custom cooler question

i am wanting to build a custom cooler for my laptop and i have some questions. After using the search feature i found that i should not make it usb powered for risk of frying something, but what about a usb wall adapter? I am looking to run three fans. The question is can i splice all the fans together and hook them up to one usb end. I want to use the power adapter that came with my iphone ( i have an extra).


any thoughts?

 

I want to use the power adapter that came with my iphone ( i have an extra).

 

here is a pic of the said adapter

 

no one? Well i ordered 3 of these
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...5200049&cm_re=case_fan-_-35-200-049-_-Product

I will post pics when they come in and i get it built

 

It depends on the voltage that the fans run at.

My guess would be that your usb port will not give you enough voltage for the fan you bought.

USB is 5V. Your fans look like 12V.

 

I'm not pluging it in to a USB port I am pluging it into a wall outlet.

 

You can't run 12v fan from usb
You need 5v fan.

It's safe to use dc adapter with adjustable voltage so You can change fan speed.I bought small adapter at radio schack.

 

ok how would i wire the fans to the dc adapter then

 

The fans should only have two wires, so as long as your dc adapter is close to 12V then you can just connect the wires directly to the adapter.

I did it on my custom cooler. I put 4 12V fans running off a 15V adapter, no problems so far.

 

ok thanks for the info. I work at radio shack so i can get a discount on the adapter. I get paid next week, so i have to wait till then to get the rest of the crap that i need to build this. I'll throw some pics up when i am done.

 

the adapter might work, but the fans will run very slow. I used a 19v~200ma plug to wire my 3 120mm fans to for the cooler I built. The psu overheated and burned out after about 4 hrs. I tried to switch to a usb connection and it barely powered the led lights on the fan. didnt have enought juice to make them spin. So, I tried switching to a old camera charger psu, 6.3~0.4amps, the fans run at like 50% speed of what they ran before, but I have had it on for 3 days now and no overheating issue with the psu. hope some of this info helped

 

Get something with around 12V and 2A output.
That will not burn out or overheat.

I wouldn't get anything under 8V 1A and I would get anything over 15V.

 

I am getting this adapter


Its 12V and 1.5amp

And this is what plugs into the adapter



all i have to do is connect these ends to the fans and i should be in business. The good thing is that i work at radio shack so i get a 30% discount on all of this crap.

 

That looks perfect.

I just used a 10 year old power adapter from a notebook

 

cant wait till i get paid so i can build this. Ill post some pics when its finished. Now all i have to do is figure out what to make it out of.

 

Wood is easy to work with.

Some other people have made coolers, so you should check out their photos to see what you like.

 

if you have access to a heat gun or torch, check out plexiglass or lexan. lexan is more expensive but once you have it shaped, its not going to crack or break or anything

 

fans came in today, now all i am waiting on is the power adapter. Whats cool is that i found a power adapter that will work for free, so that save me some $$$

 

The fans are in, and i got them hooked up to the adapter. Had them run for an hour and no issues, so im excited.

here is a couple of pics.





and i am going to make the pad out of an old computer case top. I have a couple laying around the house, so i figure i will put them to good use. It will also be able to support the weight with out having to worry about extra supports. the plan is to cut off one of the sides and bend the other to get a good incline.



now begins the metal working fun

 

Those fans look great.

Do they have a model number on them (to check CFM)?

 

They move 74.48 CFM. I got them from newegg. I think i posted a link somewhere in this post.