Is a 4 inch Vortex overkill for 18 cubic foot cab with scrubber?

[Vernal Equinox]

I have a dresser cab I'm making that is just under 18 cu ft. I'm going to have one or two 1' x 1' darkroom louvers for intake (one is probably enough, right?) and planning on pulling through a scrubber with a 4 inch Vortex and exhausting out the rear door of cab at the top.

Is the Vortex overkill, and how loud is this thing going to be? I know it'd be better blowing into the scrubber, but I need to keep everything inside the cab. I have a reducer I can wire into the Vortex if needed. Any other sound-dampening advice would be appreciated, but I don't think I have room for a traditional duct muffler while remaining inside cab.

So, main concern is :

1) Odor control
2) Absolute stealth from sound aspect. (How loud is Vortex even on 40-50% reduction?)
3) Plant welfare. (don't want to subject them to a wind tunnel)

Image is from the Ventilation FAQ. This is like mine, except scrubber will be inside cab getting pulled by the Vortex.

 

[qupee]

It will be tough to achieve absolute sound stealth... A 4" vortex is probably more than you need, but not so much to be overkill.

For sound, though, I'd maybe look at a Solar & Palau Mixed Vent fan, I believe the XS is the silent model line (may be wrong on the designation). It will be quieter than a vortex but still move enough air.

I like the little 4" centrifugals - they are fairly quiet and still pull good - but for a cabinet build with a goal of inaudibility I don't think they will fit the bill.

 

[Vernal Equinox]

It will be tough to achieve absolute sound stealth... A 4" vortex is probably more than you need, but not so much to be overkill.

For sound, though, I'd maybe look at a Solar & Palau Mixed Vent fan, I believe the XS is the silent model line (may be wrong on the designation). It will be quieter than a vortex but still move enough air. [/qu...thanks.ote]


This looks interesting...thanks. I do wonder about how loud these are. I have yet to find a db rating.The 4 inch Vortex is 50 db, but I'd be reducing it. There's virtually no difference in price, so I'd rather have the Vortex, but do need the stealth.

 

[grow nerd]

Get a speed controller. Variac is preferred, and quieter, but a cheap triac should do okay too.

 

[hektic54]

Deadening

Deadening

Make sure when you mount the fan you mitigate vibrations. Hang it with bungees or use some rubber padding between the mounting surface. Vibrations translate throughout a structure more than the sounds from the fan itself.

If you have decided that your setup is still too loud, use insulated ducting and wrap your fan with a blanket. I have a 6 inch vortex and all I can hear is all the air it moves with 3 blankets draped over it. If I invested in insulated ducting it would probably be near silent.

 

[grow nerd]

If you line the inside with drywall, it'll drop the noise a lot. Especially if you can install it with vibration dampening material in between, like a foam or rubber sheet.

There are commercially available, ready-to-use products out there that can reduce noise more efficiently, but they're not cheap.

Inline duct mufflers are awesome for stealth, too. The concept is very simple, as is the construction.

 

[Desert Hydro]

if you use insulated ductwork and mount the fan inside of an isulated box you should have almost no sound. when i run a 500cfm fan on a filter recirculating its obnoxiously loud but when i put 3' of insulated 6" duct over the outlet the sound is almost gone. it makes a HUGE difference. just something to think about.

you could go as cheap a cardboard box with a bunch of sheets or blankets around the fan itself. it helps a lot

if you only have one intake on the cab there will be whooshing noise, if you have many it will be quieter as well. i got my start in cabinets from home depot and have done more than a few that way. heat is always an issue so the more exhaust the better

 

[Socrates]

Depending on how big of an issue heat is (and what your scrubber is rated for), you may also want to consider an axial fan (or two) with high static pressure, hooked up to a speed controller so you can find a sweet spot between stealth and air movement. I like the 120mm Panaflows - strong enough to pull through a smaller scrubber, and while not silent, certainly stealthier than most centrifugal fans. This works with an LED panel and a few CFLs, but for dealing with HID lighting you will probably need more power.

 

[Guest 263194]

lol what lighs and how big light you gonna get is important to answer your question