USB-powered case fans?

[lucienknows]

Anyone know if any manufacturers sell a usb-powered case fan? I'm looking for a solution to an engineering issue we have at work, and if I could find a smallish fan (thinking <90mm) that could power itself via usb that's be awesome. I did a cursory search already but came up with nothing so I figured I'd see if any of you guys had seen something like this.

 

[Matthias99]

I've seen USB plugin fans (for external use), so you can run a fan off USB power. I've never seen one designed for internal use in a PC, though -- why would you when you could just plug right into the +5V or +12V lines from the power supply?

 

[lucienknows]

Well the problem is it's not being used to cool the computer itself but the chassis the computer resides in, to try and keep the projector that is also housed in the chassis from overheating. The computer is a tiny unit with the most pitiful power supply you've ever seen. It doesn't even have a 4-pin molex for me to use if I wanted to, which I don't.

 

[Yellowbeard]

Originally posted by: lucienknows
Anyone know if any manufacturers sell a usb-powered case fan? I'm looking for a solution to an engineering issue we have at work, and if I could find a smallish fan (thinking <90mm) that could power itself via usb that's be awesome. I did a cursory search already but came up with nothing so I figured I'd see if any of you guys had seen something like this.

If this is critical for work, I'd suggest buying a CHEAP PC PSU and running the fans with that. Or, you could even get one of those PSUs designed to fit into a 5.25" drive bay if you have an open bay, and run as many fans as you want.

 

[Matthias99]

Originally posted by: Yellowbeard
If this is critical for work, I'd suggest buying a CHEAP PC PSU and running the fans with that. Or, you could even get one of those PSUs designed to fit into a 5.25" drive bay if you have an open bay, and run as many fans as you want.

Agreed. You can also get truly 'standalone' 120VAC->5V/12VDC power supplies that you could mount inside the chassis. They'd be smaller than an ATX PSU.

 

[piasabird]

Solar Powered Fans?

They make those DC Power supplies like they use on MINI-ITX. They run off of a plug-in AD=>DC Converter.
Be careful; not all USB plugs are powered, and sometimes you have to set a jumper to make them powered. Might also require a more powerful power supply.

 

[Zepper]

Yup, you can get a 12V switching wall wart or power brick from places like bgmicro.com or allelectronics.com for under $10. and power as many 12V fans as you need (up to the power limit if the brick, which can be 1.5A and up). USB is only 5V at up to 500mA - 5V fans aren't known for pushing much air... If you decide to shop at bgmicro, they have a really nice 90mm Nidec fan too.

.bh.

 

[Arcanedeath]

There are alot of usb bus power laptop coolers, you may be able to convert one of these into something that would work.