Ventilation Fan...Suggestions Needed

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9122079#post9122079 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by FishDad2
One Panaflo has been installed for 5 days now and there's no sign that the high pitched whine will be going away any time soon. It's not that the whine is all that loud, it's more that the pitch really carries...which makes it far more annoying than the Radio Shack fan.

For my situation, given that I have the option to install the fans in the garage behind the tank, I'm going to look at alternatives. Possibly install the Panalo's in the garage with some flexible duct or perhaps look at more powerful fans referenced earlier by Torpus. It'll require drilling holes through the wall and such, so I'm not going to rush into it right now...plan first, cut later.

I'll leave the Panaflo in place for now, but I'm fairly certain at this point that they're not going to be the longterm answer I'd hoped they would be.

Well, what speed are you running them at? My suggestion for the panaflos is that you run them at 9v or 6v... lower dB than a vantec, but more air (they are thicker fans).

Regards,
Jon
 
I'm running them at 9v...at 12v they're way too loud.

At 6v they don't feel like they're moving all that much are. And while it's a slight improvement from 9v, it's still quite audible.
 
Anyone have experience with venting their hood outside? I am finishing my 72X36X18" hood with three 250 MH and Luminarc reflectors. The heat coming off is significant and I am thinking about venting out through the adjacent wall.
 
That's pretty much what I do, although I have custom cabinetry, not a hood. But in principle, it should be about the same.

What I did was cut a large diameter hole in the back of the cabinet and through the wall using a hole saw. I then mounted a dryer vent cover with a short piece of duct attached to it...similar to the link below.

Dryer Vent

Then on the inside of the cabinetry, I mounted the fan to the opening, so it blows the air right out of the house...well, in my case, into my garage, but it's essentially the same thing.

I like it because the vent closes when the fan isn't running, keeping bugs and wind blown debris out.

With a hood, you could do almost the same thing, just run some dryer duct from the hole in the hood to the hole in the wall behind. Other than that, it's pretty much the same thing.

I've found it works well...been in operation for more than 2 years...no problems to report.

As an alternative, depending on the conditions outside vis-a-vis moisture and dirt, you could also put the fan outside. This would both move the noise out of your house and also provide the opportunity to use an even more powerful fan, as power equates to noise but by moving it outside, who cares if it's a little loud.

But like I said, you'll need to find a fan suitable for outdoor use. Perhaps other readers of the thread can make some suggestions there.

Good luck.
 
Just found a Nutone bathroom fan, super silent model that moves 50 CFM. I will mount this inside the hood and vent through the wall with bathroom vent equipment.
 
Are they OK with the humidity as an exhaust fan? I know they work well for ventilation, but the heat and humidity when used for exhaust is another problem.
 
many places on the internet. I get mine from a reputable company on eBay (do not have their name off hand).

Top notch bathroom fans... quiet, solid and reliable.

Bean
 
I will now be installing a pair of ultraquiet computer fans blowing in and a panasonic 0.4 sones exhaust fan blowing out. This should work. My wife is not wild about the hole in the wall, but it is better than creating a sauna.
 
yeah we went a few rounds about chisling a hole in the brick too...

"Look sweetie, either let me put a vent in or the walls are going to rot". The answer is obvious right? Wrong... "how about just getting rid of the tank, I am tired of all of the problems it causes".

Bean
 
ROFL... you shoulda seen that one coming. I get that all the time. She puts up with it, and knows I wont go for it, but every once and a while I get the 'or, you could just get rid of the reef and not have to worry about it!'
 
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