33 - (2) 14"x12" reducers, (1) 3' x 14" KD pipe; HVAC supply shop
  • $16 - (1) 4' x 4' sheet of 1" acoustical duct liner; sheet metal shop
  • $10 - (1) 3' x 5' "hardware fabric" steel mesh; Home Depot
  • $15 - (1) strong aluminum foil tape; Home Depot; needed anyways for ductwork, but...
  • Blood - some sheet metal cuts & scrapes
  • Time - I'm never making one again even though the bottom line was lower


About $60 - $75.
 

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