Simple On/Off Switch for Fans..... *advice needed*

[Mitzi]

Hi,

I have a 5¼" bay cooler in my case, it uses 2 x 40mm fans to cool the hard drive behind it down. These two 40mm fans seem to make a fair amount of virbration noise. The bay cooler is powered by a standard 4 pin plug off the PSU.

Picture of Bay Cooler.

What I'd like to be able to do install a simple switch on the front panel of the bay cooler to turn the fans on/off so I can turn them off whilst I sleep.

Link to type of Switch I am going to use

Any info on how to wire this switch up?

Cheers in advance.

 

[jcmkk]

First, you may want to try to put some rubber gromets where the HD cooler is mounted. This would greatly reduce vibration. If you want to wire up a switch just splice the switch inline with the hot wire (you may need to lengthen the wire so it will reach to your 5-1/4 in drive blank. I'm guessing that it runs off of 12v so splice into the yellow wire.

 

[pbrain]

Hhere's one way to wire up the switch. Copy and paste the links to see the pictures. It's a dpdt switch in the pictures--it's what I had around.

http://www.angelfire.com/geek/leveleightlair/images/on_off_switch_01.jpg
Take a molex power extension cable. cut the yellow wire and strip a bit of insulation off the ends.

http://www.angelfire.com/geek/leveleightlair/images/on_off_switch_02.jpg
Put heatshrink tubing on the wires, then solder one end to the throw and the other end to the pole.

http://www.angelfire.com/geek/leveleightlair/images/on_off_switch_03.jpg
how it should look

http://www.angelfire.com/geek/leveleightlair/images/on_off_switch_04.jpg
Pull the heatshrink tubing over the exposed wire and heat it. i only have one part covered because I don't need this and I'm cutting corners. If you're using a spdt you'll want to cover the exposed switch lead. If you're using a spst switch you're fine. Electrical tape can be used in place of heatshrink tubing.

http://www.angelfire.com/geek/leveleightlair/images/on_off_switch_05.jpg
Plug the switch into the psu, and the fan to the switch. In the picture the fan is in the 'on' position. You can't tell from the picture, but the fan is spinning.

http://www.angelfire.com/geek/leveleightlair/images/on_off_switch_06.jpg
In the 'off' position. Keep in mind if the bay drive has a passthrough power connection the switch will control the 12v rail for everything plugged into it.

How to mount it in your computer:
take the baydrive out of your computer
strip it of the fans and hdd
mark where you want the switch to go
drill a 1/2" hole (if you're using the switch you linked to)
mount the switch in the hole.

 

[Mday]

mitzi, those switches are too big for a baycooler.

i wired my baycooler with a dpdt MINIATURE toggle switch with centeroff. this means the switch itself has 3 positions, the top is one, the center is always off, and the bottom is another... this way, i can have 2 voltages going to the fans, and the ability to shut them off. the dpdt allows me the luxury of using the switch on both fans without the work of having to wire the 2 fans together (outside of the switch itself)... the ground lines from the fans get connected directly the that 4 pin molex like it is now. the high (live) wire goes to the middle of the DPDT switch. and the top and bottom contacts get wired to the 5V and 12 V that 4 pin power plug. and that plug goes to the power supply.

--

since you only want on off, your job will be much simpler...

 

[Mitzi]

Cheers for the info and links guys.

jcmkk - I considered rubber grommets but I don't think they would fit as its already a VERY tight fit for some reason.

pbrain - excellent advice and pictures - you should really make that into a real tutorial, I'm sure many others would find it useful!

Mday - I see what you mean about the size, I didn't look at the dimensions This one should be a little bit more suitable.

BTW, on and off is fine for me, its only for when I go to overnight LAN parties - people complain because these two little fans create the world most annoying noise!

I'll get hold of the switch within the next few days and do the mod. I'll let you know how I get on.

Thanks again.

 

[Auric]

Why are you considering toggle switches? If you want a position-visible switch a rocker is superior because it does not protrude so much and is thus less prone to damage. If you do not need to see what position it is in then a push-button switch is not prone to damage either and is easiest to install since it it just a matter of drilling a hole, rather than making a rectangular cutout. The position of a push-button switch can usually be felt anyway, plus the fan noise is signal enough. Rockers and push-buttons are also commonly available with lights. In short: toggles baad, m'kay?

 

[HouRman]

At radio shack they have all types of switches to choose from. When I had to choose I went for a variable resistor (Rheostat). It's in the pentiometer section, hehe

Just solder the rheostat inline with the negative wire and now you can adjust the RPM using a simple knob you can mount in your case. I have one for my 120mm intake fan and it helps a lot for the $3 and little work it took to install. The adjustment can be from loud full power to barely any power at all (silent).

I'm gonna find a way to get my rheostats to be mounted on the front of my case so the knobs are external... wouldn't that be something to have an LCD temp gauge next to rotary knobs to control fan RPMs.

 

[Mitzi]

<< In short: toggles baad, m'kay? >>



Good idea, I didn't really think about it too much, I'll pickup a rocker switch then! <best Mr Garrison voice>m'kay!</best Mr Garrison voice>