DIY Computer Fan Cooling Repair/Mod

Intro: DIY Computer Fan Cooling Repair/Mod

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Keeping you files cool get's difficult when the neat color-lighted fan finally goes to graveyard.

When there is nothing else wrong with the cabinet but the fan died, or if you want to add more cool to the CPU box, try this simple mod.
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STEP 1: Stuff You'll Need for This.

Tools
Whenever you buy any tool get the best you can afford and take care of it and it will not let you down. When buying, remember to check that it is the right type of tool required for the task.

Nibbler - I've only ever found these nibblers with a square "bite". Round and pointed triangle would be so useful. Luckily all we need here is the square. Cost is about $8-10cdn.

Screwdriver - To match screws heads.

Parts
12Vdc CPU Case Fan - You might want to get a computer case fan that comes with cables to tap into the drive power plugs. Best yet scrounge one from the computer parts dump, junk store, curb-side pickup on garbage day.

I had a CPU fan sitting in the shop so I just used it. It's a DFS122512L-PWM Kama PWM 12cm Fan; 1200rpm with only ~24.89bBA; but it does blow 52.71CFM; Sleeve Bearings with an MTBF of 30,000 hours. The connector is a 4-pin PWM (4-pin peripheral adapter included)

*Note: When 4-pin peripheral adapter is used or connected to 3-pin, the PWM function will not work. In order to take the advantage of PWM function, please use this fan with PWM function ready motherboard.

Finger guard - This is dependent on your "rug rats" status. Fans just love the taste of fresh fingertips for some reason and the screaming is just so darn anoying. If you have kids and/or pets use a real finger guard. 'Course it does mean one less learning oportunity for them, hmmmm.

Screws - Two options of sizes here, see Step 4

STEP 2: Hole-ing the Panel

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To keep the drill bit from "walking", use a hammer and center punch or a nail to make a starter spot.

Where you marked the fan mounting holes, drill small holes, about 1/4" diameter.

Using the largest (likely) drill bit, drill a hole somewhere within the proposed air hole. This hole must be larger than the nibbler head. You may have some luck in making a too small hole larger with a file if you are stuck.

Use work gloves for this next part for two reasons; nibblers are hard on the hands and; the sheet metal has sharp edges.

Starting at the hole, nibble the circumference of the marked air hole, as shown. Keep inside the circle.

Make sure you clean up as these nibbles are hard on sock feet and pet feet.
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STEP 3: Mounting the Fan

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Determine the direction of flow of the fan. An arrow, usually on the side of the fan, indicates this. Mount the fan to blow into the computer case.

There are three equally good options to mounting the fan.

1) Use short coarse pointed screws, where thread goes all the way to the head, or sheet metal self-threading type screws. Pick the diameter to be just slightly larger than the mounting hole of the screw. The trick is to have the screw thick enough that the threads cut and grab the fan, but not so tight you break these mounting holes. (Method used in this "ible".)

2) Use long thin machine screws that will go completely through the fan and side panel, likely youll need a washer at the fan end. Use Ny-Lok (metal nuts made with plastic insides) nuts to prevent vibration-loosening issues.

3) Use short machine screws and mount only using the mounting holes nearest the case. Not possible on some fan designs. Look carefully at the mounting holes on the fan pictured as this fan is designed so this option will not work.

Please protect your loved ones from sticking anything into the fan. Since I have no "curious little dependants", I was able to get by with just a piece of material glued to the outside to cover the fan blades and work as a dust filter.
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STEP 4: Thar She Blows!

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Connect the wiring depending on the new fan style.

Likely your old dead fan was wired to plug straight to the CPU card. This is likely a small 2-pin plug.

My fan came with an adapter wiring harness that connected to the drive power cable as shown.

But what about the original fan? Just leave it alone.

Put the side back on the case making sure no wires etc are rubbing. You are done. Power on to test.

Now reach your left hand way back and around and give yourself a firm pat on the back for a job well done.

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Presented by Egon Pavlis
www.biomedtronix.ca
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Comments

[TedH44]

I know this is a really old post, but I just had to chime in. Perhaps no one will read this. It relates to the instruction "mount the fan to blow into the case". Some fans on a PC case blow into the case and some blow out. This creates an airflow through the case for optimal cooling. The side fans like yours usually blow in, and fans on the front usually blow in. Fans on the top or back usually blow out.

[sebgonz]

Nice job. Been thinking of doing this for a while to cool down my pc. Gonna have to get to it.

[Simpson_jr]

Doesn't that "filter" reduce your cfm-rate enormously ? I guess it also will be filled with dust in no time. When cooling air needs to travel as fast as possible !
Never reduce it. When, in time, dust reduces the cfm-rate close to zero, this setup might even add heat instead of remove it... It looks funny on the side, but I'd replace that piece of cloth with a 1-2$ grill.

[Lhtrf]

another tip, to save time looking for arrow, or in case your eyes get bad and you can read it hardly, or there isnt any on the fan, all (if not all, probably 90%+) fans blow air in the direction that the motor is (that is, where wire comes out of, or where you would put oil for fan)

[Lhtrf]

you could also use a hole saw, if you have one.

[ben_k]

If I were you, I would have attached the fan to the inside of the case, instead of the outside, so you do not have a fan sticking out. This would also make this more visually appealing.

[Lhtrf]

that depends on whose looking, i, for example, have put a fan on the side outside, with a grill on it, and on the front, over the optical drive on outside, again, with a grill, it looks better to me, it break the simple box form that most cases have.

[Scott_Tx]

If you have a grill then sticking it on the inside looks better but if not then putting the fan on the outside covers up the metal cuts

[djr6789]

yo could file and sand it down to make it nice and even but thats a long job :(

[raga14]

i think u put fan on wrong side