PSU Fan Replacement

[PeterStoba]

I've bought a used Antec ISK 300 case with a 150w PSU in it, but the fan isn't spinning unless I start it manually and even then its very slow. I can't just swap it as it needs a 2pin not a 3pin connector.

Can I just put a 2pin cable on and shorten the cable of a new one?

Where can I buy a 2pin connector for this?

Thanks

[rox0r]

You can use a 3 pin connector just pull the plastic 'socket' off the two prongs on the PSU board and use the red/black connectors on the 3pin, yellow is just the speed sensor.

Be careful inside the power supply though, the capacitors can hold a deadly belt even after unplugging so don't go touching anything in there.

[Ryanp]

Or something like this http://www.kustompcs.co.uk/acatalog/info_1931.html

[Pob255]

Many psu's the fan is soldered in, so to replace the fan you'd need to cut the cable and solder in the new one, any fan should work, just leave out the yellow rpm sensor wire.

Now I say should because you'll probably run into rpm and minimum voltage issues, most fans have a minimum starting voltage, and a psu varies the fan voltage based on ether load or temperature.
So if the low voltage when the psu current draw is load is below that of the fan then you're going to hit the same issue of the fan not starting.
The RPM issue is based on how the psu is designed, the fan in a psu and the fan control in the psu is designed to work with a given level of cooling from that fan.
If the psu fan control is load based and you use a lower rpm fan than the one in it, then it's not going to get enough cooling and you could end up killing the psu.

I would contact antec about this issue and maybe look at a claim under warranty before opening up that psu.

[PeterStoba]

Or something like this http://www.kustompcs.co.uk/acatalog/info_1931.html

I'd need the smaller 2pin one, but they sell that too so thanks!

You can use a 3 pin connector just pull the plastic 'socket' off the two prongs on the PSU board and use the red/black connectors on the 3pin, yellow is just the speed sensor.

Be careful inside the power supply though, the capacitors can hold a deadly belt even after unplugging so don't go touching anything in there.

Doesn't seem to want to come off easily, don't want to break anything!

Many psu's the fan is soldered in, so to replace the fan you'd need to cut the cable and solder in the new one, any fan should work, just leave out the yellow rpm sensor wire.

Now I say should because you'll probably run into rpm and minimum voltage issues, most fans have a minimum starting voltage, and a psu varies the fan voltage based on ether load or temperature.
So if the low voltage when the psu current draw is load is below that of the fan then you're going to hit the same issue of the fan not starting.
The RPM issue is based on how the psu is designed, the fan in a psu and the fan control in the psu is designed to work with a given level of cooling from that fan.
If the psu fan control is load based and you use a lower rpm fan than the one in it, then it's not going to get enough cooling and you could end up killing the psu.

I would contact antec about this issue and maybe look at a claim under warranty before opening up that psu.

Yeah, didn't think of any issues that could appear because it's just a straight swap for another noctua. Maybe that could be the whole reason then?

It's already been opened by the previous owner to swap the fan for the now-dead noctua inside, so no warranty there.

[peterb]

Warranties aren't generally transferable anyway (original purchaser only).

I wouldn't have expected there to be a problem - if the PSU board is a two pin plug, it isn't using speed sensing anyway.

However, as other have said, if the fan only starts when the temperature rises, it could be that the PSU is being loaded enough to need forced air cooling.

As others have said, if you are delving round inside a PSU, make sure you take appropriate precautions with capacitors etc.

[PeterStoba]

Warranties aren't generally transferable anyway (original purchaser only).

I wouldn't have expected there to be a problem - if the PSU board is a two pin plug, it isn't using speed sensing anyway.

However, as other have said, if the fan only starts when the temperature rises, it could be that the PSU is being loaded enough to need forced air cooling.

As others have said, if you are delving round inside a PSU, make sure you take appropriate precautions with capacitors etc.

Yeah, warranty will be gone either way.

Hmm, yeah there's only a 2pin (red and black) so no RPM. Only way to check would be to load the PSU or make it get hot but then that's a bit risky if the fan is actually not working...

Yeah I've been careful, keeping my fingers away from them.

[PeterStoba]

Antec want 45 Euros for a replacement, new case is only £60!

I ordered the wrong cable from Kustom PCs now they're out of stock, any other places I can get a small 2pin to 3pin?

EDIT: Got one from Amazon I think

[PeterStoba]

Just noticed on the fan that the previous owner had soldered in a resistor on the red cable, snipped it out and joined the wire with a bit of tape, connected back up to the PSU and it works fine!

So, it must have been down to a minimum startup voltage.