Enclosure cooling fans are a cost-effective, highly efficient way to protect sensitive electronics and extend their operational lifespan. Since they use the enclosure's surrounding air as the cooling medium, fans are best suited for clean, non-hazardous environments. Like other forced-ventilation devices (e.g. blowers), enclosure fans cannot cool below the ambient temperature, so it is important to check that the ambient temperature range will meet your heat removal requirements. This can be determined with the help of an Enclosure Cooling Calculator.
High-quality fans—such as the Guardian Series Filter Fans—offer the flexibility to be configured as either a supply or exhaust source. To ensure maximum protection against environmental contaminants, we recommend pairing these fans with a compatible Filter-Hood Assembly. This combination is essential for maintaining peak performance in demanding industrial or outdoor environments.
As a general rule, air should enter the enclosure at the lowest possible point and exit above the highest heat-producing component. This strategy leverages the natural buoyancy of heated air (heat rises), allowing forced air to flow upward and efficiently sweep heat away from critical electronics. Below are three common airflow scenarios you should consider for your next project.
In a supply configuration, a Guardian Series Filter Fan is installed at the bottom of the enclosure to pressurize the cabinet with outside air. The cooling air travels upward through the components and exits via a Filter-Hood Assembly at the top.⚙️ The Setup: 1 Filter Fan (bottom-right) + 1 Filter-Hood Assembly (top-left).✅ Key Advantage: Pressurizing the cabinet helps prevent dust and debris from entering through small cracks or unsealed openings, provided the inlet air is filtered.
The exhaust methodology uses a Guardian Fan at the top of the enclosure to actively pull warm air out. Ambient air is drawn into the cabinet through a Filter-Hood Assembly located at the bottom.⚙️ The Setup: 1 Filter Fan with reverse airflow (top-left) + 1 Filter-Hood Assembly (bottom-right).✅ Key Advantage: Actively exhausting the air can promote more even air circulation across specific heat-producing components located near the top of the enclosure.
This high-performance methodology utilizes two fans working in tandem. One Guardian Filter Fan pressurizes the enclosure with cool ambient air while the second Guardian Fan simultaneously exhausts the heated air.⚙️ The Setup: 1 Supply Filter Fan (bottom-right) + 1 Exhaust Filter Fan (top-left).✅ Key Advantage: This dual-action approach is significantly more effective in applications with high static pressure, where dense component layouts might otherwise restrict natural airflow.
Choosing the right configuration depends on your specific environment and internal heat load. If you need help determining the best cooling solution for your application, try our free Enclosure Cooling Calculator or contact an application specialist.
