Enclosure Cooling: Fan Kit Comparison

Enclosure Cooling Comparison

Cabinet Cooling Fan Comparison: Filter Fan Kits, Guards & Filter Assemblies

Q: What is the difference between a wire fan guard and a filter assembly?

A wire fan guard (GCAB700, GCAB702, GCAB706) is an open wire-form grille that maximizes airflow and runs quieter, but does not filter dust. A filter assembly adds a plastic guard, foam filter, and retainer to block dust — use it in machine shops, packaging lines, and any dusty plant air.

A cabinet cooling fan is the fastest way to pull heat out of a control enclosure. Match fan size, airflow, voltage, and guard-vs-filter to your cutout, heat load, and plant air with the recommended options below.

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Matched Complete KitsFan, 72" thermostat cord, and guard or filter sized and shipped together. No sourcing parts separately.

Thermostat ControlledGardTec kits with a thermostat start the fan at 86°F (30°C) and stop at 75°F (24°C) to cut runtime, noise, and dust.

120V or 230VGCAB kits run 120V on a NEMA 1-15P plug; CAB kits run 120V or 230V on a NEMA 1-15P or 6-15P plug.

31 to 600 CFMAirflow spans small 80 mm panels up to a large 254 mm round fan for larger cabinets.

Quick answer

For most 120V control panels, a GardTec filter-fan kit is the right call: choose 80 mm/31 CFM (GCAB701) for small panels, 120 mm/80 CFM (GCAB703) for standard cabinets, or the 103 CFM high-speed GCAB705 when the panel runs hot. Use a wire-guard version (GCAB700/702/704/706/707) only in clean air, and switch to the 230V CAB-series kits when your supply is 230V.

Recommended Options

Every GardTec kit below pairs a Fantec fan with a 72" 45° thermostat cord and either a wire fan guard or a filter assembly. Narrow down your options by size, airflow, voltage, and intake style.

GardTec GCAB700 Cooling Fan Kit, 80 mm, Wire Fan Guard, 120V, w/ Thermostat

Product Code: GCAB700

Best for: Small clean 120V panels needing quiet 31 CFM airflow

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GardTec GCAB701 Cooling Fan Kit, 80 mm, Fan Filter Assembly, 120V, w/ Thermostat

Product Code: GCAB701

Best for: Small 120V panels in dusty areas needing filtered intake

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GardTec GCAB702 Cooling Fan Kit, 120 mm, Wire Fan Guard, 120V, w/ Thermostat

Product Code: GCAB702

Best for: Standard 120V enclosures wanting max 80 CFM airflow

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GardTec GCAB703 Cooling Fan Kit, 120 mm, Fan Filter Assembly, 120V, w/ Thermostat

Product Code: GCAB703

Best for: Standard 120V dusty enclosures needing filtered 80 CFM

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GardTec GCAB705 Cooling Fan Kit, 120 mm, Fan Filter Assembly, 120V, w/ Thermostat, High Speed

Product Code: GCAB705

Best for: Hot-running 120V enclosures needing filtered 103 CFM

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GardTec GCAB708 Cooling Fan Kit, 172 mm, Fan Filter Assembly, 120V, w/ Thermostat

Product Code: GCAB708

Best for: Large 120V cabinets and VFD panels needing filtered 240 CFM

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GardTec GCAB706 Cooling Fan Kit, 254 mm, Wire Fan Guard, 120V, w/ Thermostat

Product Code: GCAB706

Best for: Very large 120V cabinets needing 600 CFM airflow

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GardTec CAB801 Cooling Fan Kit, 80 mm, Fan Filter Assembly, 230V, 72", 45 Degree Plug

Product Code: CAB801

Best for: Small 230V panels needing filtered 31 CFM cooling

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GardTec CAB803 Cooling Fan Kit, 120 mm, Fan Filter Assembly, 230V, 72", 45 Degree Plug

Product Code: CAB803

Best for: Standard 230V enclosures needing filtered 80 CFM

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GardTec CAB805 Cooling Fan Kit, 120 mm, Fan Filter Assembly, 230V, 72", 45 Degree Plug, High Speed

Product Code: CAB805

Best for: Hot 230V enclosures needing filtered 103 CFM

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GardTec CAB808 Cooling Fan Kit, 172 mm, Fan Filter Assembly, 230V, 72", 45 Degree Plug

Product Code: CAB808

Best for: Large 230V cabinets needing filtered 240 CFM

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Which One Should You Buy?

Find the row that matches your setup:

Your situation	Our pick	Why
Small 120V control panel, clean room, quiet needed	GardTec GCAB700 Cooling Fan Kit, 80 mm, Wire Fan Guard, 120V, w/ ThermostatGCAB700	80 mm 31 CFM with open wire guard, 27 dBA, no filter drag
Small 120V panel in a dusty plant	GardTec GCAB701 Cooling Fan Kit, 80 mm, Fan Filter Assembly, 120V, w/ ThermostatGCAB701	80 mm 31 CFM with 30 PPI foam filter to block dust
Standard 120V enclosure, moderate heat	GardTec GCAB703 Cooling Fan Kit, 120 mm, Fan Filter Assembly, 120V, w/ ThermostatGCAB703	120 mm 80 CFM filtered kit for typical control cabinets
120V enclosure running hot, need extra airflow	GardTec GCAB705 Cooling Fan Kit, 120 mm, Fan Filter Assembly, 120V, w/ Thermostat, High SpeedGCAB705	120 mm high-speed 103 CFM filtered kit in the same cutout
Large 120V cabinet or VFD panel	GardTec GCAB708 Cooling Fan Kit, 172 mm, Fan Filter Assembly, 120V, w/ ThermostatGCAB708	172 mm 240 CFM filtered kit for high heat loads
Very large 120V cabinet, maximum airflow	GardTec GCAB706 Cooling Fan Kit, 254 mm, Wire Fan Guard, 120V, w/ ThermostatGCAB706	254 mm round fan moves 600 CFM through open wire guard
230V panel in Europe or on a 230V branch	GardTec CAB803 Cooling Fan Kit, 120 mm, Fan Filter Assembly, 230V, 72", 45 Degree PlugCAB803	120 mm 80 CFM filtered kit with NEMA 6-15P cord
230V cabinet needing high airflow	GardTec CAB808 Cooling Fan Kit, 172 mm, Fan Filter Assembly, 230V, 72", 45 Degree PlugCAB808	172 mm 240 CFM filtered kit at 230V

How These Options Differ

Start with voltage: GCAB700–GCAB708 use 120V (NEMA 1-15P); CAB801–CAB808 use 230V (NEMA 6-15P). Next, size the fan to your cutout: 80 mm moves 31 CFM (GCAB700/701, CAB801), 120 mm moves 80 CFM standard (GCAB702/703, CAB803) or 103 CFM high speed (GCAB705, CAB805), 172 mm moves 240 CFM (GCAB708, CAB808), and the 254 mm round fan moves 600 CFM (GCAB706). Then choose intake style: a wire fan guard (GCAB700/702/706) maximizes airflow and runs quieter but does not filter dust; a filter assembly (GCAB701/703/705/708, CAB801/803/805/808) adds a foam element to block dust in dirty plants. If your load is borderline in a 120 mm cutout, step up to the high-speed 103 CFM kit rather than cutting a larger hole.

How a cabinet cooling fan works

A filter fan does not refrigerate, it exchanges hot cabinet air for cooler ambient room air. You mount a fan to push filtered air in low and an exhaust grille to let hot air out high, creating a bottom-to-top sweep across your components. Because cooling depends on the room being cooler than your target internal temperature, a fan is the right tool when ambient is roughly 77-86°F and you want the panel under 104°F.

The thermostat closes at 86°F (30°C) and reopens at 75°F (24°C), so the fan cycles instead of running continuously
Less runtime means less dust drawn in and longer fan life
Airflow ratings (31, 80, 103, 240, 600 CFM) are free-air figures; real throughput drops once a filter and grille add resistance

If your room is hot, humid, or dirtier than the cabinet, a fan kit will not suffice. You would need a control cabinet air conditioner instead.

How to size a cabinet cooling fan by CFM

Size airflow to the heat your components dump inside the enclosure, then match a fan cutout that fits your door or side panel.

80 mm / 31 CFM (GCAB700, GCAB701, CAB801): small PLC or drive panels with a few hundred watts of load
120 mm / 80 CFM (GCAB702, GCAB703, CAB803): standard control cabinets
120 mm high speed / 103 CFM (GCAB705, CAB805): same 120 mm cutout, more airflow when the panel runs hot
172 mm / 240 CFM (GCAB708, CAB808): large enclosures and VFD cabinets
254 mm round / 600 CFM (GCAB706): very large cabinets and high heat loads

Always pair the fan with an equal-or-larger exhaust opening. A fan without an outlet path just pressurizes the box and moves almost no air. Noise rises with airflow, from 27 dBA at 80 mm up to 49 dBA at 254 mm.

Wire guard vs filter assembly: matching your environment

The intake accessory decides how much dust reaches your electronics.

Wire fan guard (GCAB700, GCAB702, GCAB706): open wire-form grille, lowest airflow restriction, quieter, but zero filtration. Use only in clean, air-conditioned control rooms.
Filter assembly (GCAB701, GCAB703, GCAB705, GCAB708, CAB801/803/805/808): plastic guard plus foam filter and retainer. The 80 mm GCAB701 uses a 30 PPI foam element while the rest use 45 PPI; the plastic filter housing is rated to UL94V-0. Use in machine shops, packaging lines, woodworking, and any dusty plant.

Filters are maintenance items: plan to clean or replace the foam on a schedule, because a clogged filter chokes airflow and defeats the cooling. Add a matching exhaust filter on the outlet side so you are not just pulling dirty air through the gaps.

Control cabinet air conditioner vs filter fan: which to buy

Choose based on the temperature difference you need and the surrounding air quality.

Pick a filter fan (any kit on this page) when the room is cooler than your target cabinet temperature and the ambient air is reasonably clean or filterable
Pick a closed-loop electrical cabinet air conditioner when you need the inside colder than ambient, when the cabinet must stay sealed (Type 4/4X), or when plant air is oily, corrosive, or very hot

Fans are cheaper, simpler, and draw far less power, but they can never cool much below room temperature. A sealed enclosure with a fan will not cool at all as the air has nowhere to go. If you are searching for a cabinet air conditioner but your room is already air-conditioned and clean, a thermostat controlled filter fan usually solves the problem for a fraction of the cost.

GardTec cooling fan kit comparison

Code	Fan Size	Airflow	Noise	Voltage	Intake
GCAB700	80 mm	31 CFM	27 dBA	120V	Wire guard
GCAB701	80 mm	31 CFM	27 dBA	120V	Filter
GCAB702	120 mm	80 CFM	34 dBA	120V	Wire guard
GCAB703	120 mm	80 CFM	34 dBA	120V	Filter
GCAB705	120 mm	103 CFM	39 dBA	120V	Filter
GCAB708	172 mm	240 CFM	48 dBA	120V	Filter
GCAB706	254 mm	600 CFM	49 dBA	120V	Wire guard
CAB801	80 mm	31 CFM	27 dBA	230V	Filter
CAB803	120 mm	80 CFM	34 dBA	230V	Filter
CAB805	120 mm	103 CFM	39 dBA	230V	Filter
CAB808	172 mm	240 CFM	48 dBA	230V	Filter

Common Mistakes (and the Fix)

✗ Installing an intake fan with no exhaust opening

✓ Add an equal-or-larger exhaust grille or filter so air flows through the cabinet instead of stalling.

✗ Expecting a fan to cool below room temperature

✓ If you need the cabinet colder than ambient, or the box is sealed, use a control cabinet air conditioner.

✗ Using an open wire guard in a dusty plant

✓ Choose a kit with a filter-assembly and clean or replace the foam on a schedule.

✗ Ordering a 120V kit for a 230V supply (or vice versa)

✓ Check the specs, the plugs and voltages are not interchangeable.

✗ Cutting a bigger hole for more airflow

✓ Keep the same 120 mm cutout and step up to the high-speed 103 CFM kit (GCAB705/CAB805).

✗ Never servicing the filter foam

✓ A clogged filter chokes airflow; clean or swap the foam element regularly to hold rated CFM.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a cabinet cooling fan with thermostat?

It is an enclosure fan wired through a bimetallic thermostat so the fan only runs when internal air needs cooling. Every thermostat-controlled GardTec kit starts the fan at 86°F (30°C) and stops it at 75°F (24°C), which cuts runtime, noise, and the amount of dust pulled through the cabinet.

Do I need a cabinet air conditioner or just a cooling fan?

Use a filter fan when the cabinet temperature you want is above the surrounding room temperature. The fan simply exchanges hot cabinet air for cooler room air. If you need the cabinet colder than the room, or the enclosure is sealed, dirty, oily, or in a hot area, you need a closed-loop control cabinet air conditioner instead of a fan.

How do I size a cabinet cooling fan?

Match the fan cutout to your enclosure, then pick airflow by heat load: 31 CFM (80 mm) for small panels, 80 CFM (120 mm) standard, 103 CFM high speed, 240 CFM (172 mm), or 600 CFM (254 mm). Add a matching exhaust grille or filter of equal-or-larger area so air can flow through rather than stall.

What is the difference between a wire fan guard and a filter assembly?

A wire fan guard is an open wire-form grille that maximizes airflow and runs quieter, but does not filter dust. A filter assembly adds a plastic guard, foam filter, and retainer to block dust. Use it in machine shops, packaging lines, and any dusty plant air.

Are these 120V or 230V?

GCAB700 through GCAB708 are 120V with a NEMA 1-15P plug. CAB700 through CAB808 are 120V or 230V with a NEMA 1-15P or 6-15P plug. CAB800 series versions also have a #8 ring terminal on the cord. Confirm your outlet before ordering. The plugs and voltages are not interchangeable.

What comes in each fan kit?

Each GardTec kit includes the Fantec fan, a 72" (6 ft) thermostat power cord with a 45° connector, and either a wire fan guard or a filter assembly with foam element and retainer.

Do you sell a DC cooling fan for a 24 VDC panel?

These GardTec and CAB kits are line-voltage AC fans (115V or 230V, 50/60 Hz) controlled by a thermostat cord. If your panel only has 24 VDC control power, you need a separate DC cooling fan. These line-voltage kits will not run on DC.

Terms Worth Knowing

CFM: Cubic feet per minute of airflow the fan moves in free air, before filter and grille resistance reduce it.
Thermostat cord: 72" power cord with a bimetallic switch that turns the fan on at 86°F and off at 75°F.
PPI: Pores per inch of the foam filter; higher PPI catches finer dust but restricts airflow more.
Type 3R / IP55: Enclosure ratings for outdoor use, protected from falling dirt, rain, and splashing water from any direction.
UL94V-0: Plastic flammability rating meaning the material self-extinguishes quickly, required for many panel components.
NEMA 1-15P vs 6-15P: Standard plug types: 1-15P is 120V two-prong; 6-15P is 230V three-prong. They fit different receptacles.
Filter assembly: Plastic guard, foam filter element, and retainer that mount over the fan to block dust at the intake.

Written by the Products for Automation parts team · Last reviewed September 23, 2026 · Prices and stock on this page update live.