Installed a couple 12v LED Computer Fans to keep my amps cool.
So, I have a direct drive and I've mounted my amps in the compartment under the observer seat (with my two batteries). it's not that big of compartment, but it fits everything nicely and makes for a very simple install when the amps have such a short run to get power.
However, I was running into problems with either my sub or my tower speaker amp cutting out. I figure that they were going into protection mode because they were getting too hot. So, I decided the best thing to do was to get some airflow going.
I bought a pair of 80mm (just over 3") 12v computer fans that were lit with blue LED's (because everything on my boat is lit with blue LED!). I got them off ebay and put in a best offer of $9 shipped for two from a USA shipping location so I could get them quick.
I decided to back mount them from inside the storage compartment. I picked their location so that they were spaced away from each other and so they didn't interfere with any existing items in the storage compartment (like wiring, brackets, thick parts of the fiberglass, etc). I simply drilled a pair of 3" holes for the air to pass through. I spent $10 for a hole saw kit from harbor freight to get the size I needed. I used the holes on the fan with the fan on the outside as my template for mounting screw holes. I threaded my screws from the outside in, and just used speed clips as "nuts" on the back end.
I have them wired up so that the relay that provides the remote turn on power to the amps powers the fans (all my stereo system is on a master switch). If the stereo is on, the fans are running.
I plan on getting some little speaker grills probably to cover the fronts of the holes where the fans are. But for the time being, here is how they look:
Here is the fans going. you can also see that I have digital volt meters wired to each of my batteries so I know the status of my batteries all the time.
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-n...825_204109.jpg
Another shot with the LED Court light on:
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-w...825_204205.jpg
They also provide a little accent lighting to the inside of my compartment.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-f...825_204320.jpg
And here is the storage compartment. Ignore the little bit of a mess. Each battery has a float charger alligator clipped to it. The only things that should be on the wingnut terminals are the leads for the battery volt meters, but I added a 2nd pigtail for running a ballast pump and I didn't feel like taking my Perko Switch off AGAIN to get the positive of that pump onto the perko.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-V...825_204331.jpg
