I have a custom entertainment center I built. The one issue with it is it doesn't breathe very well. This causes my receiver to overheat and temporarily turn off.

I found a kit at compusa today that had a variable voltage controller (probly PWM) and a couple fans that was designed for this but it cost $60
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=5472149&CatId=497 for those wondering

I thought this was too much for a couple fans so instead I went this route

I bought these:
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=5472132&CatId=802 $10 in store
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=935375&CatId=1076

My thinking was that I can put on fans with thermal sensors as needed and I could add more than 5 and they wouldn't need a proprietary connector.

I hooked it up and it all works fine but the PSU fan was a bit too noisy for my tastes so I removed it. With ~4w load, do I actually need a fan for the psu? I suppose I could find a replacement 80mm that was quiet... but that costs money


[Edited on July 30, 2011 at 9:22 PM. Reason : fan]

7/30/2011 9:18:02 PM

You could power the fans with dc power bricks from old laptops, external hdds and the like. They are completely silent and usually 5-12v and 1-2A. My entertainment center has been running like that for 2 years now.

7/31/2011 1:32:00 PM

Just throwing it outhere but I've got some surplus (~120mm) fans I could sell to you cheap. Got a few that work on straight 120vac but no cords and others on 12vdc. Aluminum housings and about an 60mm deep. PM for more specs, if you are interested; I scooped these up from work for random projects since they were getting rid of overstocked stuff.

7/31/2011 2:45:29 PM

Quote :

"I have a custom entertainment center I built."

I think I found your problem...

solution, find a hot woman to blow some cool air into it...

8/1/2011 6:32:02 PM

You could water cool your PSU.

8/2/2011 3:38:26 PM

Just get a lower DB 80mm fan and swap it with the one in the PSU.

10 minutes with a soldering iron will fix your problem. They always put loud/cheap fans in PSU's

8/2/2011 7:42:55 PM

eh, the fan wasn't as bad as the high pitched ring it makes. i want to return it but i've opened it and cut it up

8/2/2011 8:16:38 PM