Cheap and easy temperature controlled cabinet fan.

Posted on August 17, 2015 8:11 pm by duckman

Introduction

This cabinet cooling hack is based around the Artic F12 TC series fans because this fan has a built in temperature sensor. It’s not a hardware hack at all. but a ‘cabinet hack’; so don’t be afraid to give it a go if your not into electronics.

These fans are awesome for cabinets (cooling your amp. game console, etc) because they:

  • have their own temperature sensor and speed up accordingly;
  • are basically silent until needed;
  • use a fluid dynamic bearings (much longer lasting than regular fans)
  • know when to speed up (temperature profile is pretty good);
  • are long lasting;, with a 6 year warranty;
  • less irritating and deeper than normal fans (sounds like a fridge) when going full ball.
  • are not expensive.
  • The specs say it can run on 5v so USB power may be an option.
    • Edit: I just tried one out on my bench-top power supply. It did not move until about 6.5v.

Links:

Artic_F12_TC

For this project I am using my DIY honey-comb fan guard (details here) to protect the fan and install it into a cabinet.

Step 1: Plan it out.

Some things you need to do first,

  • Figure out which way you are going to position the fan.
    • Many people have the fan blow into the cabinet so that dust is not drawn in through every crack
    • You can then protect the from sucking dust in with a screen
    • Note: You don’t want the fan working against another devices fan, which it sits behind
  • Route 12v power to the fan pins and check it spins and works before installing.
    • Don’t worry about an off switch, it will idle silent when your devices don’t need cooling.
    • You can use a 12v wall wart.
  • Look into dust catching foam
  • By my testing, this neat little fan in question draws 30mA on idle and about 100mA when going full throttle.
    • So look for a 12v wall-wart in the 150mA to 200mA range.
    • Also Red is positive, black is negative, and don’t do anything with the yellow.

fan1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Step 2: Cut your cabinet.

Take care, with this.

  • Use a 120mm hole saw and a stencil (I have one here).
  • Drill from the outside in
  • Unplug everything in your cabinet, don’t dill through into your favourite electronic toy.
  • Do the hole-saw first, then the other four holes.
    • Then, if your hole saw moves of target, you can reposition your stencil.

fan2

Stencil (on right, print at 300 dpi. The big circle should be 120mm in diameter and the screw holes 105mm centre to centre.

rendered_plans

 

Step 3: Assemble and Enjoy.

  •  You may need a guard on both sides, to prevent errant wires entering the fan.
  • Be careful the temperature sensor is not damaged (its breakable, and the fan stops if you smash it)
    • Generally tuck the sensor out of harms reach.
    • Place your temperature sensor on the device if you need more aggressive cooling.

fan4 fan3