twomonkeys ([info]twomonkeys) wrote in [info]damnportlanders,
@ 2009-07-08 18:09:00
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Current mood: pessimistic
Entry tags:advice: computers

need geeky electrical assistance
so... i want to make something like this;
http://forum.tabletpcreview.com/showpost.php?p=60016&postcount=9
for my stupid easy-bake oven of a notebook. It's a tiny 5v case fan modded to be powered by usb. Could someone help me? I'll provide the parts, maybe some booze?


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[info]adamsbja
2009-07-09 02:39 am UTC (link)
That looks pretty straightforward, what do you need help with?

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[info]twomonkeys
2009-07-09 02:47 am UTC (link)
my only experience with wires is running speaker wire for my receiver. Something about splaying a usb cable and the fan power cables makes me a little nervous.

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[info]adamsbja
2009-07-09 03:04 am UTC (link)
I guess I can understand that, though it should be pretty straightforward. I have some electronics experience, enough to come be some reassurance, or help solder if that's your plan, but I have no equipment I could supply myself, or any specific knowledge to help make sure you get the right items.

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[info]lucasmo
2009-07-09 04:47 am UTC (link)
Check out the pinout of a USB cable. You want to make sure your fan is rated for 5v. If it draws too much current, the USB controller will shut it down.

You can rip apart a cheap USB cable - the wires are usually color coded (red = +5v, black = ground, green/white = data). Cut off the data bits at different parts so there's no risk they'll connect. Get some heat shrink tubing and thread it over one of the wires before you twisty-tie them together (or solder). Move the heat shrink tubing over the wire bundle and hold a lighter beneath it until it shrinks. Repeat with the ground line. :)

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[info]twomonkeys
2009-07-09 05:01 am UTC (link)
holy crap, where do i mail your free beer?
thats exactly the info I needed. I got the wrong voltage fan (12v), but just found the right kind on ebay. About the tubing... better than electrical tape? Where could I get tubing locally? I think I might hit up FreeGeek to see if they have something with that weird usb cable the example had... looks like it just had the red & ground.

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[info]lucasmo
2009-07-09 05:39 am UTC (link)
Yeah, electrical tape gets all sticky and oozes around a lot, especially if it's near stuff that gets hot or moves. Heat shrink tubing is where it's at, and it's usually really cheap (like 20 cents a foot cheap). They might have it at something like the home depot, but it might only be for house-size wiring - you want something much smaller. I found this industrial supply place in NoPo that has it. I wonder if maybe any hardware store would?

No charge for electronics geekery! :)

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[info]aylah
2009-07-09 07:41 am UTC (link)
Fry's Electronics in Wilsonville has a TON of heat-shrink tubing. You can also get it in spiffy colors, some are even black-light-reactive!

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[info]lucasmo
2009-07-09 07:54 am UTC (link)
Ooh! Do you know if fry's has other electronics stuff that's not just computer related? (like soldering supplies, breadboards, etc?)

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[info]aylah
2009-07-09 08:37 am UTC (link)
Why, yes indeedy they do! I live in Wilsonville, so I get spoilt by Fry's being so closeby.

Basically, if it's electronic, it's probably at Fry's. Unless it's more construction-related, at least. But they've got several aisles devoted to the soldering/DIY computer-ey stuffs.

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[info]circumambulate
2009-07-09 04:43 pm UTC (link)
radioshack has heat-shrink, too.

For the cable, try goodwill or freegeek, and just the a cheap/free USB mouse or keyboard and cut the cable off.

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