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R.A.C.H.A.L Computer Exhaust System

Provided by: Computer Exhaust Systems
Retail: $19.99
Review Date: February 12th, 2003

Last summer I could barely work in my computer room. I had two computer systems in a small room. With the air conditioning on, the room was 80+ degrees. There is nothing like sitting down to read E-mail or play a game drenched in sweat. The Reduce Annoying Computer Heat And Loudness (R.A.C.H.A.L) exhaust system would have been a perfect item to keep room cooler. I did not know about this product; therefore, I had to take a system into the basement.

 

Computer Exhaust System In package

Overview:

The R.A.C.H.A.L is a fairly simple but unique concept. Hot air is funneled from an 80mm exhaust fan on your computer through a wall out of the room. The room temperature will decrease as the hot air inside of the computer is extracted to another room. As an extra benefit, the fan noise is decreased slightly as noise is channeled out of the room and absorbed by the funnel. I do not expect the exhaust system to make a big difference in fan noise.

The exhaust system kit includes everything for installation except for a drill. A 1.5 inch drill bit is included to make the hole in the wall. That is right, you will have to drill a hole in the wall. Other items included are: plastic hose, wall screws, funnel, and foam pad for an airtight seal when mounting the funnel to the fan.

Computer Exhaust System Parts
Click on image for larger picture

Installation:

The installation of the exhaust system was fairly easy. I discovered in installation that there are incompatibilities with the exhaust system and some cases.

The fan funnel mounts to the screw holes in a case or case fan. Unfortunately, Antec and Cheiftec, along with other cases, do not always attach case fans via screw holes. The Antec I have uses a snap in bracket so except for duct tape, epoxy or some other adhesive method, a quick and clean way to attach the fan funnel does not exist.

The funnel will attach to the power supply. Although, with an Antec case the power supply is attached to the case via a mounting bracket. The funnel must be attached to this mounting bracket; thus, weakening the air tight seal between the fan and the funnel.

The air tube is short, only about four feet. This means that the computer must be positioned near the hole in the wall. The length of the air tube corresponds with the CFM of the case exhaust fan. The longer the air tube the more CFM that are required to move air through the tube. For this reason the air tube is short.

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