Are rubber grommets just rubber washers?

[Pothead]

Are the rubber grommets stores sell the same as rubber washers?

 

[ChefJoe]

umm, I've seen washers that are simply flat circular pieces of rubber with a hole in teh middle and grommits that are "deeper" and have a center groove to position in metal framework.... depends on what monkey is labelling.

 

[jonnyGURU]

A rubber washer washes rubbers.

 

[JackMDS]

Nop Grommet has a round profile, washers are flat.

Grommet are more expensive and have to be put in grooves that was prepares for them.

If you put a grommet in a place that is flat, and meant for flat washer you will get a twisted piece of rubber not a sealer.

 

[Pothead]

thanx guys, I keep hearing people say how grommets have quieted thier system a bit. It seemed pretty pricey for rubber grommets. Oh well.

 

[bwass24]

Grommets are only expensive when purchased from the places that sell CPU coolers, etc. You can buy a package of 2 dozen grommets (various sizes) at Radio Shack for less than $3.00. They're not actually rubber--they're vinyl, which is just as good for mounting fans and other things.

 

[Pothead]

SWEET!

 

[Gustavus]

Grommets are primarily used to protect wiring being passed through a hole in a chassis or case. They are sort of like a flattened doughnut in shape with a goove around the outer circumference so you can fit them into the hole in the case or chassis. the wiring then contacts only the rubber in the grommet, not the metal that could abraid it's way through the insulation. You can use them to mount items that vibrate, like fans or transformers, with the bolts mounting the component being placed through the center hole of the grommet -- in which case they can isolate some vibration. How effective they will isolate vibration depends on the frequency you are trying to isolate and the stiffness of the grommet. Mounts specifically designed to isolate vibration are often elastomers that are much softer that the rubber used in electrical grommets. Occasionally you will see a component that is mounted only with four blobs of the silcone elastomer similar to what is used to caulk tubs and showers. It stays soft, but adheres well and has good translational strength.

 

[Pothead]

I'm just using it on the case fans. I've heard people use the grommets on thier hard drives to decrease vibrations. Anyone actually try these and had success with them?