open a power supply to replace noisy fan?

[CinderElmo]

Anyone know if there is any danger in opening a power supply to replace the rear exhaust fan? Mine is making a noise (cycles on and off) that can be heard in the next room and I would like to replace it. The PS itself is good so I hate to replace the whole thing if I don't have to.

Thanks.

Cinder

 

[crotmonster]

Yeah, it can be done, but usually you will have to cut the molex connector off of the new fan and solder the leads onto the PCB of the power supply. I did it to an old ATX PS, so I'm assuming that most have a similar layout. When you remove the old fan, note where the power leads to the fan are located on the PCB and then solder the leads to the new fan in these locations. Not really that difficult, but at least on mine, it required soldering in a pretty tight space. You'll probably also want to pick a fan that has similar power requirements as the old one so you don't burn anything up. Hope that helps.

 

[pdo]

I didn't even solder anything. Just cut the wire from the old fan and connect the new ones. Remember that the coil still hold electricity, so it might surprise you when touching the wrong parts.

 

[Strafe]

I've done it multiple times, just splice the wires together, solder and shrink.

 

[CinderElmo]

Did you have a shocking experience paldo?

I will give it a shot this weekend. Thanks for the affirmation! I just wanted to make sure there wasn't TOO great a danger of shockage *gulp*.

Elmo

 

[Davegod75]

unplug computer from outlet and then turn it on. That will drain the power from the ps so you won't get shocked

 

[spec8472]

Davegod:

Erm, i hate to say it (well, not really, but anyhow), but unplugging and turning it on isnt going to help you discharge much (if any) power...
With the capacitors in power supplies, they hold power for a *LONG* time... I've seen people zapped (rather painfully too i might add) after doing all that you said, and after leaving the PC off for a few days.


CinderElmo:

I've replaced the fan in a few different PS's, just clipping the wires half way, splicing, soldering, and using some electrical tape (not the best thing, but it was all that was on hand) to wrap each one seperately...

just make sure that you clip each wire (red/black) about 2-3 CM (or more if possible) away from where you clipped the other (as in position on the cable) that will practically garuntee that you wont get any shorts etc.

 

[pdo]

hehe.. Its funny how I got zapped a few months back. Man I'll never go near that thing again. Once shame on me.

 

[OneOfTheseDays]

dont scare the guy, you dont have to solder anything. just buy a silencer and snake the connector through the outside of the powersupply and connect like you would a normal fan. easy as pie, and no soldering.

 

[Rain Man]

It also may depend on your PS. I have an Antec PP253X and the fan wires aren't soldered - they're just connected with a connector housing/crimp pins, like case fans.

 

[Painman]

I spliced in a replacement PS fan with squeeze connectors from Radio Crack, part # 64-3053.

-Pain