How to Quiten an RVK fan

JDMase

Well-Known Member
So having bought a 6" RVK fan, and it rocking the building from the noise, I looked up and saw people making MDF boxes with insulation inside.

I wondered if anyone here has done it, and if the noise was deadened enough that it might be worth me doing it.

Put it this way, if you was standing next to it and was having a conversation, would you still have to raise your voice?

Otherwise does anyone have any quiet fan recommendations. I saw the TD silent and phresh hyper fan advertised, but again, not sure how much quieter they're going to be.
 

JSB99

Well-Known Member
I actually just responded to someone with the same issue.

There are a few things you can do to suppress fan noise.
  • Get a fan muffler($46 for one here)
  • Use insulated flexible duct
  • Use PVC pipes where possible (the ridges in flexible duct cause turbulence and noise)
  • Loosely surround the fan with sound insulation forms like this

When I say "loosely surround the fan", I mean, make a 4-sided box with the panels, or with mdf lined with the panels. Leave enough room around the fan to breath, and leave the ends open.

Also, get a speed controller if you don't already have one.
 

JDMase

Well-Known Member
I actually just responded to someone with the same issue.

There are a few things you can do to suppress fan noise.
  • Get a fan muffler($46 for one here)
  • Use insulated flexible duct
  • Use PVC pipes where possible (the ridges in flexible duct cause turbulence and noise)
  • Loosely surround the fan with sound insulation forms like this

When I say "loosely surround the fan", I mean, make a 4-sided box with the panels, or with mdf lined with the panels. Leave enough room around the fan to breath, and leave the ends open.

Also, get a speed controller if you don't already have one.
Thanks! Trying to find a speed controller.

Is this going to cause vibration issues or anything? I think I read I need a variac to stop that issue?

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&alt=web&id=262492650472&globalID=EBAY-GB
 

JDMase

Well-Known Member
Also ive heard people making boxes but using expanding foam or Rockwell cubes to deaden the sound. Is your material more effective?
 

JSB99

Well-Known Member
Thanks! Trying to find a speed controller.

Is this going to cause vibration issues or anything? I think I read I need a variac to stop that issue?

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&alt=web&id=262492650472&globalID=EBAY-GB
That should work. I always use the Ventech's here, but yours should do the same.

The most common way to prevent vibrations from your fan is to hang it by the ceiling with hooks and bungee cords so that the cords dampen the vibrations before it reaches the studs. It's something you definitely want to do in an indoor grow.

If you're asking if the fan controller will cause vibrations at certain speeds, no, not at all.
 

JSB99

Well-Known Member
Also ive heard people making boxes but using expanding foam or Rockwell cubes to deaden the sound. Is your material more effective?
Rockwool insulation is pretty good. It's what I used in the walls of my home theater. But if you're talking about taking a whole bunch of rockwool cubes and trying to reduce noise, I think it's going to be a lot more work than necessary, and may not prove to do much. Unless you're talking about something different.

Those sound isolation squares are what I used in my studio, and they work well. They are specifically made for sound suppression, and they aren't that expensive. I'd just use those. They're already proven to work.
 
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JDMase

Well-Known Member
Rockwool insulation is pretty good. It's what I used in the walls of my home theater. But if you're talking about taking a whole bunch of rockwool cubes and trying to reduce noise, I think it's going to be a lot more work than necessary, and may not prove to do much. Unless you're talking about something different.

Those sound isolation squares are what I used in my studio, and they work well. They are specifically made for sound suppression, and they aren't that expensive. I'd just use those. They're already proven to work.
Well I have rock wool cubes to hand which is why I suggested them, but I will probably go with actual acoustic deadenig I think!
 
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