Tom Reynolds

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.

A selection:

www.flickr.com thomasrdotorg’s Christmas 2009 photoset

I do so love my gadgets- and finally I’ve found one that works brilliantly with the home network, the Xbox 360, any iPhones connected to the network and to any browser connected to the net. It’s the Netgear Stora. It handles all media, documents and backs up any PCs on the network.

I bought it via Shopbot and got it bloody cheap…

Ooops. The Google street view car (an Astra I believe) got itself into all sort of of bother.

[Image Google]

Thank you Nissan Patrol!

Hat Tip: Google Street View: Google Street View Car Stuck In Mud Down Under

No reason, just though I would post these:

Two months

Four months

Hit refresh for new/random imagery…!

A few beers, the lads and 35knots of Easterly.

www.flickr.com thomasrdotorg’s Sandy Point- New Years 2008 photoset

Also I got 37.5 knots on my 9 year old Torquay freeride 272. With a wavesail. That’s gotta be a some kinda record…?

See the GPS data track in Google earth here. I think with a speey fin, a wet n’ dry and maybe a race sail I could actually get 40 knots out of the old girl.

And still pull these off:

Love to tell all about our day out sailing, but knackered. To Donny, Tony, Duncan, Ben & Paul; well played.

www.flickr.com thomasrdotorg’s Windsurfing photoset

With Adrian Rowe in tow, we went up to the Toolangi state forest for a visit to the testing site for the Rally Of Melbourne where Neil Bates took me for a wild ride in his Toyota Corolla S2000 class rally car. I have been in cars with several race drivers and I have never, ever seen a driver as busy as a rally driver. Sawing the wheel back and forth like Mr Miyagi’s “wax on wax off” scene and more toe tapping than a blues gig, it’s a busy office for the rally folk.

I would hasten to add, that until you experience travelling through the bush at warp factor ludicrous… well maybe you haven’t lived.

www.flickr.com thomasrdotorg’s Rally of Melbourne photoset

I’m going nuts with the pic thing (Tony P complaints about photo numbers has only slowed- not stopped- me.
So here’s post one for today: HSV Maloo. A sweet, sweet ride.

www.flickr.com thomasrdotorg’s Holden HSV Maloo- VE edition photoset