Calling all Stormtroopers! Helmet cooling fan question!

[FakeBritishAccent]

The helmet I made for San Diego Comic Con gets hot...real hot. To those of you who've installed cooling fans, what position did you prefer? The fans pointing towards your face and head or the fans pointing out a vent sucking hot air out of the helmet? Also, what kind of battery set-ups give the best power for the longest amount of time?

-Jonaas

 

[phase pistol]

This has nothing to do with your question, but I feel compelled somehow to post it anyway.

 

[tubachris85x]

This has nothing to do with your question, but I feel compelled somehow to post it anyway.

WinRar lollollollol

 

[tubachris85x]

The helmet I made for San Diego Comic Con gets hot...real hot. To those of you who've installed cooling fans, what position did you prefer? The fans pointing towards your face and head or the fans pointing out a vent sucking hot air out of the helmet? Also, what kind of battery set-ups give the best power for the longest amount of time?

-Jonaas

Ive seen some put two of those comp mini fans on each side of the mouth or grill...sometimes it's not meant to cool you, but to force the hot air out of the helmet. I think just try a few different fan positions, and see which one works best for you.

 

[James Kenobi 1138]

I use just one fan and it's mounted in front of my face.

I like it there because it blows cooler air across my cheeks where I sweat mostly and does a great job of de-fogging my lenses.

I had been using 2 9volt batteries on my fan but that only gave me about 1-2 hours of fan time before the batteries were dead. I upgraded to using 2 black plastic battery holders that hold 4 AA batteries each and wired them in series. Now I get 12volts of power and using 8 AA batteries I'm getting 4-5 hours or more of constant fan time.

I know all too well how hot it gets in San Diego:

 

[ItsThatGuy]

I used fans, but saw no significant difference so I took them out. If it's over 95 outside, I either do not troop or I troop for about 20 minutes with a water break.

 

[nogga_nootch]

after swapping out the padding in my helmet for a complete liner i can no longer fit my fans in, didn't find much use for them any way in the uk. i'm lucky if it doesn't rain when i go trooping

 

[wbundrick]

I wear glasses and to prevent fogging I needed fans to move air directly across my face rather than moving air out. That still didn't prevent me from overheating, I'm a sweathog and unless the temperature is under about 50 degrees then I can't wear the armor at all.

 

[ItsThatGuy]

Fans do not cool air. They are only for circulating air.

EDIT: James - loving the old Kenner toy-style blaster.

 

[defyitall]

I have a big melon (7 3/4 hat size) and a small helmet (RT Mod) so I could only really fit the fans on the temples. I tried them on the frown and the fans hit my face.

 

[kimncris]

I like them in the aerators blowing up on my face.

 

[Geniepants]

I have both a TIE Pilot and Republic Commando, and I use 3 fans powered by 4 9 volts in each. (I have glasses and need circulation) Also, get a balaclava that has moisture wicking properties, that helps, too.

 

[droid wrangler]

I use the small ANH Rt Mod and I use 1 two inch fan in the chin. I modified the chin for air flow and run the fan off of 3 nine volt battery's wired in in a series for 18volts. Works great. Made it through all of SWW every weekend.

 

[Skaught]

I heatgunned a piece of plastic so I could bend it to the shape of the back of the helmet. This gave me a removable platform to work on. It velcros into the back of the helmet.

On it I wired two squirrel cage fans, three nine volts and a push button switch. The squirrel cage fans blow air around the sides of my head to the front, keeping my lenses from fogging and my face cool. But not a strong breeze right in my eyes. I ran them for 14 hours, on and off (mostly on) without needing to change the battery. The wiring is done in sequence.

Scott