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USB powered case fan mod

B

Bugbear

Limp Gawd
Joined
Sep 13, 2003
Messages
220
Hello. I need some help and input on this one. This isn't a mod for my PC, but more for my entertainment system and PS3. The PS3 sits inside my entertainment system and I keep the sliding door open for it to keep cool. The air inside still gets very hot and the PS3's fan goes into overdrive. I want to cut a hole in the back of the entertainment system and put a 90mm case fan there to act as an exhaust fan, releasing the hot air trapped inside. All the case fans I've looked at have 3 or 4 pin connectors. Is there an adapter that can connect it to a USB port? Ideally, I want to have the fan plugged into one of the available USB ports on the PS3, this way when the PS3 powers on, the fan will start going automatically. Has anyone done this? Thanks in advance.
 
It's not that hard to solder one together, I've already made about two of these for a laptop cooler. All you need is some wire, a small circuit board, some pins, and an old USB cable.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/10037058@N08/3363733202/

You don't have to make a male USB B-plug(I did since I didn't feel like cutting up a wire). The pins for the fan were salvaged from an old ISA Sound Blaster.

http://pinouts.ru/Slots/USB_pinout.shtml
You only need the two connections at the edges, and simply ignore the two data buses in the middle.

However note that USB only delivers about 5V so the fan won't spin very fast.
 
Why not just go to a thrift store and pick up a 12v DC power adapter (get the one that has the highest output you can find... above 500ma... 1A or 1000ma is pretty common)?

Wire up the fan to that and have the PS3 and the fan power adapter on a power strip. Then when you turn the power strip on, the fan will come on.

It is a LOT safer than risking frying a usb port on your PS3.
 
Thanks for all the info and tips everyone. I went with the Thermaltake solution. Although I was looking for a DIY solution, the Thermaltake fan is a great value and there's a lower chance that I will set my place on fire.

For the suggestion of going with a DC adapter and a power strip, I'd rather have the function streamlined, removing the extra step of turning a power strip on and off.
 
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