Where to get power for external fan?
I plan to set up a laptop computer to be a webcam server for my website ( www.loudmouthtim.com ) It will be on all the time.
I had to take the laptop apart to change keyboards. It's a Dell Latitude CPi-A366XT laptop, so I got to see the cooling / heat sink setup.
The heat sink for the processor seems to be minimal at best, given the space limitations in a laptop design.
I've been using the computer for occasional internet stuff, and when the tiny stock fan comes on, it's blowing some HOT air.
So when I get this laptop set up and it's on all the time, I'd like to rig up a small (2 inch diameter or so) case fan with a plastic or cardboard funnel to force air into the air intake all the time to keep it cooled down in there.
Only problem is, where do I draw power for the extra fan? You can't just plug it in to the motherboard like on a desktop. I bought this laptop in the first place because I don't want my desktop system to be turned on all the time.
I thought about tapping into the power adapter wires to power the extra fan, but which 2 of the 3 wires would I need? And how to tap into them without chopping the main wire all up? And besides that, the power supply says it outputs 20 volts to the laptop. Wouldn't that burn out a 12 volt case fan?
Since the power supply switch on my desktop computer stays on even when the system it turned off, can I draw power from a USB connector, like I've seen done with USB lights and fans?
The webcam I'm getting runs through the USB on the laptop, could I tap into its power wires of the USB to supply the fan with electricity? Which 2 wires of the USB provide power, and are they 12 volts?
I had to take the laptop apart to change keyboards. It's a Dell Latitude CPi-A366XT laptop, so I got to see the cooling / heat sink setup.
The heat sink for the processor seems to be minimal at best, given the space limitations in a laptop design.
I've been using the computer for occasional internet stuff, and when the tiny stock fan comes on, it's blowing some HOT air.
So when I get this laptop set up and it's on all the time, I'd like to rig up a small (2 inch diameter or so) case fan with a plastic or cardboard funnel to force air into the air intake all the time to keep it cooled down in there.
Only problem is, where do I draw power for the extra fan? You can't just plug it in to the motherboard like on a desktop. I bought this laptop in the first place because I don't want my desktop system to be turned on all the time.
I thought about tapping into the power adapter wires to power the extra fan, but which 2 of the 3 wires would I need? And how to tap into them without chopping the main wire all up? And besides that, the power supply says it outputs 20 volts to the laptop. Wouldn't that burn out a 12 volt case fan?
Since the power supply switch on my desktop computer stays on even when the system it turned off, can I draw power from a USB connector, like I've seen done with USB lights and fans?
The webcam I'm getting runs through the USB on the laptop, could I tap into its power wires of the USB to supply the fan with electricity? Which 2 wires of the USB provide power, and are they 12 volts?
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Comments
I would personally suggest you abort your idea.
Thrax is right, probably not needed, but for a fairly long-term-high-load 24\7 application (which most laptops were NOT REALLY designed for, they are designed for SOME off time typically), I would in fact use an aux cooler or at least raise laptop .5" with big feet under it to make airflow in easier for fan to force.