Ducting Alternatives

[pug1010]

Hi all:)

 

Just wondering about ducting and sound proofing.

 

I'm not real flash on my silencing technology, but was wondering if it would be quieter if a smooth surface was used rather than a corrugated one. If so, I was wondering if it would be better to use pvc pipes (without the blue glue) or thick cardboard rolls (like postage packs) rather than bendy metal ducting. I'm interested in ducting to go on a 100mm fan (for a small tent), so cost and weight aren't too much of a problem - especially as I'm sure I've got some joiners and pvc pipes around somewhere collecting spiders.

 

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[Pleb Scrubber]

Hello pug

Sound is vibration carried thru the air.

 

A flat hard surface is the worst for sound proofing, it bounces the sound back and it vibrates.

The best materials are soft with un-even, corrugated surfaces, to absorb vibration.

 

You can get sound proofing foam, that has large dimples all over it, or use carpet underlay or carpet or foam.

 

Use regular ducting, and wrap it in foam or carpet the entire length.

Only do this to ducting outside the grow area, because the soft, porus matertial will harbour bugs and bacteria thats hard to clean.

You can build a little box for your fan, and line the inside of that with the same foam/carpet/underlay.

Edited January 4, 2011 by Pleb Scrubber

[pug1010]

Thanks heaps Pleb Scrubber:)

 

Sorry mate....I thanked you earlier, but must have stuffed up my reply.

 

I will try your suggestions.

[Pleb Scrubber]

No worries mate, I spent a lot of time trying to keep my cooling setup quiet.

 

If you got a bit of extra coin, you can buy ducting that has built in sound proofing foam around it...

I think its called acoustic duct.

[Dingo-2008]

Hi pug1010,just buy a lenght of insulated air/con ducting it just ya normal ducting but with a layer of insulation on the outside. Ring a air/con shop they will sell you a lenght, it comes in 3mt or 6mt lenghts, only problem is the size you wont,100mm ducting im quite sure you can buy that size you wont ,if you cant get that size ducting just get the larger size ducting an buy a reducer to bring it down to the 100mm that conects on to your fan ,best a luck,you can buy PVC reducers at bunnings that mite help you, Edited January 14, 2011 by Dingo-2008

[merl1n]

Hi there pug,

I have to agree with pleb, rigid tubing is only going to increase the vibration. Flexible ducting is the only way to go for noise reduction.

 

Here is what I've done, Ive lined a polystyrene fruit box with the lid, also lined, with foam carpet underlay. I've placed my fan in this box with an inlet in one end and an outlet on the other. No noise, no vibration.

 

It works

 

Merl1n

[pug1010]

Thanks heaps for all the suggestions.

 

I will look into acoustic ducting/insulated ducting, a reducer and also sound-proofing my fan in a custom box.

 

Cheers