Ask Engadget HD: How do I keep a closet full of home theater equipment from overheating?
By Richard Lawler 
posted May 13th 2010 3:48PM
posted May 13th 2010 3:48PM
"I've seen different instances where people have moved the majority of their home entertainment components away from entertainment centers/tables and put them in closets. I'm interested in doing this with my system, essentially putting everything out of view except for the TV and speakers. I'm lucky in this instance because I have a closet on the opposite side of the wall where the TV is mounted and its an empty coat closet about 30 x 30. What I'm looking for are tips regarding IR blasters and shelving/cooling issues for the components in the closet. I'm looking to put a HK AVR-254 receiver, U-Verse STB (not DVR), Wii, Xbox 360, BDP-3600, and a small Ethernet switch in the closet. I live in Dallas Texas so summers are a concern and I want to know what people have been doing in regards to cooling since closets aren't well ventilated."
We're sure you all have suggestions on how to keep the air and control commands flowing even in tight spaces. We put together our own how-to move your boxes away from the HDTV, but we don't have a lot of HVAC advice, so pitch in.
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The picture used in the article points the way! Middle Atlantic makes several products for thermal management. If you are placing your gear in a closet, you should probably look into their "DuctCool" products. From their description in their catalog:
{Duct Cool is a complete remote cooling solution that allows you to manage the heat in closets, racks or enclosed projectors quietly and effectively. The Duct Cool System has been designed to remove heated air from equipment and vent it to an attic or conditioned space. The Duct Cool features a powerful, but quiet, inline mixed flow fan that is capable of removing heated air from up to 25 feet away, so the homeowner does not hear it operate. This unique cooling system turns on and off automatically and runs only when it's needed, making it an energy efficient thermal management solution. An optional thermostat is available for greater control. This product includes all needed mounting accessories, including 25' of insulated duct, and a decorative grille and air intake.}
They have 2 models, one with a single blower unit (DUCT-COOL-1PT)that provides 135 CFM and a dual blower part (DUCT-COOL-2PT) that provides 293 CFM.
The DUCT-COOL-1PT has a MSRP of $570, and the DUCT-COOL-2PT has a MSRP of $700.
I have sold MANY of these to custom installers in the Seattle area and they work fantastic. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
I rigged up a 120mm PC case fan to a small 12V DC power brick to cool a tv-stand cabinet (it blows air out a hole in the back of the cabinet).
The power brick is plugged into the receiver's switched power outlet, so the fan would come on automatically whenever the receiver is on.
120mm PC case fans move 50~75CFM of air, and cost $10~$15 from any OEM computer store. Fans range from 15dB to 30dB, with quieter fans usually costing a few dollars more. You could rig up 2~3 fans to a power brick for under $50, that should match the airflow of a $500 "pro" system.
In my original theater, which was a converted bedroom into a dedicated space, the equipment in the closet was cooled by a dedicated return vent going to the HVAC, and the room had an additional source register.
Seriously, the stuff from Middle Atlantic is very good but the cooling solutions they have are priced insanely. I love their racks but all the active components are simple highly marked up OEM gear.
You can get performance that's just as good, and probably better, for a lot less from coolerguys.com.
They have some great rackmount and cabinet cooling solutions for a fraction of what Middle Atlantic charges.
http://www.coolerguys.com/rackcool.html
http://www.coolerguys.com/cabinetcooling.html
@CharlieXray I agree...Middle Atlantic is proud of their stuff, and they DO charge a premium. However, I have used cheaper rack systems before and been severely dissapointed in the quality in comparison. You CAN find cheaper solutions...however, from experience, I would recommend doing it once and doing it right, even if it does cost a few extra dollars. Far better than re-visiting the problem in a year...The best thing about the Mid-Atlantic solution is that once its installed, you never have to think about it again.
Forgot to mention, if you buy fans you may notice that they have a lot of them. Go with 120mm solutions. You get more airflow at lower speeds and hence less noise. Also, the best fans you can get are the Scythe S-Flex Fluid Bearing Fans, which tend to provide the highest output/db and greatest reliability:
http://www.coolerguys.com/sff21.html
@CharlieXray
Excellent suggestion, especially on the 120mm sized fans. I would add a thermal switch to the setup, that way the fan only runs when the temp is high, not 24/7.
Fans.
Along the Same line ... Can Anyone recommend a AV rack for closet
I have a Middle Atlantic equipment rack installed in my home theater. The front of the rack is open to the room, but the rack itself is in a closet. I immediately had problems with heat, not so much in the equipment closet, but in the entire home theater room. The rack ventilated itself fairly well - directly into the room.
To solve the problem, I installed a silent bathroom exhaust fan in the closet, attached a 4" flexible duct onto the exit of the fan, and vented the exiting air out through a standard register cover into the mechanical room. This completely eliminated my heat problem; air flows from the home theater room, into the equipment rack closet, and out the exhaust fan. I leave it running all the time because my TiVo is always on, and my HTPC and XBOX 360 sometimes stay on for extended periods. It's completely silent and cost about $130 total from Home Depot/Lowes.
Pictures of my home theater are available here, but I unfortunately don't have any pictures of the exhaust fan in the closet.
Buy more insurance, buy more fire alarms, and get ready to have your home burn to the ground.
Don't put it in the closet? It seems to me to be a huge expense and hassle for little benefit. If you do the wiring neatly, and have nicely designed furniture, the components aren't that bad. Especially these days, since a lot of convergence has happened, and a "complex" system would be an HTPC, Blu-Ray, Satellite DVR, VCR/DVD-R, and a receiver, if that.
@(Unverified)
I would say that moving all my components to a different room from where we watch and listen was one of the two or three biggest improvements to the home cinema experience. Now, the room is pitch black and dead silent -- except for the content on the screen, and the sound from the movie. Immersive.
Hire a professional A/V guy! You (hopefully) have more important things to do than spend time educating yourself on what others have already mastered. That concept surely applies to people seeking your help in your career field as well. You are better at your job than a DIY could effectively become after many strained hours. Life's too short to dance with ugly women.
@jhamill1 +1
Hopefully, if you ARE doing it yourself, you are doing the work because you love it, and are passionate about your hobby.
If you are doing it yourself to save money...you will probably end up with either a system that doesnt work right, or end up spending MORE MONEY just to fix what you installed and to get it working properly. Hiring a professional is definitely the way to go for most people, especially when you get into the "construction" aspect of custom home theater.
You should also remember what YOUR time costs you...This is the item most DIY guys miss. I dont know about everyone else, buy my time is my most precious commodity, and while I will do most of my own home theater work, being in the industry, I will not do my own plumbing, high voltage electrical, or drywall. I know the limits of my abilities, and know when its best to bring in a pro.