Contributed by:
Steen /
aallonharja /
Nexsus6 Submitted: March
10th, 2004
Images archived: 2005
If you are trying to make use of a PC
case fan, but finding it gets quite loud, this is for
you!
You will need the following:
o Insulation foam strip (any thin foam should
do)
o Heat-shrink tubing (from any electronics shop)
Step 1 - Preparing your mounting screws
Take your
heat-shrink tubing and cut 4 pieces - each around the
width of your fan mounting (Picture 2). Insert the screw
into the tubing and shrink to fit (Picture 3).
You now have rubber coated screws to dampen some
of the vibrations.
Step 2 - Mounting the
fan 
Take your foam tape, peel off the
backing and place along the edge of your fan (the side
facing the wall). Make SURE that all sides are covered!
As you can see, overlapping the tape is fine.
Screw the fan to your box wall tightly! The foam
will compress leaving an air-tight seal around the edge
of the fan.
The rubber screws coupled with the foam
seal will stop vibrations from the fan, leaving only the
sound of air passing through it. This can be reduced to
silence by running the fan at 9 volts!
Contributed
by:
aallonharja A much simpler
approach is using one of those camping mats made of
polyurethane. Cut a strip of the mat thats long enough
to run 3 times around the outer sides of the fan.
Make an opening for the fan that is slightly
smaller than the fan with the mat, OR depending on your
setting, make an frame for the mat/fan combo that you
can fit on the inlet/outlet hole (out of wood or
whatever).
Stuff/slip/slide carefully the fan -
mat combo into the opening - simultaneously insulating
any light and air leaks AND very effectively sound
dampening the fan. Its also possible to run wires
through between the mat layers as it flexes to
accommodate wiring.
Usually its possible just to
make the opening and slip in the fan-mat combo, no
screws etc needed. If the strip of mat extends in front
and back of the fan, the sound of the fan (blades) and
air rushing is also dampened.
Contributed
by:
Nexsus6 If mounting and noise are
an issue, another great damper is silicone. If your fans
are not near a direct heat source (unaffected by high
temp silicone mixtures), you can effectively run a bead
around all contact surfaces prior to
tightening...Silicone maintains a certain elasticity
after curing. Allows vibration to dissipate and holds
screws tight.
