Squirrel cage blowers

[chopnhack]

I am looking at perhaps building an air cleaner... the only thing I can't seem to find is decibel rating of the various squirrel cage type blowers. I understand that the noise level would vary with enclosure, but I should think most manufacturers would include the data for the base unit unenclosed for comparison sake! Anyone know where I can find info like that or it just not published?

[Chris_B]

I recently looked for the same information, but noise specs are either non-existent or highly suspect. Based on what I've learned from sites like SilentPCReview, SPL and flow rate are difficult to measure properly, and the numbers are easily abused.

FWIW, I just built an ambient air cleaner with a new filter that WynnEnvironmental introduced a couple of weeks ago. When I was calling to place an order for a 35A filter, Dick Wynn answered the phone! He was fun to speak with, had lots of great information, and offered me the ambient filter before he had even posted it on his site.

See this link (the photo below is from Wynn's site).



In my case I cannibalized the motor and control from a cheap Harbor Freight ambient cleaner via CL, and fabbed a simple MDF adapter that nests snugly in the top of the filter with a circular rabbet. The Wynn filters are not cheap, but the MERV 15 rating is very high, and the filtration is near-HEPA with the 'nano' filter material. The low back-pressure helps keep the HF squirrel cage sound level quite low (I can still easily hear the radio when the fan is on medium speed).

This setup works great, but the tall size may be an issue for some shops. The overall height is ~30".

[dbhost]

Chris,

That has got to be the most interesting air cleaner I have seen to date. Good job...

[chopnhack]

Very sweet setup Chris, thanks for the info! You are right, I am vertically challenged so 30" would be a deal breaker. Is there potential to mount that setup horizontally?

[BobSch]

Hmm... Maybe I should leave a hole in my shop ceiling for one of those bad boys. (Assuming I ever put a ceiling in!)

[Chris_B]

Is there potential to mount that setup horizontally?

A horizontal setup should work OK, but whatever part of the filter is facing the floor will become the "dust pan." This will make cleaning slightly more convoluted (a shop vac should work fine), but I doubt will materially impact the performance. These filters have a huge surface area.

As an alternative, with some clever ducting and the custom Wynn dust pan (I'm making my own to replace the diaper bag), the overall height could probably be as low as ~ 20". Obviously this depends on your blower & mounting scheme, but MDF is cheap. The filter itself is only 15" high, and the steel dust pan is probably < 0.5".

[Chris_B]

Actually, I just remembered that Wynn is offering metal intake adapters to 4" or 6" ducts (below). I still think a MDF adapter would be fairly straightforward (and probably shorter), but the steel adapters would simplify the project.



FYI, the captions on the adapters state "Landis Flange." I assumed that this was some kind of technical description, but a www search turned-up no hits. Dick explained that Landis is simply the name of their supplier.

[LCHIEN]

Actually, I just remembered that Wynn is offering metal intake adapters to 4" or 6" ducts (below). I still think a MDF adapter would be fairly straightforward (and probably shorter), but the steel adapters would simplify the project.



FYI, the captions on the adapters state "Landis Flange." I assumed that this was some kind of technical description, but a www search turned-up no hits. Dick explained that Landis is simply the name of their supplier.

if you're looking to save money just cut a plywood or MDF cicrle and cut a hole in the middle. Then mount a 4" plastic dustcollection flange on it to connect to hose or duct.

[Chris_B]

If I was starting today, I would seriously consider cannibalizing this fan.

Only $37, with a remote control - and all-important night light!

[LCHIEN]

want to move some air? go with these guys:
http://www.bigassfans.com/

OK, I just like their name.

[Chris_B]

want to move some air? go with these guys:
http://www.bigassfans.com/

LOL

96" diameter, 42k CFM!

[gsmittle]

LOL

96" diameter, 42k CFM!

I like the little winglets, like a jumbo jet.

g.

[chopnhack]

I would lol! but my ceiling is only 8' and the manufacturer recommends no less than 14'. Boy I can imagine trying to read a print in the garage turning to get a piece of wood, turning back and poof... print gone! or worse, moving a sheet of plywood and contacting one of those blades

[chopnhack]

That wynn filter is sweet, I had looked at one for my reworked delta dust collector, but I think having two, albeit expensive might be the way to go. One to ensure the air quality returns to normal as quickly as possible despite having the doors open and one to capture the fines at the source. I'm with Loring on the plywood plus fitting, that should cost around $5 total. I guess with the circular filter, I could always rotate the filter periodically to ensure the entire filter got coated evenly and your idea for shop vac cleaning is really good. Those should create some parameters for thought on this.

[Chris_B]

FYI, Dick Wynn was adamant that any kind of mechanical impact to the inside of the filter is a VeryBadThing(tm). I was specifically asking about an interior plastic paddle-type arrangement, and he strongly recommended against it. He indicated that would inevitably degrade the filter material. The damage may not be visually obvious, but mechanical impact apparently easily creates larger-than-normal holes in the filter material.

Dick's recommended cleaning process is one of the following (in this order):
1) Blowing compressed air from the outside-in (the filters can safely handle extremely high air pressure or flow rates without damage), or
2) a good leaf-blower outside-in, or
3) a soft dust-brush with a shop vac from the inside - if you are careful.

Also, paint-like particles will permanently clog the filter. But with proper care in a non-paint-booth environment like normal wood dust, the filters should last indefinitely.