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This Instructable is for the Ultimate Game Console Cooler. After having my PS3 and Xbox 360 sent in for repairs (repeatedly), I decided that I had to come up with a better way to keep the heat down in these expensive gaming consoles.
As gaming fans can verify, all consoles create a lot of heat and the add on fans that are available do move more air thru the case. The problems with fans are that they are NOISY and they do not “cool” the game console at all.
As gaming fans can verify, all consoles create a lot of heat and the add on fans that are available do move more air thru the case. The problems with fans are that they are NOISY and they do not “cool” the game console at all.
With that in mind, I created this device that keeps my gaming consoles cool AND whisper quiet all of the time. I can now spend several hours of gaming and my consoles will still be under 80 degrees Farenheit!
Yes, this is over the top – but I have a reason. I have 2 Xbox 360’s that are out of warranty and no longer work and my PS3 has also been “repaired” and is no longer under warranty. I purchased a new MW2 branded Xbox 360 and want to keep it and the repaired PS3 in the best possible environment so they will last as long as possible.
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Clarification - I did not connect the Nintendo Wii to the AV Switching unit as the Wii does not support Digital Audio. The switching unit requires all of the attached devices to use the same connectors - so connecting the Wii was out. I simply ran the RCA cables for the Wii out the vent and directly to the TV.
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3/17/2010 Update - cooler runs consistently around 48 to 50 degrees when no game consoles are on, upwards of 80 degrees after several hours of playing XBox 360, 90 degrees watching a Blue Ray movie (2 hours) on the PS3. Temperature is measured at the inside top of the cooler - it will be colder at the bottom.
Monitoring the moisture closely, no moisture in or on any of the game consoles. Smal amounts of ice in photos were from the previous 6 months when cooler was running in the garage. No ice has formed since this was moved into the living room and rice / silica gel was used.
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Clarification - I did not connect the Nintendo Wii to the AV Switching unit as the Wii does not support Digital Audio. The switching unit requires all of the attached devices to use the same connectors - so connecting the Wii was out. I simply ran the RCA cables for the Wii out the vent and directly to the TV.
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3/17/2010 Update - cooler runs consistently around 48 to 50 degrees when no game consoles are on, upwards of 80 degrees after several hours of playing XBox 360, 90 degrees watching a Blue Ray movie (2 hours) on the PS3. Temperature is measured at the inside top of the cooler - it will be colder at the bottom.
Monitoring the moisture closely, no moisture in or on any of the game consoles. Smal amounts of ice in photos were from the previous 6 months when cooler was running in the garage. No ice has formed since this was moved into the living room and rice / silica gel was used.
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Signing UpStep 1Materials
To make an Ultimate Game Console Cooler, you will need:
· Game Consoles or other electronics that need to be cooled down
· A wine chiller that has the removal air vent in the back
· An AV Switching unit to connect all of the electronics to your TV / Receiver with one set of cables
· A power strip that has enough slots for the number of devices you have
· A small network hub or switch
· Miscellaneous cabling (CAT-5, Audio Video cables, etc)
· Space near your entertainment center for the wine chiller.
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I have seen several new model wine chillers that are smaller and in the $70 price range that would potentially work. Amazon and Lowes / Home Depot are good places to find them.
L
These things do have a tendency to overheat so it seems, using the warranty is worth doing.
L
I have changed from uncooked rice to a retail dessicant bag. I follow the directions on the dessicant and take it out of the unit once every 4 months and heat it in the oven to dry it out.
I have also removed the component switching box when I upgraded my plasma TV. I am running all HMDI connections now - so the cords coming out the back of the wine cooler are: 2 HDMI cables, 1 surge protector power cable and one CAT-5 network cable.
Being able to ensure my consoles will never overheat is very reassuring.
I have been running this system since March 2010 without any issues. In fact, my new Modern Warfare 2 Xbox 360 console has never gotten over 85 degrees - even after +20 hours of play on both Fallout New Vegas and Modern Warfare Black Ops.
This is just a smaller version of what is used to cool down server rooms for large companies. I am an IT expert and am very familar with keeping servers running at their optimal temperature. This system is just a smaller version of a "server rack cooler" from companies like APC.
Any moisture that could develop in the unit is collected by the two commercial grade dessicant bags that are available to large computer server farms. I have monitored these bags closely and they have not needed to be "reset" (by heating them to 150 degrees to dry them out and reactivate them) since they were installed in May 2010.
There is no heat build up in any of the game consoles as the cooling unit keeps the air below 85 degrees. The dessicants ensure there is no moisture in the air - so the end result is consoles that run much cooler for extended periods of gaming.
During that time, the inside temperature of this cooler only got to 88.6 degrees! This is measured at the top of the cooler, so it is actually colder on the lower shelves.
No moisture in the unit so far. I checked the rice and the silicone packs and they are still OK.
I am very happy with the performance of this unit!
Hello carboman
Thank you for reading my instructable and commenting on it.
I came up with this idea after investing almost $1,900 in gaming consoles - several of which seem to want to burn up all by themselves. I simply do not want to purchase another "same gen" console due to a heat failure - again.
I currently have the MW2 XBox 360, PS3 and Wii in the unit. I am confident that the $1,100 worth of equipment in this cooler will be fine and will last longer due to the cooler air temperatures it will keep the units at.
I am taking precautions to remove moisture from the unit - currently using rice and silica gel packets. I am actively looking into using dessicant, as mentioned by another member, as a better long term solution to the moisture question.
Clayton
In regards to the moisture (via unrealfan89, Joe Martin and valhallas_end), I had the unit plugged in and running for over 6 months with the AV Switcher inside it while I was saving up for a new XBox 360. In that time, there was no moisture on or in the AV Switcher and the only condensation in the unit was on the back wall of the cooler where a very thin layer of ice had formed at the bottom.
I do live in southern California - which is dryer than most of of the US, so this may be a contributing factor to the low amount of moisture in my unit.
I have limited experience with de-humidifiers. The smallest one I could find in a search today was a 30 pint model - 21" x 15" x 13" - which would take almost all of the interior space and / or take up more space in the living room beside the unit. The biggest drawback to this is that most reviews state they are very loud to operate.
I used rice and silica because it was handy when I assembled this and put it in my living room - but a good point is made that both will need to be replaced. I will look into the dessicant soultion as that sounds like a more efficient solution. Thank you valhallas_end.
In regards to removing the cases from the gaming consoles (via lemonie) - I don't want to void the warranty on the new XBox 360. I have the original PS3 and it easily generates 2/3 more heat than the 360. I will look into how it comes apart and see if it is feasible to at least take the top cover off. Its out of warranty - might as well "mod" the case for better ventlation.
In the final steps he/she mentions that he has uncooked rice and silica gel in the bottom of the fridge to absorb the moisture, though to be honest with you I would still be concerned and moisture was my first thought when I saw the title.
I suppose that if the rice and silica gel was dried out regularly it would be fine!
I'm still concerned that having that in there won't completely remove the moisture in the cooler and it will slowly start killing the machines.
I think having a de-humidifier in there if you can find one small enough would be a better option and you won't have to keep buying rice and gel for it.