My improved DIY carbon filter

P@ssw0rd · #1 05-16-2008, 12:18 PM

Well this should be short and sweet, I can't say it's necessarily improved from the original but for my purposes it's superior due to the fact that i didn't fit before so i had to take it out, So the improvement is that i can use it now and it takes up far less space in my tiny cab.

Ok so originally i had built a huge carbon filter [Pic 1] from instructions i found here on RIU, It used a 4" column of screen inside a 6" screen and the space between was filled with carbon. One end was capped on both tubes and the other was closed with a 6" to 4" duct adapter that was then connected to 4" flex duct, to a DIY 4" cooltube and onto the fan to exhaust.

Then i got some cash and i bought a proper air cooled reflector, 6" fittings on each end. So i hooked up another 6" to 4" adapter to each side, 1 from the filter and one out to the fan. but it didn't leave me enough room to fit the filter back in after i installed it and the way i had to mount it originally was less then ideal as it was low in the box.

The solution i found was to reverse the 6"-4" duct adapter to an inverted cone, i also shortened the adapter by removing the 4" portion of it to expose more carbon inside. This allowed me to attach it directly to one end of my reflector and eliminate that piece of flex duct entirely.

Temps are better and the smell is gone and I'm using far less space to do it in. And all at no additional cost. All very good things in my book.

Attached are pictures of the old setup and a diagram of the old and new, I should have pics up tonight after i go visit them.

All questions answered, opinions appreciated.

P@ssw0rd

Florida Blooms · #2 05-16-2008, 12:20 PM

is it big enough?

ACSCorp · #3 05-16-2008, 12:27 PM

What type of fan are you using? It must be a squirrel cage or on of the better vortex in-line fans I guess.

I tried to make one using activated carbon but my 250 CFM duct fan was hardly pulling anything through.

BigBudBalls · #4 05-19-2008, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Florida Blooms

is it big enough?

Bigger is better. More surface area = less airflow restriction, and more stink-removal

P@ssw0rd · #5 05-21-2008, 12:54 PM

Yes bigger is better that is very true, I had simply reached a point of diminished returns. If the air has no smell coming out that i can detect, I'm satisfied. My original filter was constructed on the bigger = better premises i just found that it was overkill.
P@ssword