How to make a cheap fan from parts bought at the dollar store. This fan can be made for about $2 (plus tax), unless you can buy a double ended USB wire, then you can make 2 USB fans for $3 (plus tax). That definately beats the $15 or $20 stores tend to charge for these types of devices.
This is my first instructable so I wouldn't mind if people posted their opinion.
NOTE: Pictures will be added at a later date when I make the second fan, the first one (which I am writting this instructable from) was simply a test to see if it would infact work.
This is my first instructable so I wouldn't mind if people posted their opinion.
NOTE: Pictures will be added at a later date when I make the second fan, the first one (which I am writting this instructable from) was simply a test to see if it would infact work.
Step 1: Preparing the USB Cable
Cut the USB cable to the length you require (long if you need to attach fan to a USB port in the back of your computer). Becareful not to cut the inner wires, use a wire stripper (if you have one) or simply a pair of scissors (be careful not to cut yourself).
Once the protective jacket has been removed, remove some of the shielding such that the 4 wires which make up the USB cable are exposed.
Cut the white and green wires short (to the protective jacket) as they will not be needed for powering the device.
Once the protective jacket has been removed, remove some of the shielding such that the 4 wires which make up the USB cable are exposed.
Cut the white and green wires short (to the protective jacket) as they will not be needed for powering the device.
Step 2: Preparing the power wires.
CAREFULLY, remove the outter protective jacket from the red and black wires to expose the copper wire underneath. Twist the exposed wire (if not already done) to make your life easier.
Step 3: Taking apart the fan.
Remove the battery cover as well as the screw holding the two halves of the fan together (becareful not to loose any small parts such as screws/switches).
Step 4: Connecting the USB wires to the fan's battery terminals.
This was done through trial and error. I found that while the fan would run both if the red were attached to the positive and black negative or red to negative and black to positive but the second way produced sparks at the negative-to-motor connection so I obviously chose the former hook-up. Wrap the indicated wire around the indicated battery terminal folding the wire over so it stays temporarily. Once this is done, plug the USB wire into your computer (NOTE: Do this instructable at your own risk, I will not take the blame if harm comes to you computer/yourself/etc but nothing bad happened to me/my computer when I connected the fan to the computer) and turn the fan on. If it works, on to the next step, if not, maybe the wires are not connected properly or maybe they are loose, play around with it,m it should work fairly easily (and as long as the fan does not require 3 x 1.5V batteries or more for operation (IE no more than 5 V) ).
Step 5: Making the conections permenant.
Now that the fan works successfully, its time to solder the USB power wires to the battery terminals to make the connections more permenant and stable.
NOTE: After completing this instructable, I've discovered that the USB port is too powerful fo the fan I chose so a resistor wired in series before the connection to the fan would help lower the power and therefore not overload the fan/motor. This is as simple as soldering a resistor of high enough resistance to decrease the voltage to around 3 volts (from thew 5 that USB puts out).
NOTE: After completing this instructable, I've discovered that the USB port is too powerful fo the fan I chose so a resistor wired in series before the connection to the fan would help lower the power and therefore not overload the fan/motor. This is as simple as soldering a resistor of high enough resistance to decrease the voltage to around 3 volts (from thew 5 that USB puts out).
Step 6: Personalizing your USB Fan.
If you find the fan too plain, you can spice it up with paint, decorations, etc, anything you want.
NOTE: this instructable can be used to power practically any device that requires no more than 5.0V.
Enjoy the breeze!
NOTE: this instructable can be used to power practically any device that requires no more than 5.0V.
Enjoy the breeze!
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but can u tell me step by step how you made that fan work without using the ps2....I took my fan out but I'm having a hard time getting it to work if you can msg me back I would appreciate it thanx....
So first off, you need to, useing extreme care, strip the red and black wires on the fan, then set them aside.
Next, snip one end of the usb cord off (i was using an old cord to an mp3 player, so i snipped off the mini end). Strip off like a 2 inch part of the outer layer of the usb, then snip all the wires except for the red and black ones off. As you could imagine, the next step is to strip the red and black wire of the usb.
Finally, you have to try and solder the wires together (red to red, black to black). This is pretty damn tough due to the fan wires being short and thin, so you might need an extra set of hands helping you out. Tape it up when you're all done (taping the wires separately to insulate them) and plug it in to a computer usb port.
If you need more help go ahead and ask, I could even sketch out some diagrams if you need me too no problem.
you can connect more then one fan to one USB port soo there we dont have to use resistors.
but can anyone explain we how must amount of energy is required to operate a FAN that you have used.
and then its equivalent resistance for 1 fan
thanks for the info
Thank You!
CYa! :)
http://parco.manufacturer.globalsources.com/si/6008810248883/pdtl/USB-fan/1002235694/USB-Desk-Fan.htm
V = I x R
jk i wont make it that hard. this will do it for u
http://www.csgnetwork.com/ohmslaw.html