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RiffRaff
04/07/2011, 11:45 PM
Would two fans blowing over the whole unit be as effective at cooling the light down as two smaller computer fans sitting directly on top of it?
ludnix
04/07/2011, 11:50 PM
There's way too many variables there to know for sure, but probably not.

In my home unit I have 1x 120mm fan for each 23"x4" heat sink. At work I have an aluminum channel unit cooled by one clamp on fan. The unit stays cool near the fan, but on the other end it's not quite as cool as I would like.
shikhyung
04/08/2011, 12:11 AM
Can you post the picture of the unit at work? Just want to get an idea. Thx.
RiffRaff
04/08/2011, 12:19 AM
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d55/bodypiercer/ccb1d4ba.jpg
RiffRaff
04/08/2011, 12:24 AM
It's aluminum c channel that's 12x40" with 48 LEDs with 4 drivers. Hooked up to the rapidled controller
BluScrnOdeth
04/08/2011, 08:02 AM
it all depends on how "cool" you want your stuff to be. As long as the fans keep the hetsink within the LED's operational range (preferably lower range) then they will be fine. The only thing you can do is test them out. If the temp rises too high, shut it down and get a bigger fan. Mine get warm using 2 80mm fans (i forget the cfm rating) but not warn enough to be an issue. My heatsink is 18" x 8.5". Some people liek to overkill everything, but its better than underkilling.
TheFishMan65
04/08/2011, 09:12 AM
Kcress did some research on heat and LED. Goto to my home page and look for the LED summary. In that summary is what he decided.
radicaltimes
04/08/2011, 10:12 PM
With a fan blowing on it from above you should be able to keep it cooler. With the fan attached you are only cooling just around the fan. If it is done right the heat sink is enclosed and the fan blows in from the ends across all the fins. This is how our heat exchangers for our robot controllers are made