USB fan cooling options ?

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rsutoratosu

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Feb 18, 2011
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So im looking to build something like this for my buffalo nas. I like to do something where if the nas is on, it'll feed power to 120mm fans, I assume if the unit is on, usb will get power and fan will spin. Not sure if this will fully work or not, So idea is to get 3 quiet 120mm fan, and have it blow air from front of the case into the nas. The nas is rack mounted. The nas has 2 usb ports. so I can at least use each usb for 1 fan. if its possible to get usb to two 3 pin splitter ? is this too much load on usb ?

https://www.racksolutions.com/3u-horizontal-19-rack-fan-3.html

I have AC power 120mm but they are way too loud. Also any 120mm quiet fan option ? I saw a few on amazon but not sure if they're good

Thanks
 
aigomorla

aigomorla

CPU, Cases&Cooling Mod PC Gaming Mod Elite Member
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This is my Rack....

This is how i cool off my NAS which has 16x8TB He8's.
First layer is just using zipties to tie up 4 x 120 mm fans like this:
20181018-104925.jpg

They are Yate Loons, very cheap fans.... infact almost any cheap and good fans will do, as these guys are just meant to feed air to the fans inside the actual rack case.

As you can see its tied up to the top 1u.

Under those fans is this:
20181018-104952.jpg

So when the fan drops, it hits all the drive bays.

But that's not where i stop it.
Doing this will promote a LOT of DUST getting inside the system.
So i utilize a possitive airflow system to feed dust free air into my rack, so i get a lot of it caught on the filter before it deposits on my case.

20181018-105023.jpg


You can see the fan and filter are doing its work.


A good fan recommendation for value are these:
https://www.amazon.com/ARCTIC-Low-Noise-Case-Fans/dp/B00NTUJRHK/ref=sr_1_7?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1539885428&sr=1-7&keywords=120mm+fan&th=1

Its a 5 pack tho... but i and many others stand behind that fan when they are used in basic operations like vents and open air.
 
aigomorla

aigomorla

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just make sure you do not get pwm fans unless you want to spend some money on a fan controller.

If you use a fan splitter on pwm fans, they run at low/medium speed.
The Artic fans i linked above are standard 3 pin versions, so you can use a fan splitter to clean up the wires.
Like this guy:
https://www.amazon.com/Phobya-Split...&qid=1539889261&sr=1-24&keywords=fan+splitter

Then you put it on a power supply adapter like this:
https://www.amazon.com/CRJ-Female-P...1539889330&sr=1-9&keywords=molex+power+supply

Just make sure you use a 12V 2A power supply.
If not you can just get a full combo like this:
https://www.amazon.com/Coolerguys-1...1539889330&sr=1-4&keywords=molex+power+supply

And then finally, you can alexa all that if you have alexa with just a outlet.
That PSU is a constant on psu, so it stays on and off with the power being fed.
That way you can just have alexa turn off the fans when they are not in use.
 
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rsutoratosu

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Feb 18, 2011
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I saw that fan bus idea before, I didn't have a way to automatically turn on that PSU brick. Now that you mention alexa, my whole house is wemoed, I can sort of use wemo for the PSU fan control but I might forget also...

I do have my racks on APC PDU where I can http in and turn on each outlet, but its kinda a hassle, the only thing for this particular nas, its just 1u, im just going to use usb power, maybe off 2 fan instead of 3 if the power isnt enough.

I also have 24u rack and 10u rack. I'm going to do the box fan idea with the filter. it'll get me enough airflow in the basement and cool the servers.

aigomorla said:
just make sure you do not get pwm fans unless you want to spend some money on a fan controller.

If you use a fan splitter on pwm fans, they run at low/medium speed.
The Artic fans i linked above are standard 3 pin versions, so you can use a fan splitter to clean up the wires.
Like this guy:
https://www.amazon.com/Phobya-Split...&qid=1539889261&sr=1-24&keywords=fan+splitter

Then you put it on a power supply adapter like this:
https://www.amazon.com/CRJ-Female-P...1539889330&sr=1-9&keywords=molex+power+supply

Just make sure you use a 12V 2A power supply.
If not you can just get a full combo like this:
https://www.amazon.com/Coolerguys-1...1539889330&sr=1-4&keywords=molex+power+supply

And then finally, you can alexa all that if you have alexa with just a outlet.
That PSU is a constant on psu, so it stays on and off with the power being fed.
That way you can just have alexa turn off the fans when they are not in use.
Click to expand...
 
sdifox

sdifox

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maybe a usb lead coupled to a SSR? so use the +5v line as trigger for the SSR and hook up a socket to the ssr, plug psu into socket. when the usb port gets power, the ssr turns on socket power.

example

https://www.sparkfun.com/products/13015
 
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aigomorla

aigomorla

CPU, Cases&Cooling Mod PC Gaming Mod Elite Member
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problem is not many fans like to be run at 5V, especially not 120mm.

5v USB is asking for too much for a 120mm fan, as 90% of them wont start at 5v.
You can start them at around 7v and then downvolt it to 5V but it will not start at 5v.
 
sdifox

sdifox

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aigomorla said:
problem is not many fans like to be run at 5V, especially not 120mm.

5v USB is asking for too much for a 120mm fan, as 90% of them wont start at 5v.
You can start them at around 7v and then downvolt it to 5V but it will not start at 5v.
Click to expand...

err, no, the 5v is just to trigger the relay, you run the box fan through normal ac.
Solid State Relay is basically a switch, you supply it with a DC current of appropriate voltage and it will allow the AC to flow through.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solid-state_relay

unless of course you were not replying to me :p
 
aigomorla

aigomorla

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sdifox said:
maybe a usb lead coupled to a SSR? so use the +5v line as trigger for the SSR and hook up a socket to the ssr, plug psu into socket. when the usb pot gets power, the ssr turns on socket power.
Click to expand...

*goes bang head against wall*

sdifox said:
err, no, the 5v is just to trigger the relay, you run the box fan through normal ac.
Solid State Relay is basically a switch, you supply it with a DC current of appropriate voltage and it will allow the AC to flow through.

unless of course you were not replying to me :p
Click to expand...

Yeah i don't know why i had a brain fart when i saw SSR, and was thinking something completely different. lol...
There are also UPS, which have a built in relay on the master outlet to switch on all the other outlets on that ups.

https://www.amazon.com/CyberPower-E...&qid=1539974253&sr=1-23&keywords=apc+ups&th=1

Eco Mode is what they call it..
 
sdifox

sdifox

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aigomorla said:
*goes bang head against wall*



Yeah i don't know why i had a brain fart when i saw SSR, and was thinking something completely different. lol...
There are also UPS, which have a built in relay on the master outlet to switch on all the other outlets on that ups.

https://www.amazon.com/CyberPower-EC850LCD-Ecologic-Outlets-Compact/dp/B00DBAA6PU/ref=sr_1_23?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1539974253&sr=1-23&keywords=apc+ups&th=1

Eco Mode is what they call it..
Click to expand...

Except ups is always on.
 
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Paperdoc

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Aug 17, 2006
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Two big problems with your plan. USB2 ports can supply 5 VDC at 0.5 A max - that's 2.5W power. All the common computer case vent fans use 12 VDC and cannot be relied on to start at 5 VDC. Even if it starts, it will run so slow it will deliver little cooling air flow. Realize also that most case vent fans run at 12 VDC and about 0.15A, so 1.8 W power used to move the air.

What you might get to work is fans designed for use in those "laptop cooler" units. These are flat shallow boxes you place under your laptop and they contain fans designed for use on the limited power available from a USB2 port, at 5 VDC. Those fans do not force as much air flow as a case vent fan, but they DO work when fed by a USB2 port. Whether the air flow you can get that way is sufficient is a question I can't answer. I also have no info on the reliability / longevity of such devices.
 
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rsutoratosu

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Feb 18, 2011
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i having a feeling ill be using that 5.25 fan controller unit, hook up to the power brick and probably set it on timer
 
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Paperdoc

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The item you linked to is specified as a set of two fans plus a manual speed controller. The power consumed by each fan is somewhat unclear. Two fans may well exceed the capacity of a single USB2 port. However, you can buy from that same maker (AC Infinity) through Amazon this wall-powered source unit that supplies your fans with 6.5 V DC (so they can run faster) and fully 2.0 A max current (more than 2 fans need, it seems). It is designed for use with this fan pair.

https://www.amazon.com/AC-Infinity-...r=1-1&keywords=ac+infinity+turbo+wall+adapter

This requires its own wall outlet, but guarantees stable power to the fan pair without risking overloading the USB ports of the NAS unit.
 
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rsutoratosu

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Ok.. so I will not trust those.. thats why I was wondering how they're able to have 2 120mm on a single usb.

Ideally i only like to have the fans on while the nas is on. Ill check around for some ideas on just signaling the fans to turn on when the nas is on. Instead of just having it run all the time.
 
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rsutoratosu

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Yes, I need to read it some more to understand how that works.. :) its a little out of my league as I was only looking for plug and play solution due to timing but thank again, unless you build one for me, i wont really know how to use it properly
 
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rsutoratosu

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Let me ask you guys another cooling question..

I have this rack.. and the front is glass. I never actually used it with the front cover on.. I guess I should put a probe in to monitor temperature, with just exhaust fans in the back, u think its going to heat up like crazy with the front door in ?

This is something I would put that box fan filter in front
http://www.xrackpro.com/v/vspfiles/server-rack-12U/airflow.html
 
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rsutoratosu

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safe as in I can't leave it around unprotected.. if my kids's bunny start chewing the wire.. I have to hang it up high..

My server basement is also where we keep our bunny.. and so far all the outlets I move to either ceiling mount or 6 ft off the floor.. those things (bunny) are dangerous
 
sdifox

sdifox

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rsutoratosu said:
safe as in I can't leave it around unprotected.. if my kids's bunny start chewing the wire.. I have to hang it up high..

My server basement is also where we keep our bunny.. and so far all the outlets I move to either ceiling mount or 6 ft off the floor.. those things (bunny) are dangerous
Click to expand...


Sprinkle some paprika and call it dinner xd
 
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