Introduction: Ultimate Game Console Cooler
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.
Step 1: Materials
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.
Step 2: Find the Right Wine Chiller
Finding the right wine cooler will save you time with the overall construction and will keep you safe.
I initially looked at using a smaller 12 bottle wine coolers that are available at Wal-Mart and such – but the issue came up with how to run the cables out of the cooler to the TV. Most of the smaller units have the compressor and coils in the back of the unit, so simply drilling a hole in the back could be dangerous and ruin the cooler.
I initially looked at using a smaller 12 bottle wine coolers that are available at Wal-Mart and such – but the issue came up with how to run the cables out of the cooler to the TV. Most of the smaller units have the compressor and coils in the back of the unit, so simply drilling a hole in the back could be dangerous and ruin the cooler.
The model I found actually holds 42 bottles of wine and has a “vent” in the back that was removable. This has a temperature setting and display on the top of the unit. I purchased it at Lowe’s on their floor model clearance for $88.
Step 3: Reducing the Wires
Since the hole thru the back of the wine chiller is only 1 ½” and I want to make the install as clean as possible, I needed a way to reduce the number of cables that protrude thru the vent hole and go to my entertainment center.
I found this AV Switching unit on clearance at Fry’s for $25. This was created for the Xbox 360 and has a custom cable to connect the switching unit directly to the Xbox 360 that will transmit HD video and Digital Audio. With the supplied component cable, this unit connects to my older plasma TV and will display video in 1080P quality.
NOTE: my TV was pre-HDMI so the switch box does not have an HDMI option. If your TV has multiple HDMI inputs available, you could easily forgo the AV Switch box and simply run individual HDMI cables from each game console directly to your TV.
Update: I upgraded my TV and have removed this AV Switching unit from my setup. I am running HDMI to my new TV directly.
Update: I upgraded my TV and have removed this AV Switching unit from my setup. I am running HDMI to my new TV directly.
Step 4: Putting It All Together
Assembly is easy enough.
· Remove the top shelves
· Remove the vent / drill the hole for the wires in the back of the unit
· Run your external wires to the TV, Receiver and Network thru the hole in the back
· Install the power strip, network hub and AV Switcher in the unit.
o Placement is up to you. The bottom of my wine cooler also has the compressor - so the shelf does not go all the way to the back and it woudl not hold a full game console – so I put all of the power supplies at the very bottom
o These add-on devices can be installed higher in the unit as the cooler air will be at the bottom – and you want your consoles as close to the cooler air as possible
o An option is to add a fan in the unit to create a circular airflow thru the cooler. This would allow you to put your devices anywhere in the cooler and still get the full benefit of the cooler air
· Insert the highest shelf with the gaming console on it, running the wires along the back of the cooler to the AV Switcher and network hub. This will allow you to remove racks as you need without re-wiring each game console
· Find the height needed for the next console, insert the rack at the correct height and wire the 2nd console to the AV Switcher / network hub, again, keeping the cables at the back of the cooler and avoid running the wires thru the opening in the wire racks
· Repeat process until all of your consoles are installed on racks, connected to the AV Switcher / network hub and plugged into the power strip.
Once this is done, connect the AV Cables from the cooler to your TV / Receiver, plug the wine cooler in and then the power strip.
NOTE: If possible, connect the wine cooler to a different electrical circuit than the one the power strip for the game consoles. This will help distribute the load and will prevent a tripped breaker.
Step 5: Testing - the Fun Part!
The final setup involves the wine cooler and the temperature you want inside the unit. I have mine set to “Sparkling” – which puts the operating temperature in the 40 – 45 degree range. With the temperature set, turn on each console, adjust the channel on the AV Switcher and enjoy hours of gaming without the fear of overheating your expensive gaming consoles!
NOTE 1: As you have a game console on, the internal temperature will increase. If you have 2 or more consoles on, the heat will rise quickly and can overwhelm the cooling abilities of the wine cooler – as I “tested” while watching a Blue Ray movie while the Xbox 360 was inadvertently left on. Having an indoor/outdoor therometer alerted me to the issue and I simply turned the Xbox off and opened the door. The temperature dropped and a lesson was learned!
NOTE 2: There is some moisture in this wine cooler. There are models that will allow you to adjust the humidity as well as the temperature inside the cooler. If possible, find and use one of those models for our project. Adjustable humidity was not an option on the clearance isle when I purchased my unit. To compensate, I have 2 small containers in the cooler: one has uncooked rice and the other has the silicone gel packs that come in most new electronics. Both will absorb moisture and are easily changed out.
Because I was able to purchase both the AV Switcher and Wine Cooler on clearance, the overall cost of this project was around $100 – well worth the money and time to help extend the life of these gaming consoles.