Light Proof Intake 'How-To' (w/PIX)

[7th1der]

Intake: 4" w/ 120mm PC Fan

Supplies:
-Wooden strips (intake diameter depends on how long)
-Nails or screws
-Two-sided adhesive tape
-Bath and Kitchen Caulk
-Flat Black Spray paint
-Plastic 'For Sale' Sign
-Standard 1-sided tape

Looking through the fan into the box

​

Prep: Paint the color side of the 'For Sale' sign with the spray paint. Be sure to coat a few times to ensure total light leakage.

Frame your area with the wooden strips and the nails/screws. Mine is a 7"(W) x 10" (L). Line the outter most edge of the entire frame with the 2 sided tape and caulk the cracks between he wood.

Expose adhesive backing and attach painted side of the 'For Sale' sign flush against the adhesive backing. If its a corning like mine, make sure that the sign is as close to the corner as possible. Use a razor to cut the excess plastic around the frame.

Cut out a desired area for intake and tape edges.

COMPLETE!




Inside & Out (w/ Light On)

​

 

[tom__420]

That is sweet 7th1der! +rep for the awesome creativity. I actually tried making something last night out of cardboard but will most def make something like this in the near future. Would this work for a few passive intakes? I have a lot of negative pressure in the room so when the door is sealed shut there is major suction going on. Let me know what your thoughts of this light proofing technique covering a passive intake are. Thanks a lot man

Tom

 

[Syriuslydelyrius]

Thats nice.. The only possible little improvement would be to paint that inside chamber that difuzes the light black instead of white to lessen the light thats bounced arround in there but it may just be overkill. In a dark room is there any light at all leaking?

 

[7th1der]

That is sweet 7th1der! +rep for the awesome creativity. I actually tried making something last night out of cardboard but will most def make something like this in the near future. Would this work for a few passive intakes? I have a lot of negative pressure in the room so when the door is sealed shut there is major suction going on. Let me know what your thoughts of this light proofing technique covering a passive intake are. Thanks a lot man

Tom

I think it would be good for passive intake. I had passive at first but my exhaust was too strong and it wasn't doing anything for my temps. good luck! and thanks

 

[tom__420]

In the list of materials he says black spray paint so I'm pretty sure that he painted the inside black. In the last picture you can see the black through the fan blades.

 

[Syriuslydelyrius]

In the list of materials he says black spray paint so I'm pretty sure that he painted the inside black. In the last picture you can see the black through the fan blades.

Yeah but the 1st picture you see the outside of fan and can see white through the blades. I just suggested it as a possible improvement however I am not sure how nessesary or benifical it would be. Its well thought out and nicely done allready.

 

[7th1der]

In a dark room is there any light at all leaking?

No leakage but with without multiple coats of paint you may get a slight glow.

 

[7th1der]

Yeah but the 1st picture you see the outside of fan and can see white through the blades. I just suggested it as a possible improvement however I am not sure how nessesary or benifical it would be. Its well thought out and nicely done allready.

Thats because thats a picture looking through the fan before the vent. Look at the last picture with the vent attached.

 

[Syriuslydelyrius]

Thats because thats a picture looking through the fan before the vent. Look at the last picture with the vent attached.

Allright I see it now..

I will be useing this design you have so nicely layed out for us. You were ahead of me on the black paint I just didnt see it i guess.

In the last picture that little knotch thats open is where the air is comeing in. Putting a board at a 45 degree angle above that hole will also help to difelect some more light and spread the cool incomeing air over the bottom more evenly. The top of that board would be white and the bottom black.

 

[7th1der]

Allright I see it now..

I will be useing this design you have so nicely layed out for us. You were ahead of me on the black paint I just didnt see it i guess.

In the last picture that little knotch thats open is where the air is comeing in. Putting a board at a 45 degree angle above that hole will also help to difelect some more light and spread the cool incomeing air over the bottom more evenly. The top of that board would be white and the bottom black.

Try to make things as simple as possible so anxious growers can get started. Its stressful knowing what you want but spending money of shit you thought was gon work. I do it all the time. lol

 

[Syriuslydelyrius]

Try to make things as simple as possible anxious growers can get started. Its stressful knowing what you want but spending money of shit you thought was gon work. I do it all the time. lol

Yeah but if your going to engeneer it you may as well try to maximize its effectivness as well. Its not like its complicated to add an extra little board to shield the hole from light and better direct the airflow.
This little diagram should explain what i ment.

 

[7th1der]

All good homie!

 

[AsbestosToast]

That is cool, I will have to use it. +rep. The only thing I would suggest is make the vent wider, and the intake hole bigger, so you get more air moving through it. Because it probably has a limited air flow, with the fan trying to blow all the air through that little gap. It seems fans work better sucking through things than blowing the air through them, if that makes any sense...

 

[7th1der]

That is cool, I will have to use it. +rep. The only thing I would suggest is make the vent wider, and the intake hole bigger, so you get more air moving through it. Because it probably has a limited air flow, with the fan trying to blow all the air through that little gap. It seems fans work better sucking through things than blowing the air through them, if that makes any sense...

Yeah it does but its just boosting the intake. I have a S&P TD-150 for exhaust.

 

[7th1der]

So, has anyone actually used this design yet besides me? lol