Fan + USB?

[WhatsTheWifiPassword]

note: not sure if this is in the correct topic... 

 

Ok, so I have a laptop cooling pad, 

this: https://www.amazon.com/LotFancy-12R-2697-S-Adjustable-Cooling-Laptop/dp/B00RGLPNKI/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=LotFancy+Laptop+Cooling+Pad+5+fans&qid=1561174929&s=electronics&sr=1-5 bought 3 years ago, and now the small fans don't work/creates lots of whines. And the large fan (120mm) is now creating noise and seems I need to replace. 

 

My idea (somewhat of a mod) was to buy a quiet 4pin 120mm fan, and use a USB to 4pin PWM cable to power it. 

Fan: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07CG2PGY6/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?smid=A1Z5H6ZGWCMTNX&psc=1 

Cable: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07JW73KVR/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A3NL9YK62ZIHTR&psc=1

 

As I was looked through it, I noticed the fan ran on 12V and looking at specs of USB, it only passed 5V of power 

Obviously then the fan will not run full speed.

 

However, another thought I had, was to buy a USB Y splitter something like this: https://www.amazon.com/HIGHROCK-Enhancer-Female-Charge-Extension/dp/B00NIGO4NM/ref=sr_1_6?keywords=usb+y+splitter+male+to+female&qid=1561186335&s=electronics&sr=1-6 and attach it to the fan to USB, and then to the fan. 

 

That should work, right? 

[WhatsTheWifiPassword]

1 minute ago, campy said:

You could do the 120mm fan on 5v usb, but two usb's in a Y splitter wont be any better. Its still going to be 5v.

If you were down for a slightly more complex mod, you could probably just replace the fan on the cooling pad, remove the current fan, wire on a new fan, adhere it to the frame somehow. I cant really tell from the pictures if its a proprietary fan mount or if its just a 120mm fan inside there.

so even if I plug in 2 USB into 2 ports, the wire will only run 5V no matter what? 

 

Also, I've taken it apart 2 times, its a normal 120 mm fan with 4 70mm fans, all 2pins, connected to a 'central board' that has the 2 USB ports and 2 buttons. 

 

 

[TheKDub]

24 minutes ago, WhatsTheWifiPassword said:

As I was looked through it, I noticed the fan ran on 12V and looking at specs of USB, it only passed 5V of power 

Obviously then the fan will not run full speed.

 

However, another thought I had, was to buy a USB Y splitter something like this: https://www.amazon.com/HIGHROCK-Enhancer-Female-Charge-Extension/dp/B00NIGO4NM/ref=sr_1_6?keywords=usb+y+splitter+male+to+female&qid=1561186335&s=electronics&sr=1-6 and attach it to the fan to USB, and then to the fan. 

 

That should work, right? 

You'll still only have 5V.

 

What you'd need is a boost converter to take the 5V and up it to 12V. You can get cables with boost converters built in like this: https://amzn.to/2WYS34w for fairly cheap.

 

Just be aware that you can only draw about 375mA at 12v from a single USB port when using one of those.

[DildorTheDecent]

Alternatively, get a 5V fan. Noctua and a few other manufacturers have them. 

 

 

[dfsdfgfkjsefoiqzemnd]

If you plan to run it off USB you are better off getting a 3-pin fan.  Some PWM fans tend to not run too well on reduced voltages (I had real issues with my own Noctuas when connecting them to a header that only does voltage control)