Can I Get by with no Power Supply Ventilation?

[WinnieThePujols]

K, sort of a unique situation here... I bought a very slimline HTPC case that came with a power supply. The power supply is very small and compact -- about half the size of a conventional power supply.

The power supply that came with the case was DOA. I didn't bother sending it back for a replacement, because an overwhelming number of the reviews basically said that the supply was DOA for them as well or died within a couple months.

Anyway, I replaced the power supply that came with the case with a normal sized power supply. The only way it will fit in the case is with the fan on the power supply facing the lid of the case. It's pretty close to being flush against the top of the case. There's very little room for ventilation.

This is a 500 watt power supply, and the case only has one hard drive and no accessory cards (not even a video card). Therefore, the supply will never be pushed close to its limit. Also, the machine will be used for very light tasks, so it won't be doing anything heavy duty.

What's the worst case scenario? Instability? I know this probably sounds ridiculously naive, but I just want to make sure there's no a chance for like a fire hazard or something. Better safe than sorry, right...? I assume the worst-case scenario is overheating / instability. I know there's built-in protection with CPU's, where they'll shut down if they get too hot. Do PSU's have any similar safeguards?

 

[MongGrel]

No.

 

[corkyg]

Drill a few ho9les in the door opposite the PSU fan. Or, leave the door open.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Power supplies generate heat, and thus need cooling. Air cooling requires airflow.

 

[Blue_Max]

Drill a few ho9les in the door opposite the PSU fan.

Agreed - you're going to need some airflow, especially when your home gets warmer! Simple drill holes will do.

 

[bononos]

.....
Anyway, I replaced the power supply that came with the case with a normal sized power supply. The only way it will fit in the case is with the fan on the power supply facing the lid of the case. It's pretty close to being flush against the top of the case. There's very little room for ventilation.
.......

What's the worst case scenario? Instability? I know this probably sounds ridiculously naive, but I just want to make sure there's no a chance for like a fire hazard or something. Better safe than sorry, right...? I assume the worst-case scenario is overheating / instability. I know there's built-in protection with CPU's, where they'll shut down if they get too hot. Do PSU's have any similar safeguards?

It doesn't sound like a problem if you cut a hole for normal ventilation and stuck a dust filter over it.
And yes, most decent psus have over temperature protection.

 

[bryanl]

Sadly, most power supplies don't have real over temperature protection but rely more on inherent over temperature protection, where higher temperature reduces the capacity of the transformer.

Drilling holes in the side of the computer case (not the power supply case) is an excellent idea.

 

[piasabird]

You could jury rig something. I have a magnetized little picture frame on my Refrigerator. I could see cutting a hole and using something like that with some non-metallic screen material for a filter. Or just put a fan grill on top of the hole. I wonder if anyone makes magnetic fan grills?

How about something like this? It is a filter designed to go on top of the fan vent holes on the case???
http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=9_26_576&products_id=14781