Inline fan noise

Jon Groe

Jon Groe

Member
I'm planning a 600w HID room that will need to vent 130CFM. But I need it to be completely silent.

The room is a 4x7 closet with a sealed & locked door. Problem is I have to sleep next to it, plus when company's over... you know. It just has to be stealth.

Any 4" inline fan can move 130CFM without a problem, but those things are not as silent as I'd like. So here's what I'm thinking - I'll get a bigger fan, like a 12" 1100CFM, and dial it way the hell back to 15% with a controller. That way I could move the 130CFM but the fan itself would not be close to breaking a sweat, and so hopefully it's really quiet.

Anyone run an overspec fan + controller to keep noise down like this, does it work?
 
Jon Groe said:
I'm planning a 600w HID room that will need to vent 130CFM. But I need it to be completely silent.
Click to expand...

The 6" CanMax fans are a lot quieter than most other inline fans. But none are going to be completely silent.

I think you'll need more than 130CFM to keep a 600 watt HID cool, and ventilate your grow area.
 
Jon Groe said:
I'm planning a 600w HID room that will need to vent 130CFM. But I need it to be completely silent.

The room is a 4x7 closet with a sealed & locked door. Problem is I have to sleep next to it, plus when company's over... you know. It just has to be stealth.

Any 4" inline fan can move 130CFM without a problem, but those things are not as silent as I'd like. So here's what I'm thinking - I'll get a bigger fan, like a 12" 1100CFM, and dial it way the hell back to 15% with a controller. That way I could move the 130CFM but the fan itself would not be close to breaking a sweat, and so hopefully it's really quiet.

Anyone run an overspec fan + controller to keep noise down like this, does it work?
Click to expand...

i am using 2 x 8" fans in and out with 2 x 600w hps in a room 10 x 6 x 6 and its set to about a quarter speed.
they are 1015cmh. and at a quarter speed you can only hear the buzz.
although i have built boxes around them and i am using accoustic ducting.
my room temps are between 26c to 30c (79f to 86f) depending on the weather outside.
 
For a 600w light, are you sure you only need a 130 CFM fan? I would go with a 6" inline fan at the minimum for your space. In any case, have you looked into a duct muffler for your fan? A Phat muffler would do the trick. Take a look here: Phat Muffler. These have an 85% noise reduction and are the best on the market. I will be getting one soon.
 
http://www.greners.com/fans-ventila...rs/6-inch-fans/vortex-powerfan-6-452-cfm.html
these Vortex fans are very quiet, and made in Canada, compared to Ecoplus quality fans. if you want to cool a 600w and exhaust a 4x4 room your gonna need at least this 450.
fan speed controllers are highly recommended, although i don't think your going to be able to make it 100% quiet. also as midnight joker stated, air silencers work pretty well, they stop the air "whistling" noise. i would definitely buy a Digital Ballast if stealth is your goal (they dont HHUMMMMM).
 
Thanks for the responses this is helping me a lot. Here's what I've got planned so far (I do plan to use muffler & other acoustics). I can't think of a way to get any more quiet than this, assuming the fan is overspec'd + throttled:

quietbuild.PNG

I came to the 130 cfm number using this CFM guide (Dan's method). It does say it's a bare minimum tho.

WeeGogs said:
i am using 2 x 8" fans in and out with 2 x 600w hps in a room 10 x 6 x 6 and its set to about a quarter speed.
they are 1015cmh. and at a quarter speed you can only hear the buzz.
although i have built boxes around them and i am using accoustic ducting.
my room temps are between 26c to 30c (79f to 86f) depending on the weather outside.
Click to expand...
WeeGogs do you run independently cooled light hoods, or is one 8" doing all the venting + cooling?

If my math is right you're moving 150cfm / whole room refresh every 2.4 minutes. I guess the equivalent for me would actually be about 130cfm, but... depends on whether that includes cooling the light as well.
 
I bought a big plastic bin with lid from Walmart, put a pillow on bottom, sit the fan on it, cut holes for intake hose and outtake hose (tight fit) then hooked hose up and filled the bin up with packing peanuts. Put lid on and Hush it is. Also you can by mufflers's for exhaust.
 
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