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[kargo27]

Hmm, seeing as how everyone seems to be having temp issues and I saw someone posting their laptop cooling pad solution on the front page I may as well post up my solution. I noticed my router was feeling very hot and I have had constant issues with my 827. I built this a couple months ago.
http://imgur.com/OEqeJ
http://imgur.com/6lcXs
http://imgur.com/xne46

Its just a 120mm fan mounted to some cut MDF and spray painted black. I cant recall the temp difference I recorded, but it was significant. My only mod left to do is add an inline variable controller or resistor to turn the fan speed down a bit as it whirs pretty good at full power.


*EDIT* changed from posted image to link, pics are far too large

That is a SWEET cooler!  What do you figure the cost to build was and could you link where you got the supplies if you have time?  I like this because most good fans like that have a 5 year or more life expectancy on the motor bearings.  I would build one just because it looks good!

I think I have a project this weekend!   

[skraeling]

Here is my DIY.  Should cost you less than 15.  will cost you less than that if you already have a spare fan.

Find an AC adaptor.  This is one I bought off ebay for ~7.00.  Make note of the mA rating that it outputs.  This is important because you have to match it to the max that the fan can handle.  This isnt the one I ended up using.  Put out too much power to the fan made it a tad loud.  Reccomend something that puts out 100mA or maybe a little more.



The Fan im actually using.  Not its max input of .20 AMP




Now the fun part.  cut the end off the ac adaptor (that little metal round part) so that you just have wires on the end.  Strip them offf and the fan wires off.

They should look like this.




Match the red wires to red black to black.  If it doesnt have red on one or whatever, any positive wire will have something like this gray striping on the wire to indicate its positive.




Line them up like this...   ||  and twist them together.  Electrical tape around them and taadaa the hardest part is done.

Now for airflow under the fan just use the screws that came with it or just any screws that will fit and you get this...



A cat walking into your shot..

urg.

THIS.



Has done wonders for temps.

[Slimline]

That is a SWEET cooler!  What do you figure the cost to build was and could you link where you got the supplies if you have time?  I like this because most good fans like that have a 5 year or more life expectancy on the motor bearings.  I would build one just because it looks good!

I think I have a project this weekend!   

Mine was dirt cheap, I bought the fan on sale a few months before building the cooler for 4.99 at ncix if I recall correctly. I was going to do the power adapter approach like skraeling above me there but ended up leaving the standard fan connector on and just plugged it in through the back of my server (its always on) into the motherboard fan header. I had bought an account adapter and had a old usb cable handy I could have wired it too. This saved me 5 minutes of soldering and trying to match amperage etc. The mdf, screws, and paint I had laying around. The legs were cut dowel that I receessed a hole in the mdf for and glued on. I don't have any build pics but it is fairly easy diy. Just sketch the pattern of your fan on the mdf and cut a hole. I'm happy with it, it cools well and looks good to boot. I show all my friends my server and cool router and cooler. None of them are into computers and all look at me like I'm crazy haha.

[skraeling]

I do like that MDF approach.  Mine was more of a ... what do I have on hand already heh.  That and I dont have ANY tools to cut stuff :\

[kargo27]

Great posts, dudes.

I unfortunately don't have a wood router but may have access to one.  The hardest part for me would be to cut and router that 120mm hole.  I'm mechanically inclined but a carpentry noob.   

If I can't go the Slimline route I'll go the Skraeling one.

[kargo27]

I'm going to use a power adapter for the fan and the fan is rated at 0.38Amps.  So, what size amp power adapter do I need?

[skraeling]

380mA or under.  Just FYI though my fan with a 300mA was somewhat noisy.  Id recommend something around 100 to 150mA.  Or if you can wire in a fan speed controller (which i havnt looked into yet).

[kargo27]

380mA or under.  Just FYI though my fan with a 300mA was somewhat noisy.  Id recommend something around 100 to 150mA.  Or if you can wire in a fan speed controller (which i havnt looked into yet).

I have a BUNCH of old bluetooth and cell phone charger adapters.  I do have one that's 180mA.  Is that too much?

[FurryNutz]

KITTY 

[skraeling]

na I say give 180 a try.

[Slimline]

You dont need a router to build what I did. You can use a hand saw to cut the generic rectangular shape with some patience to make it look nice. I drilled a hole in the centre of the board with a 3/8 drill bit then used a jigsaw to cut out the hole. However, if you dont have access to a jig saw you can draw the circle on the board and then use a drill with a small bit to drill circles as close together as possible then knock the centre out. Then its just a matter of filing the edges to clean it up with a round file. If you have a dremel, most of them have an edging bit that looks like a drill bit but is meant for moving laterally through a workpiece. That tool would easily cut a nice circle A little creativity and you can build something far nicer then I did with not too much effort or time.

It is a fun project though, although we may be a bit of a sad community building router coolers lol.

[FurryNutz]

Hay, we maybe sad  , I wouldn't look at it like that, however we are resourceful though. 

[FurryNutz]

I picked up that Onn laptop fan. Very quiet i must say.

[kargo27]

OK, I built one.  It's not pretty but it's functional.  I've got my DGL-4500 on it because I sent my 857 to Furry to test.

[kargo27]

I picked up that Onn laptop fan. Very quiet i must say.

They really are.  It's a huge fan, too.