ATM Cool-stack II User manual

25570 Rye Canyon Rd. Valencia, California 91355
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echinfo@ac ive hermal.com www.ac ive hermal.com
Active Thermal Management
The trusted name in thermal protection
Parts list – before proceeding, check ha you have received all of he
following:
(1) Cool-s ack II main chassis
(1) Thermal probe
(1) Power supply
(1) Fron panel
Installation of the Cool-stack II rack-mount ventilator
The Cool-stack II is a very powerful 2U high ventilator, well-suited for removing
heated air from large rack installations. Some of the features of the Cool-stack II
are
 Two-speed operation, with automatic selection of speeds via a thermal probe
and control assembly; also controllable by external contact closure.
 Sufficient depth (18") to pull heated air from the back of a rack, where it is
most often generated.
 Six large (120mm/4.7") high-quality fans for quiet ventilation.
 Ability to exhaust heated air through the front, rear, or top, or any combination
of these for maximum installation flexibility. (With optional exhaust kits)
General description:
The Cool-stack II is an exhaust-mode ventilator. It will usually be located at the
top of a rack, where its six 120mm fans will pull heated air up from the equipment
below and exhaust it through its front panel. It is extremely quiet in low speed,
and makes little noise in full speed.

25570 Rye Canyon Rd. Valencia, California 91355
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There are installations in which there is a door or other obstruction in front of the
rack, making front exhaust impractical. The installer then has a choice of
exhausting hot air through the top or rear panels. (Top exhaust will move more
air than rear exhaust.) Vent kits for top exhaust (ATM part number 03-303-04)
and rear exhaust (ATM part number 03-303-03) are available through your
distributor or from ATM.
Additional tubing can be added to the top or rear panel exhaust kits if necessary,
although the amount of air moved will be reduced by the resistance to air flow
introduced by each additional foot of tubing. Tubing will also create a pathway
from the equipment rack to another area of the home or office. If this other area
is likely to exhibit temperature extremes, insects, odors, etc., these may travel
down the tube to the rack. A "one-way" valve, such as a check valve, may be
needed to prevent unpleasant surprises in the home theater! Avoid running
tubing to these areas, if possible. If needed, a suitable check valve (or "backdraft
damper") is available from Active Thermal Management (part number 03-103-
02).
IMPORTANT:
The use of a 2U or 3U vent panel near the bottom of the rack is highly
recommended. It is necessary to allow fresh air to enter (preferably at a
low level) if hot air is to be removed. If a door would block the vent panel
vent slots holes etc. should be provided low on the sides of the rack
enclosure. A minimum opening of 8 square inches is recommended; 12 - 16
square inches is preferable.
Tu ing sizes:
 The top panel exhaust port uses ATM 4" tubing (4" ID, 6" OD), with 8'
(included) being the recommended maximum length.
 Rear panel exhaust ports use ATM 2" tubing (thin wall), with 1 4'
length on each port (included) being the maximum recommended
length.
Preparation:
 If exhausting through the front panel, no preparation of the Cool-
stack II is needed. Proceed to step 1 of the installation section.

25570 Rye Canyon Rd. Valencia, California 91355
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 If exhausting through the top panel, remove the front panel of the
Cool-stack II and, using
adhesive tape, fasten the sheet
of black plastic film to the inside
of the front panel at each end,
blocking the vent openings as
shown in figure 1. Remove the
metal blank-out panel from the
top of the Cool-stack II and
replace it with the large exhaust port as shown in figure 2. (It can be
installed with the opening closer to the front panel or further away;
either way is acceptable.) Proceed to step 1 of the installation section.
 If exhausting through the rear panel, remove the Cool-stack II's front
and top panels (4 phillips screws on the rear panel), cover the inside of
the front panel as in figure 1, and remove the plastic sheets covering
the 2 rear panel exhaust openings. Replace the front and top covers
(note that the return bend at the rear of the cover fits inside the
chassis), and mount the 2 rear panel exhaust ports as shown in figure
3. (Four screws are provided in the accessories box.) Proceed to step
1 of the installation section.
Figure 1
Figure 2

25570 Rye Canyon Rd. Valencia, California 91355
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Figure 3
Installation:
1. Mount the Cool-stack II in a 2 rack-unit space above the highest significant
heat-producing equipment with the fans facing down. If using the optional top
exhaust kit, mount the Cool-stack II at the top of the rack.
2. Plug the wall-type power supply into an AC outlet that is always energized
(not "switched"). Do not connect the power supply to the Cool-stack II yet.
3. Install the thermal probe. It should normally be fastened to or just above the
hottest part of the hottest component, usually the receiver or amplifier. It will
switch the Cool-stack II from "off" to low speed at about 90 F (31C) and full
speed at about 101 F (38C). In installations with several pieces of heat-
producing equipment, it may be preferable to position the thermal switch
assembly in the air above the highest heat producer where it can sense the
combined heat of all of the equipment. Note that this arrangement will slow
the response time of the Cool-stack II as the hot equipment will have to
heat a column of air which will then heat the thermal probe.
4. Plug the thermal probe into the "Thermal Switch" jack on the back of the
Cool-stack II. Plug the power supply connector into the "Power In" jack on the
back of the Cool-stack II.
5. The Cool-stack II can now be tested. Heating the tip of the probe using an
ordinary hair dryer should start the fans turning at low speed after a short
time. Continued heating should cause an increase in speed. Do NOT use an
open flame (matches, cigarette lighters) or a heat-shrink tubing gun for
testing. (See below for more information on controlling the Cool-stack II.)
Completing the installation:
Verify that there is an opening for fresh air to enter the rack enclosure, preferably
low and in the front.

25570 Rye Canyon Rd. Valencia, California 91355
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If the hot air is to be exhausted through the front panel of the Cool-stack II,
installation is complete.
If heated air is being exhausted through the top panel, and tubing is being used
to carry the heated air away, connect it to the top tubing port now, using the 4"
spring clamp supplied. If the tubing ends in an area in which temperature
extremes, dust, moisture, odors, etc., are present, the use of a backdraft damper,
as mentioned earlier, is recommended. Install it so that the swinging door closes
reliably when the Cool-stack II is not operating.
If the hot air is being exhausted through the rear panel, and tubing is being used,
connect 2 lengths of 2" tubing to the rear panel ports (force the tubing into the
fitting with a twisting motion) and run the tubing to the desired location; trim any
excess. Backdraft dampers for this size tubing are not available.