Author Topic: Random hack: Human cooling fan from junk. (Read 6870 times)

zero_budget_tech · « **on:** July 05, 2015, 01:04:52 am »

I feel a bit silly posting this, but on the logic that, if it works, it's not stupid, I think it is probably OK.

It is far too hot for me at the moment, and I have better things to spend my money on than a properly designed fan. So I got an old pc case fan, stripped the wires, wrapped the black round the outer conductor of a random 12v wallwart plug, taped it up, then stripped the red, poked it inside, and taped it. Stuck the fan on my desk with blue tack.

It is awesome. I spent nothing, and I am no longer soaked with sweat.

Muttley Snickers · « **Reply #1 on:** July 05, 2015, 01:29:26 am »

It's under 10 degree celsius here, so put us down for two once you have added the heating element.

Muttley

Len · « **Reply #2 on:** July 05, 2015, 01:47:26 am »

Quote from: Muttley Snickers on July 05, 2015, 01:29:26 am

It's under 10 degree celsius here, so put us down for two once you have added the heating element.

Here is the compatible heating element.

SeanB · « **Reply #3 on:** July 05, 2015, 06:08:24 am »

I have been using 120mm mains fans like that for a long time. After a while I added the wire finger guard on the inlet side, got tired of using superglue to stick the finger back together, and broken blades are horrid to balance again.

Richard Crowley · « **Reply #4 on:** July 05, 2015, 06:20:28 am »

That is probably a pretty common hack for this crowd.
I have exactly such a rig (including the power kludge) sitting on my office desk.

Muttley Snickers · « **Reply #5 on:** July 05, 2015, 06:37:38 am »

A candle as the heating element doesn't work either for those about to try, it's 5 degree's here now so hurry up.

Muttley

NiHaoMike · « **Reply #6 on:** July 05, 2015, 02:18:28 pm »

I actually bought a 120mm Delta fan just for that use. It's far superior to an ordinary desk fan in both performance and efficiency.

rolycat · « **Reply #7 on:** July 05, 2015, 03:49:02 pm »

When the cheap-arse 6" desk fan I used for solder fume dispersal burned out it was replaced with a 120mm case fan. I made a little wooden bracket which fits the old spring clamp and mounted a power inlet jack and a local switch - power is tapped off the 12V supply for the under-desk lighting.

It's smaller, quieter and more efficient:

void_error · « **Reply #8 on:** July 05, 2015, 06:18:01 pm »

I've been using these three fans taken out of some old PC power supplies for the last few years during hot summer days (>30C).
They're about 20 years old but they still work. Add DC jack, hook them up and you're done.

Deathwish · « **Reply #9 on:** July 05, 2015, 06:56:03 pm »

whats wrong with you guys !. If your going to do it, do it large... better still get a swamp cooler going.

SeanB · « **Reply #10 on:** July 05, 2015, 07:21:44 pm »

Higher airflow here....

https://flic.kr/p/w9zd2

rolycat · « **Reply #11 on:** July 05, 2015, 07:32:59 pm »

Shrimpy.

Now this is a fan:

Deathwish · « **Reply #12 on:** July 05, 2015, 07:37:22 pm »

Thats better, now we are getting somewhere, but will we be able to charge our mobiles with them too.

SeanB · « **Reply #13 on:** July 05, 2015, 07:39:55 pm »

Quote from: rolycat on July 05, 2015, 07:32:59 pm

Shrimpy.

Now this is a fan:

Yes, buy I did work on the ATAR, and seeing the demilitarisation they underwent it is sad.

Deathwish · « **Reply #14 on:** July 05, 2015, 08:00:17 pm »

Would i get a slap if i said this is the coolest thread today, even if some of the suggestions would send a chill down me if used

...

rolycat · « **Reply #15 on:** July 05, 2015, 08:42:40 pm »

Quote from: Deathwish on July 05, 2015, 08:00:17 pm

Would i get a slap if i said this is the coolest thread today, even if some of the suggestions would send a chill down me if used ...

Actually, I think with all this off-topic hot air the thread's starting to get a bit windy. Maybe we should cool it before we fan any flames

Mr.B · « **Reply #16 on:** July 05, 2015, 08:48:37 pm »

Very, very common technique...

Mechatrommer · « **Reply #17 on:** July 06, 2015, 12:06:54 pm »

i dont think its common for people who can afford multiscreen multidso multigadgets (while they still only have 1 brain to process all) to use junk cooling fan... anyway i use ceiling fan at minimum speed (i hate blazing speed wind blowing at my face) and open window and door and mosquito spray at 8pm - 5am lab hour. free energy cooling air from mother nature.

Mr.B · « **Reply #18 on:** July 06, 2015, 07:43:52 pm »

"multiscreen multidso multigadgets" is where my money is better invested, rather than purchasing Ferrari branded fans...

Richard Crowley · « **Reply #19 on:** July 07, 2015, 03:57:29 am »

Quote from: Mr.B on July 06, 2015, 07:43:52 pm

"multiscreen multidso multigadgets" is where my money is better invested, rather than purchasing Ferrari branded fans...

I would have clicked the "Like" button if there was one!

Mr.B · « **Reply #20 on:** July 07, 2015, 03:58:49 am »

Quote from: Richard Crowley on July 07, 2015, 03:57:29 am

Quote from: Mr.B on July 06, 2015, 07:43:52 pm
"multiscreen multidso multigadgets" is where my money is better invested, rather than purchasing Ferrari branded fans...

I would have clicked the "Like" button if there was one!

Thanks Richard.

zero_budget_tech · « **Reply #21 on:** July 07, 2015, 07:12:08 pm »

Quote from: Muttley Snickers on July 05, 2015, 01:29:26 am

It's under 10 degree celsius here, so put us down for two once you have added the heating element.

Muttley

Mine digital currency! I'm not sure how much power is in the noise made, but if 90% of the input power is released as heat, 10% as noise, then as long as the coins are worth more than 10% of the power used, you are operating at greater than 100% efficiency. Maybe the GPU companies could make some deal with the heater companies for the chips that won't work well enough to sell as computer parts?

Quote from: Richard Crowley on July 05, 2015, 06:20:28 am

That is probably a pretty common hack for this crowd.
I have exactly such a rig (including the power kludge) sitting on my office desk.

Good to know. I guess I just spend too much time around people who would rather throw money at a problem, instead of thinking for a few minutes.

Quote from: Deathwish on July 05, 2015, 06:56:03 pm

whats wrong with you guys !. If your going to do it, do it large... better still get a swamp cooler going.

Heh, have you ever actually used one of those? They are awesome. If you didn't already know, they have water jets inside, just enough to make a fine mist. Too bad after the first week some spreadsheet guy took the pipes away.

Deathwish · « **Reply #22 on:** July 07, 2015, 07:14:13 pm »

No I have never tried one, but I can say I have been stood close enough to a number of jet engine exhausts having been a forces child in the R.A.F and played hide and seek with the RAF plod......

zero_budget_tech · « **Reply #23 on:** July 07, 2015, 08:34:30 pm »

That sounds way more fun, but it sounds like a terrible way to cool down. Isn't a jet exhaust hot?

That's like comparing lulabye to deathmetal. Ketamine to amphetamine. TENS to 50Kv.

mikerj · « **Reply #24 on:** July 07, 2015, 09:04:50 pm »

I'm not convinced that simply connecting a fan to a power supply is worthy of being called a "hack".

If it is then I hacked my phone just now when I put it on charge.


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Author Topic: Random hack: Human cooling fan from junk. (Read 6870 times)

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