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Helmet fan / electronics


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Any suggestions or recommendations on a helmet fan(s)? I've got a bucket from Moncal (MLC) and while there's not much room, there is some room to install a fan. I'd love some feedback on this.

 

Any other suggestions on electronics inside the bucket? (I'm planning on using my iComm/Aker set up from my TK.)

 

Thanks!

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I have a pair of small squirrel-cage fans I got from Digikey. Made by Delta, model BFB04512MD. Very quiet, high flow rate, low current load. Hook them to anything from 5 to 14V and you'll be happy.

 

http://www.digikey.com/product-search/en?x=0&y=0&lang=en&site=us&keywords=bfb04512md

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i have this digikey fan but its VERY loud. I have a non-canon ATAT door gunner, and have two in the helmet. One runs constantly and the other is mounted on my faceplate to keep the left lens clean. When both are running, I cant hear anything.

 

Im running them at 12Vdc off of a Lion battery pack. I think they would run quieter and slower speeds (9v battery) but love how much air they move at 12V.

 

Im looking to put fans into my new CB helmet when i get it, and Ill likely get more of these and run them. Perhaps I just got a pair of noisy fans.

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  • 1 month later...

https://www.sparkfun.com/products/11270

this has slightly more CFM but are smaller in size just 33mm and it is round not square as the others Dewka and I use!

I'm sure there is something not as good as the others...Dewka can you give your opinion on the two aka side by side comparison?

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  • 3 weeks later...

I'm looking in this thread and on Amazon for a fan for the bucket. Feeling pretty clueless.

 

Would this be right or work?

 

http://www.amazon.com/12VDC-Squirrel-Cage-Brushless-Blower/dp/B00HWZ5XGC/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1412453749&sr=1-1&keywords=blower+squirrel+cage

 

Does anyone have pictures inside of their bucket with their fans rigged up?

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  • 1 month later...

The dimension on that fan link is over 3"x3" x1 ". Thats a significantly large fan to fit in there.

As it stands im still helmetless, mine was returned to Bolivia before i recieved it. I can only hope a replacement is sent, or im out 400 bucks.

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I bought a few 40mm fans from China. They're designed for use in a PC, so they are supposed to use 12v. You hook them to a 9v battery and you'll get about 2 hours out of em. I used 2 screws to attach to the dome, just below the visor, so it is a little overlapping the lens, but not affecting my vision. Blows right on my forehead and clears the lens. The 9v holder is in one of the ears, with a flap of black duct tape hiding it from view. I also put a switch in there so I don't have to have it on all the time.

 

Last week, I pulled the 7.2v battery out of an airsoft gun, which I got on eBay almost 2 years ago and have pulled the trigger on a couple of times to see if it still worked. I've never loaded it, as I only wanted it for a costume. Before DragonCon, I hit some hobby shops to ask about rechargeable batteries. A charger and battery for RC car/plane would be over $100. This airsoft gun was around $40. It is an NiCa battery, but I just decided to give it a shot. I think it spun an 80mm fan for about 4 hours sitting on my desk before I had to recharge it. A remote control car specialty shop opened up next to Hancock Fabrics and I asked them about how to wire this up. They sold me 3 connectors for the battery for $4. I wired up this so I wouldn't have to update anything in my various helmets. I flipped the +/- so it'll snap onto the 9v holder I've already got in each helmet. I figure I'll run this cable with my mic down to the pouch on the scout, front pocket on my Cobra Viper and probably thigh on my Boba Fett.

 

battery-fan-hookup-01.jpg

 

battery-fan-hookup-02.jpg

 

I believe this is the gun it came from: http://www.ebay.com/...470399906&rt=nc

It took me a year and a half to figure out where the battery was and how to get it out. You twist the ring where the barrel attaches to the receiver. Then the top half of the barrel will come up (if you have nothing on the side rails holding it together).

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  • 1 month later...

I don't see the need for a bracket. If you don't have enough space on the dome under the visor to drill holes, you can get an aluminum ForSale sign and make an L shape to glue to side of fan and dome for around $1.

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  • 1 month later...

I've been very pleased with the fans I use in my Vader bucket. They are not too loud but keep good air flow. I've never had a problem with lenses fogging, which is something a lot of Vaders seem to struggle with.

 

Darth HeZor from the Sith Detachment board sells them. I only have a link to the store on the SD site so it's not much help here, but he takes PMs so if you're interested in learning more it might be worth registering and contacting him.

 

I plan to get another set from him for my TB build.

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