[mcgsxr]

In an attempt to keep my build thread just for updates around the progress, I have started this thread to get ideas on how to cool the media closet.

In my case, it will be in a small closet near my stairs, across the room from the gear.

It will be roughly 24 inches wide, 7 feet high, and 3 feet deep.  It will have an 18 inch door.  It won't have a back - it is open into my area under the stairs and into my utility space.

Given that I will likely run a receiver, a satellite box, a blu ray, a mac mini and maybe a 2 channel amp - with the entire rear of the closet open, do I need to be concerned about any other kind of cooling? 

I could add a small vent to the door, or cut the bottom of the door to leave a gap etc.

Not looking to run a fan unless I need to.

Not running 15 mono blocks or anything either!

[randytsuch]

I have had a media closet for maybe 5 years now.

From bottom to top, I have
HTPC running windows xp.  It has a few low power fans.
NAD 5 ch amp
Onkyo TX705 receiver
Panny blu ray player
power strip
HD DVD player
CD player
Laser disk player
Wifi router

The HD, CD and Laser are almost never used.

Only fans are in the HTPC, they keep it pretty cool.

For the hotter stuff, can you provide more space above the components?

I have at least a few inches of clearance above the amp, rx and HTPC I think.  I makes a big difference in heat.  The hotter it is, the more clearance I try to give it.
For the cooler stuff, like the blu ray, I have almost no clearance on top.

I also usually leave the front door open, so heat can escape, but there is no ventilation through the back either.

Just my experience, hopefully it helps a little.

Randy

[mcgsxr]

I will have a home built 5 level rack in that closet.  It looks a lot like a flexy rack, but I built it way back in 1995 before the Internet hit my life, so I claim I invented it!   

Each component will have air around all sides, and between 1 and 3 inches between it and the bottom of the next shelf.  Each of the bottom 2 shelves have 6 inches H, the next ones are 5.  Hottest component would likely go on top completely open.  Pic of the old rack in question below.

I figure I will be fine, but wanted to ping the masses here to get some thoughts.

I guess I could open the door after I run the gear for a while to provide more airflow.

[randytsuch]

How hot does the mac mini get?

Otherwise, it just seems like you need to worry about the receiver and the amp.

It would be good if you could get more space for these guys, but I doubt you have much to worry about.

I have a feeling you stuff won't get too hot.

[mcgsxr]

My mini is one of the old school ones with the outboard PS.  The body of the mini just gets warm.

I was thinking an open backed closet should be fine, since it is basically just like an alcove, only with a door on one side, and the closed side out!

[Bob in St. Louis]

I've got all my audio and video equipment in a vertical rack over 6' tall. The front has a hinged smoked glass door, and the back has a "regular" hinged door on it, so I have access to the back of the equipment. The only thing I did for airflow was the shelving that supports equipment that has air holes on the bottom of the chassis, I "swiss-cheesed" the shelving so the air goes through the shelf.

Bob

[eg1]

Your application is also in a basement, which ought to reduce cooling issues, I should think.

[lacro]

You could also use a louvered door which would allow flow through venting.

[rollo]

You could also use a louvered door which would allow flow through venting.

 +1


charles

[mcgsxr]

While louvered doors would help with cooling, in my install they would also leak furnace sounds from the utility room.

I decided to use a normal door, but leave 2 of the 4 walls unfinished.  The media closet is essentially open to the utility room on 2 sides.  That will make it really easy to service the gear, and should promote good airflow too.

[Big Red Machine]

While my rack for the HT was in the room, I used a coaxial fan to pull air from the rack and the PJ via the 3 inch PVC pipe feeding the wires to it.  The fan was mounted out in the hallway ceiling and pushed the air into the cold air return of the furnace.  I used one of these wired to the PC powering the electronics so it would automatically turn on and off:

http://www.rewci.com/fafrseincefa.html




I left about 2 inches behind the shelves and the back door to the rack clear for heat to escape and the top had a duct cut into it.  There are more efficient methods, but it worked well.  With the fan 15 feet away you could only hear a whisper of the air being pulled through.