Introduction: Simple USB Fan
This simple fan is designed to keep your wireless internet router cool!
Step 1: Construction
Materials
-Cable with male USB end
-12v computer fan
-Solder
-Electrical tape
Assembly
Strip the ends of the USB cord to revel 4 wires. Strip only the ends of the blue and green wires. Strip the ends black and red wires on the fan too. Solder the Green wire to the black one and the green to the red. Wrap electrical tape around the connections. Now wrap electrical tape all around the exposed wires. Plug it in to your computer's USB and Place on a vent on the router. This simple fan will keep it from over heating during long uses and will prolong its life.
52 Comments
11 years ago on Introduction
I just want to let you know that when you talk about soldering it basically sounds like you are saying + connected to - which = short circuit.But your probably not saying that.
12 years ago on Introduction
I dont noe what is the voltage that comes from USB red n blac wires pls can eny1 tell me what is the voltage running in a usb port
Reply 12 years ago on Introduction
5v
12 years ago on Introduction
Dude you have the same router as I. Mine also gets hot... It's a WRT150N... :)
12 years ago on Introduction
Nice instructable and stuff, but I am not rly all for simple passive USB projects like this. Guess what happens if you short out or pull to much current from the USB port....boom your port is fried ( yes this has happened to me.). I'm just saying u have to be really careful and have experience to do this stuff ( from the looks of it your not because you are using a wood burner to solder.). ;)
12 years ago on Introduction
POE uses 15 volts, the fan should be able to handel 3v difference
13 years ago on Introduction
The correct connection should be black to black and red to red. White and green are the lines for data transfer, red and black provide power.
14 years ago on Introduction
Would this mod be enough to keep an HDD cool?
14 years ago on Introduction
How come 5V power from USB... powering 12V Computer fan?? Is it become slower? Why not just taking a parallel power from same DC power jack that supply to router since the power from DC adapter is 12V?
14 years ago on Introduction
I had a ghetto-er version. I have a Linksys WRT54G, so there's lots of room to play around with inside. Mounted a 40MM fan inside, and soldered the wires on to the power connectors.
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
pretty ingenious. keeps it covert. How were you able to take apart your router. Last linksys I tried to get into, i had to basically crack the shell cause there we no screws. I even looked under the rubber feet.
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
Okay, before I start, doing this will void your warranty. You have to pull the blue front away from the black shell. It's probably attached with a sticker of some sort. Press down on the black shell while pulling away on the blue, It may seem destructive, but there are no screws.
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
cool. thanks for the info
15 years ago on Introduction
Do you know if it would be possible to use one of the cables that plugs into the router for power? Could it be used instead of a USB connection? I want to know because I have a computer that's not always on, and a hot router that's always on because we have a Skype phone (definitely worth buying). I want to see if I can get the router to power its own fan. Thank you.
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
Check out DBLinuxLover's Post. You could do it that way.
Reply 15 years ago on Introduction
Yea, that would work. I don't know witch terminals have power and ground though? I'll look in to that. You'll also have to get the etherheart connector.
Reply 15 years ago on Introduction
I have many of those router cables, so I guess I can cut one to see what wires there are. If there are power leads they will probably be red and black, and some poking around with a voltmeter will probably determine everything for sure.
Reply 15 years ago on Introduction
maybe red/white
Reply 15 years ago on Introduction
Use any old wall wort you have lying around. I didn't have a spare usb cable, so I used a 120 volt AC - 5.4 volt DC transformer with an 80cm CPU fan, and it works well.
Reply 15 years ago on Introduction
I know I can do that, and I have plenty of them laying around, but I want to know if I can use the router's own power.