Frosty78
Habitabat autem somnium
I thought id put this here for fellow growers that are in the same boat. I bought an 8 inch inline extraction fan and although happy with the volume of air it can move i wasn't happy with the noise and decided to do something about it instead of having prying eyes do me a mischief. In Other countries on this beautiful planet they allow you to grow, over here....not so much, so we do things to mitigate the chances of getting pinched by the armed militia masquerading as nice guys.
I will be purchasing a very quiet top of the line fan in the not to distant future, however It was time to make lemonade from lemons.
I will run you though what I did, and how it worked for me
Could it be quieter? Yes? Could I make it quieter ? Yes
However it's at the point that it is quiet enough that unless you know what you're listening for it will pass the test of prying eyes, rippers and snitches.
I first decided to muffle the inline fan so I bought acoustic foam from online. Thought while I'm at it may as well make a muffler too.
Came in a package of pieces of 30cm x 30cmx5cm thick.
I decided to reuse the inline filter cardboard box for muffling/silencing the fan and the carbon filter box for the exhaust muffler/silencer. Both worked a treat.
Fan muffler
I made a template from the foam protection at the end of the carbon filter. Perfect dimension. I reused the polystyrene on both ends. Fitted the other end after putting in acoustic foam pieces. I slit the corner of one side of the cardboard box for the power lead from the fan to get through. I then sticky taped it back together and made sure inline fan foam was back in place.
Next I used occy straps to hold it into place. These you can adjust to suit hook into bottom of cardboard to get some purchase and hook to your overhead poles in your tent.
Next I hooked up a little length offcut of insulated ducting to the carbon filter.
Now for the exhaust muffler/silencer.
I used the carbon filter box. Used the foam protectors at the ends which doubled as a template. Cut out both ends. I then used art craft glue to stick the acoustic panels internally to the box. I let it dry for 24 hours the hung in. I put a little bit of acoustic ducting coming off the fan just to make sure I had a seal and fed it in. Hung it with occy straps and tied it back onto fan for a tight seal. I then fed the acoustic ducting length into outlet point of muffler. Remember I made two ends. Feed it in (it's quite tight to push in both ends. The acoustic makes it snug) then obviously the other end has gone out of the tent outlet.
Now the fan runs around 1/3 quieter and.the air coming out is baffled somewhat. I could probably add more foam and rewrap it again and quieten further. I still have foam left, maybe something I revisit on the weekend.
All about ironing out kinks and streamlining so you are happy. Either way foam coast me $50. I had occy straps and cardboard left over. Glue I borrowed from my kids craft box.
In summary,
I have thought it wise to purchase a top of the range fan like ac infinity. But when you haven't got the dollars at the time it makes no cents. Make do with what you have to get you by. Macgyver things and save for when you're flyin like Neville bartos. Then you can splurge.
I will be purchasing a very quiet top of the line fan in the not to distant future, however It was time to make lemonade from lemons.
I will run you though what I did, and how it worked for me
Could it be quieter? Yes? Could I make it quieter ? Yes
However it's at the point that it is quiet enough that unless you know what you're listening for it will pass the test of prying eyes, rippers and snitches.
I first decided to muffle the inline fan so I bought acoustic foam from online. Thought while I'm at it may as well make a muffler too.
Came in a package of pieces of 30cm x 30cmx5cm thick.
I decided to reuse the inline filter cardboard box for muffling/silencing the fan and the carbon filter box for the exhaust muffler/silencer. Both worked a treat.
Fan muffler
I made a template from the foam protection at the end of the carbon filter. Perfect dimension. I reused the polystyrene on both ends. Fitted the other end after putting in acoustic foam pieces. I slit the corner of one side of the cardboard box for the power lead from the fan to get through. I then sticky taped it back together and made sure inline fan foam was back in place.
Next I used occy straps to hold it into place. These you can adjust to suit hook into bottom of cardboard to get some purchase and hook to your overhead poles in your tent.
Next I hooked up a little length offcut of insulated ducting to the carbon filter.
Now for the exhaust muffler/silencer.
I used the carbon filter box. Used the foam protectors at the ends which doubled as a template. Cut out both ends. I then used art craft glue to stick the acoustic panels internally to the box. I let it dry for 24 hours the hung in. I put a little bit of acoustic ducting coming off the fan just to make sure I had a seal and fed it in. Hung it with occy straps and tied it back onto fan for a tight seal. I then fed the acoustic ducting length into outlet point of muffler. Remember I made two ends. Feed it in (it's quite tight to push in both ends. The acoustic makes it snug) then obviously the other end has gone out of the tent outlet.
Now the fan runs around 1/3 quieter and.the air coming out is baffled somewhat. I could probably add more foam and rewrap it again and quieten further. I still have foam left, maybe something I revisit on the weekend.
All about ironing out kinks and streamlining so you are happy. Either way foam coast me $50. I had occy straps and cardboard left over. Glue I borrowed from my kids craft box.
In summary,
I have thought it wise to purchase a top of the range fan like ac infinity. But when you haven't got the dollars at the time it makes no cents. Make do with what you have to get you by. Macgyver things and save for when you're flyin like Neville bartos. Then you can splurge.