TV cabinet cooling fan hack….
The age old problem for my (and every) Xbox 360 is heat- or the abundance of heat and how that invariably helps bring about the three red rings of death.
I’ve pondered this issue as my Xbox has not only gone RRoD twice, but lives in a slightly cramped TV cabinet.
So, I went the hack. Initially I got a USB plug, cut it and ran the 5v to a 150mm PC fan.My theory was that the 12v fan running at 5v would run slow and quiet, yet deliver what was required- heat exhaust fan.
But the Xbox 360 sprung a little suprise. When it’s off, the rear USB plug is still live- all 5volts! So the fan would not go on and off when the Xbox was on/off.
Change of plan. I rummaged through my geek drawers and ound an old 12v transormer and wired that to the fan. Found some left over heat shrink and got it done- no solder coz I’m lazy.
Next, I pulled out an unusedspecial power board. It has a mastersocket that, when drawing current, activates four other sockets. When it drops in current draw (ie is turned off), the four other sockets are switched off. IT’s designed for PCs with peripherals like a printer, speakers, external hard drive and monitor.
Here it is:
The red circled power socket controls the four to the left of it. When it is drawing current, they are on. When the master stops drawing current, the slaves are turned off.The red circled power socket controls the four to the left of it. When it is drawing current, they are on. When the master stops drawing current, the slaves are turned off.
With the fan done, I then cut a hole in the back of the TV unit. This is a bit tricky as is is shy of the edges and getting the jigsaw into the edges is rather tricky. So I used a hole saw to get it as high as practical (heat rises!) and used the jigsaw and a round file to tidy it up. I was not too fussed about a perfect circle as the fan is not in view. Some folks might be anal, just not me.
Used the hole saw to get it well started.
As I am both lazy and ill equiped, I get a black texta to edge the fan hole so that it’s not visible from he TV side.
Hide the raw wood with a black texta!
Ok that done, I drill the holes and bolt the fan in situ. I do not like self tappers in this circumstance as they will not only poke through the thinwood, but also not have enough bite and bolts are “nicer”.
The fan bolted up and ready to go
Note the existing semi circle hole for the cables is now covered with a flap of gaffa tape. This is to reduce the air going in though the cable hole only to be sucked out though the fan. I want the air from the room to be sucked past the Xbox and peripherals to cool them.
And here it is done:
The Xbox on small risers with the fan ready to go.
Now when the Xbox 360 is turned on, the 12volt transformer also turns on and sucks warm air out of the cabinet.
Xbox and Netgear Stora with a modem/router behind the Stora. The fan will come on when the Xbox is switched on. The temperature actually drops when the Xbox is on.
WIN!
More pic here.