Cooling Fans

[Tapper]

This is kind of Power Tool related......

I'm going to buy a couple of 80mm, 24v cooling fans for the enclosure that houses the VFD for my Dewalt GA radial arm saw - a first rodeo for me. Did some cursory research and it seems a couple of important factors are ball bearings and the quietness of the fans. Prices on these items on Amazon are all over the board and there are many brands to choose from.


Looking for recommendations/suggestions from those who've been down this path before.

Thanks,

Doug

[jteneyck]

This is kind of Power Tool related......

I'm going to buy a couple of 80mm, 24v cooling fans for the enclosure that houses the VFD for my Dewalt GA radial arm saw - a first rodeo for me. Did some cursory research and it seems a couple of important factors are ball bearings and the quietness of the fans. Prices on these items on Amazon are all over the board and there are many brands to choose from.


Looking for recommendations/suggestions from those who've been down this path before.

Thanks,

Doug

Why do you need to put the VFD in an enclosure?  Not obvious to me.  Even if you do, just leave a vent top and bottom for the fan that's in the VFD to move air through the enclosure.  

John

[fredhargis]

I'm with John, doesn't seem to be needed. That said, I did build a sealed cabinet for my stereo, cassette deck and VCR (yep, these were all in my shop at one time some years ago) and the reason wasn't cooling, but to keep the dust out of the decks. So the muffin fan I installed came from Radio Shack and I turned it on when ever I was running the other stuff. The intake air was through a Filtrete allergen filter to trap the dust. None of this is related to what you're asking, just background. The muffin fan I had from RS was just an inexpensive Asian import and it lasted for at least 4 years (we moved and I left that stuff behind) with no problem. I'd say that as cheap as they are, just buy the inexpensive ones and replace them if they go belly up. I also have a pond aerator that run 7 months a year/24-7/ It has a muffin fan in the metal enclosure for cooling. Right now it's about 7 years old and hasn't failed..again this is just an inexpensive Asian import. There's not much to the things so they seem to last. (The one with the aerator came with the enclosure, so I'm unsure of the exact source.)

[Tapper]

Why do you need to put the VFD in an enclosure?  Not obvious to me.  Even if you do, just leave a vent top and bottom for the fan that's in the VFD to move air through the enclosure.  

John

Primarily because the literature that came with the unit recommends it (primarily for dust control I'm guessing). And they also recommend cooling fans inside at the top of the enclosure to pull the hot air out. Even included a sketch showing the fan(s) and clearances for the VFD from the sides and top and bottom of the enclosure. 

Since this is my first time doing this I don't know whether one's needed or not; just that the manufacturer recommends it. My plan is to install two small fans (80mm each). The enclosure will also have other components in it, i.e. a 24v power supply, a 230v breaker, wire terminals, etc. thus probably generating at least some additional heat.

Doug

[EdL]

Once you figure out what you need.....check Mouser Electronics, they'll have it and not the same chineese stuff renamed 100 times.

Why 24v and not 110? Also wondering why a static converter won't work?

Ed

[Tapper]

Once you figure out what you need.....check Mouser Electronics, they'll have it and not the same chineese stuff renamed 100 times.

Why 24v and not 110?

Ed

Because I have a 24v power supply and it will be in the enclosure. Lots of 24v fans on Amazon. 

Doug

[EdL]

Ok.
Now, whats wrong with a static converter?

Ed

[jteneyck]

Primarily because the literature that came with the unit recommends it (primarily for dust control I'm guessing). And they also recommend cooling fans inside at the top of the enclosure to pull the hot air out. Even included a sketch showing the fan(s) and clearances for the VFD from the sides and top and bottom of the enclosure. 

Since this is my first time doing this I don't know whether one's needed or not; just that the manufacturer recommends it. My plan is to install two small fans (80mm each). The enclosure will also have other components in it, i.e. a 24v power supply, a 230v breaker, wire terminals, etc. thus probably generating at least some additional heat.

Doug

I would just mount the VFD in a location where it doesn't get directly hit with sawdust.  They are made for industrial locations, so ambient dust won't hurt anything.  Blow it out with canned air now and then if you feel the need.  Countless folks have the VFD for the spindles on their CNC's mounted as I described, same as I have mine mounted, and I've never heard of anyone saying they had a failure due to dust.  You're going to have dust collection on the saw, right?  

John

[Tapper]

Ok.
Now, whats wrong with a static converter?

Ed

I've already bought the VFD. AFAIK static converters do not offer blade braking, a feature I like and one the VFD I purchased has.

Doug

[Tapper]

I would just mount the VFD in a location where it doesn't get directly hit with sawdust.  They are made for industrial locations, so ambient dust won't hurt anything.  Blow it out with canned air now and then if you feel the need.  Countless folks have the VFD for the spindles on their CNC's mounted as I described, same as I have mine mounted, and I've never heard of anyone saying they had a failure due to dust.  You're going to have dust collection on the saw, right?  

John

Yes, saw will have dedicated dust collection. My application and the location of this saw in my shop doesn't lend itself to a wall mounted installation. I have an enclosure I picked up that I think will work. As mentioned earlier, Amazon has many of these 80mm, 24v fans to choose from. 

Seems like there is little difference in them, save the noise level and whether or not they operate with sleeves or ball bearings. The difference is relatively small price-wise. I'll give a report and post some pics when I get the whole saw and assembly in place.

Thanks to all.

Doug