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Thread: Running a fan from a USB header

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    Senior Member ajones's Avatar
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    Running a fan from a USB header

    With the summer months upon us, I need to sort out the cooling on my N2200XXX (overheats even in winter with something as simple as an FTP session).

    [EDIT]
    System up and running for only 5 minutes, case off; System temp reported as 52 degrees, CPU at 68!

    Really can't recommend Thecus NAS anymore
    [/EDIT]

    Opening up the case, reveals a conveniently placed USB header occupied by a single device (i.e. there's a spare USB feed). Now I've bought myself a small blower (2.16W@ 12V/0.18A) and am thinking of connecting it upto the spare 5V line of the unused USB header.

    should be OK shouldn't it?
    Last edited by ajones; 19-05-2014 at 07:23 PM.

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    Re: Running a fan from a USB header

    If you wire it up correctly and don't short it, usb should handle 2.5w need to double check your motherboard manual.
    However be aware that usb is only 5v which might be an issue for the blower and that it's not going to run fast.

    Not finding much about the inside of that NAS
    Are there any spare power connectors?

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    Re: Running a fan from a USB header

    The fan is 12v and you want to hook it up to the 5v?
    My initial thought would be no - If only because many fans require a larger voltage to start them up, before they settle down to low use levels.
    I'd think you'd be better off uning a 4-pin Molex adapter. The fan will be on full-tilt all the time, but it's less fiddling and you can put an inline on/off switch in there easily.

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    Re: Running a fan from a USB header

    Quote Originally Posted by Pob255 View Post
    If you wire it up correctly and don't short it, usb should handle 2.5w need to double check your motherboard manual.
    However be aware that usb is only 5v which might be an issue for the blower and that it's not going to run fast.

    Not finding much about the inside of that NAS
    Are there any spare power connectors?
    Not that I can see. Will test the fan at 5V to make sure it runs, but even if it's running slow that's fine (plus it will be quiet). The NAS overheats because it's got a pathetic heat solution, so any additional venting can only make it better.

    Quote Originally Posted by Ttaskmaster View Post
    The fan is 12v and you want to hook it up to the 5v?
    My initial thought would be no - If only because many fans require a larger voltage to start them up, before they settle down to low use levels.
    I'd think you'd be better off uning a 4-pin Molex adapter. The fan will be on full-tilt all the time, but it's less fiddling and you can put an inline on/off switch in there easily.
    This is a prebuilt NAS - there are no molex available (external power brick). So even if I wanted to run off 12V, I couldn't.

    I've run fans at reduced voltage before, just wanted to check folks thoughts on using a USB header.

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    Re: Running a fan from a USB header

    Cheapy fan from ebay designed to cool you rather than a PC. Plus some gaffa tape.

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    Re: Running a fan from a USB header

    Quote Originally Posted by wasabi View Post
    Cheapy fan from ebay designed to cool you rather than a PC. Plus some gaffa tape.
    lol! Don't worry, was intending on using plenty of gaffer tape to create the duct from the fan to the half height expansion slot

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    Re: Running a fan from a USB header

    Alternatively, invest in a step-up transformer?

    Since this one has variable output, you could even use it as a fan controller

    http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DC-DC-4A-4...p2054897.l4275

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    Re: Running a fan from a USB header

    What is the output voltage of the external brick?

    Does the output from the external brick plug into the NAS? If the output is 12V and you can get to the power lead inside the case, you could connect the fan directly to that.
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    Re: Running a fan from a USB header

    Fan running off the USB is certainly doing the trick. CPU temp under load is still not what I'd call good at 85 or so degrees, but at least the NAS can now run a backup properly (first time in 2 years mucking about with Thecus that I've been able to run a backup without the blasted NAS shutting down).

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    Re: Running a fan from a USB header

    Quote Originally Posted by scaryjim View Post
    Alternatively, invest in a step-up transformer?

    Since this one has variable output, you could even use it as a fan controller

    http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DC-DC-4A-4...p2054897.l4275
    Cool! Several ideas are forming....

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    Re: Running a fan from a USB header

    Self attaching heatsinks for larger area heat dissipation? The ones you have for memory modules and so on.

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    Re: Running a fan from a USB header

    Quote Originally Posted by Ttaskmaster View Post
    The fan is 12v and you want to hook it up to the 5v?
    My initial thought would be no - If only because many fans require a larger voltage to start them up, before they settle down to low use levels.
    I'd think you'd be better off uning a 4-pin Molex adapter. The fan will be on full-tilt all the time, but it's less fiddling and you can put an inline on/off switch in there easily.
    I've been running fans at 5v for years with no problems. Admittedly only two types (the standard AMD AM2+ CPU fan and some Scythe S-Flex/S-Flow whatever they were called).

    I have heard of fans failing to start but I've never actually seen it happen.

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    Re: Running a fan from a USB header

    Quote Originally Posted by jim View Post
    I have heard of fans failing to start but I've never actually seen it happen.
    First time I built a PC, I put two fans via a splitter on the one CPU header. Neither fan moved at all. The header simply wasn't supplying enough juice for two fans.

    It mostly depends on the fan. Most of those I've used will happily run at 5v, but say they need at least 7v to initially start up. Some PSUs would cause the issue on start-up, either because their power builds up slowly (in relative terms) to prevent power peaks, where the 5v rail would kick in before the 12v. I don't recall the exact details of how this works, but basically the point where the peak would normally kick in to start the fan never actually happens and the fan fails to start. I had this with my old PSU and all my different fans could be seen either just twitching, or spinning briefly for a couple of seconds, but never actually spinning up to speed.

    Since then, I've just taken the easy route and ensured I max the fan out as much as possible!!

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