Does this seem cool?

[jleger98]

They would, but I guess I'm concerned about the heat in the compartment. I have a brand new blower that I bought, so using that would be no problem. I think I could easily vent from under the console, so rain etc would not be an issue.

[Domsz06]

So am I correct in reading her that if you run a fan over the amps, you all feel it will not be any better to also have a fan sucking air out? I am looking at doing something like Jleger has, but I'll be double stacking the amp racks, running two fans on each rack across the amps and then wanted to run 2 blower fans one blowing air into and on the amps and then the other sucking air our via a vent.

You feel that that just the vent would be ok, with the amount of air being blown in? guess I could jsut try it, put some temp gauges on myamps and then compare.

Any ideas? This could be the start of another great thread!!

[jleger98]

Well now that you are here, it is a great thread

[philwsailz]

Wow!

Good topic! Hmmm...

If I can weigh in with my thoughts:

* I think exhausting into the bilge is not the best way; seems like a lot of "pipe" and resistance in the way of good airflow. I don't perceive any safety issues doing this; it is just a long way out to open air, and it will make a fan/blower work harder in my opinion.

* Blowing directly on the amp(s) tends to be a better way; it is a positive pressurized flow, at a relaviely high velocity, which will move more air over the amps when compared with sucking air over them. Blowing air from inside of the compartment is good, but blowing air from outside is even better.

* I might consider installing two nicely timmed out vents at the walk-through one intake, one exhaust. Use a standard bilge blower on a relay like has been previously suggested, and have it blow right on the amp(s). The trick in my opinion would be to support the vent hose so that it goes over a "hump" if you will, before going down to the blower. This high point in the hose should in theory prevent water from running all the way through and into the blower. Any water that gets into the hoses hopefully would just drain right back out where it came in.

Does this make sense or give anybody any further ideas?

[jleger98]

Just to clarify, when I was saying venting out to the bilge, there is already a fresh-air intake hose that runs through the compartment. I was just going to tap into that.

Now, as far as vents to the walkway, why would you put them out there where they can be seen? My thought was to put them out of site under the console. That way, you don't have to worry about water getting in, everything is hidden, and you don't have to mess up your nice gelcoat in the walkway.

[Tequilasun]

Given the "Blow not Suck" theories above:

My concern is that you would get a circular effect with the hot air blown away from the amps continuing to circulate in the compartment, and not be exhausted fully. Moving already hot air is better than not moving air at all, though.

Edit in thought: I guess if the fan was truly drawing from an outside source of "cool" air, this wouldn't be much of problem. But 2 blowers, one in, one out would be the best IMHO. (may not be what we are debating here)

[jleger98]

I think the use of two blowers would be ideal, but in lieu of that, what about a blower at the intake vent, with some hose to direct it at the amps. This would create an elevated pressure in the compartment which would force the air out of the "out-take" vent.

[philwsailz]

Just to clarify, when I was saying venting out to the bilge, there is already a fresh-air intake hose that runs through the compartment. I was just going to tap into that.

Now, as far as vents to the walkway, why would you put them out there where they can be seen? My thought was to put them out of site under the console. That way, you don't have to worry about water getting in, everything is hidden, and you don't have to mess up your nice gelcoat in the walkway.

Top of the mind thought, that is all... I know that you want to keep the hose/pipe as short as possible, to prevent frictional losses between the air and the side of the hose; it will give you a higher flow. Since the amp(s) most often are right there, it provides the shortest run of hose to get the job done. I REALLY do like your idea a lot of putting the inlets/ flanges under the console though, for all of the reasons you mention. That seems a cleaner way to do it for sure!!! You still are getting (hopefully) cooler air from oustside with your setup, correct?

Let me just stand behind blowing directly on the amp though, with as little hose in the system as possible.

Howzat?

[jleger98]

I think once I get the amps mounted in there, I'll drill a pilot hole where I want to mount the blower, then I'll I will really need is a short little piece of hose to turn the air towards the amps. Should be < 6-12" I would suspect.

Typically the air under the console is cooler becasue its out of the sun, but it is also underneath a black console, so......HOPEfully the air under there will be cool enough.

[Domsz06]

Well now that you are here, it is a great thread

not sure what to think of that

[philwsailz]

heh heh heh... (pardon the pun)
"cool"

With that short a run of hose, I do not think it would matter which end of the hose the blower was on... It should work; at least the amp will be cooler than without it!

[jleger98]

isn't the goal of everyone who starts a new thread to get DOM to come in?

[Domsz06]

ok, I think what I will do is make a vent on the outside of the boat, very similar to the vent for the gas tank. Then hook up the blower to use as an exhaust there. Then since I plan on keeping my amps up in the front compartmart on two racks right by the engine intake, I'll splice off of that which will allow for air to go to the engine or the rack and have my second blower there, blowing into the squirl cage fans that then blow into the amps. If I have the exhaust fan on the oppisite side, say middle way up the wall, this will allow for turning of the air, and should allow for quite a bit of air movement. The blower fans blow 230 cfm so that should do a pretty darn good job.

The thing I'm worried about now is between the amps, and the fans, how long will my batteries really last. I drained down just my two stock one's working on the teak in 4 hours, and I didn't even have all my tower speakers on. Looks like I may be getting more batteries, or have to go to trojans after all. OH well.

I think I'll wire my blowers on sep, that way if I'm not bumping really hard I can save power and not run them. Get some of those rc heat sink monitors mounted to the amps, and then run the LCD display to my dash so I could see them. Find out what the shut down temp is, and just keep it under that.

[Domsz06]

I see how it Jleger, If you dont' want me, just say it, I can understand the hint. see ya!!!

[jleger98]

Here are the specs for the attwood blower info you sent me. You ought to be able to calc your total draw.