Fans for server cabinet doors

[spittledip]

Hi,

I know this is a shot in the dark, but i was hoping someone might know if there are actually such things available for purchase- fans to mount onto a server cabinet door. The cabinet is "universal" (i.e. generic ). If such things exist, where does one find them? I have been searching google wth little luck.

Thanks!

 

[WoodButcher]

If you have a server cabinet door with holes in it it's time to get out the tape measure. Fans are sized in metric measure.

 

[Zepper]

If the door has a fan mount then all you have to do is order an appropriately sized fan. If not, most fan mfr's provide diagrams for preparing a mounting hole for either intake or exhaust use. Companies like Mouser sell lots of rackmount equipment and accys. If there are special fan mounts for the housing brands they sell, then you should find them there.

.bh.

 

[spittledip]

Thanks for the input Zepper. If there were fan mounts, it would probably make this easier. Here is alink to the server cabinets: http://www.blackbox.com/Catalo...111,1335,1357&mid=5293 I am guessnig we will just have to make mounts ourselves...

 

[Zepper]

I don't know the airflow design for those cabinets, but they offer this:
http://www.blackbox.com/Catalo...111,1335,1357&mid=5390 for additional cooling. Looks like the front, rear and top are ventilated so you may just have to drill some holes to mount fans on the mesh if that fan shelf thingie doesn't do it for you.

.bh.

 

[MichaelD]

The front and rear doors are mesh/ventilated for a reason. What are you putting inside the cabinet that doesn't have it's own internal fan(s)? Servers/switches/routers all have built in fans. Is the room "that hot" that you need more fans? You'd be better off with a bigass stand fan pointed at the cabinet if that's the case.

This blower thingy was linked right off your rack's page. 250CFM is a decent amount of air.

 

[WoodButcher]

Depending on the units you had in the racks I'd be inclined to use the fan tray zepper linked on the bottom as intake and mount a pair of 200 or 250mm fans at the top of the cabinet doors as exhaust, something like these. . They could be screwed through the mesh easily enough, and wired to any PSU. I would suggest the "Monster" 360's, Antec or Koolance as I have a pair of the "Works Power" 250s, they are quiet but don't move much air IMO. If your interested I'll sell them both for the price of one plus shipping. You may be better off with a 110v fan or fans, google "cabinet fan 110v".

 

[spittledip]

To help alleviate any confusion, my boss is the one who wants fans on the doors. I am not sure why he doesn't want to use rackmount fans like the one Zepper pointed out (and MichaelD). He is very particular about things, so who knows.

We have a few fans in place on one cabinet like Woodbutcher suggests. Those 360 mm ones in the link would be better though. Maybe he would be ok with a few of those on front and back for intake and exhaust.

And of course our servers have fans in them

edit: thanks for the info. I kinda figured they didn't make things specifically for this unless it is a specific cabinet for which they have specific parts.

 

[spittledip]

Oh yeah, If we were to use case fans, I figure there must be a way to attach standard 3 pronged plugs to atach them to a power source (b/c they will not be in PC or server case and have access to PSU. What are people's thoughts about how to power up a case fan outside a case?

 

[Zepper]

Most good brand fans come with both 3-pin fan and 4-pin PSU connectors (the big ones (250/360mm) generally have only the PSU connectors on them), so you don't really have to do anything. Just get an extra PSU and hook 'em up. I've seen lots of Zippy 2U PSUs on fleaBay at good prices which could work well for that.

.bh.

 

[zhentong]

have u considered indoor ventilation fans?

they should have good CFM and lower energy consumption .. .since it's used for long term basis ...