Hey guys, hoping an easy question.

I am looking to upgrade the fan in my PlayStation 2, but it uses an oddball size (69x70x15) and power.

The stock fan is 7v DC, and the board puts out 5v normally, but if you install a hard drive the board switches to 7v.

Many people are upgrading with a 12v Noctua 60x60x20 fan and happy with how quiet it is but, probably running at 50% so yes quiet but might be running hotter too.

If I wanted to grab the same fan except 5v not 12v... Can I just add a resistor? I saw in passing a mention of 10ohm 2w resistor will work inline with the red wire?

That sound right?

 

You are much better off using a buck converter.

How much current does the fan require?

 

Oh there is virtually 0 room in there to play with... Though going that route does require a 3D Printed adapter. I don't like what's online so may try to make my own... Could integrate a buck converter that way.

Was also suggested in the PlayStation forum to find something on the board with 12v output near the power supply and attach to that, possibly add a potentiometer.

Fan Specs are here

Noctua NF-A6 25 5v

 

Oh there is virtually 0 room in there to play with... Though going that route does require a 3D Printed adapter. I don't like what's online so may try to make my own... Could integrate a buck converter that way.

Was also suggested in the PlayStation forum to find something on the board with 12v output near the power supply and attach to that, possibly add a potentiometer.

Fan Specs are here

Noctua NF-A6 25 5v

Since you only need 230mA and have 7V to work with, a 7805 voltage regulator is probably your best bet.

 

I don't know much about electronics. Looking at it I guess needs the 7805 plus caps?

Some very small buck converters. Safe to use double sided tape on these? Would something like this work? Set to 5v.

Buck Converter

 

I don't know much about electronics. Looking at it I guess needs the 7805 plus caps?

Some very small buck converters. Safe to use double sided tape on these? Would something like this work? Set to 5v.

Buck Converter

I bought something similar from Ali Express for about $0.50 each. But only good for 2A.

They beat the heck out of the one I built. Just the inductor alone cost $1 and ripple was pretty bad because I used the only switching regulator IC I have on hand (MC34063A).

You could also consider a 3 terminal drop-in switching regulator replacement for LM7805.
https://www.digikey.com/en/product-highlight/c/cui/dc-switching-regulators?&utm_adgroup=All CUI Pages&slid=&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIy4H87N_d2wIVSMnjBx3rqQADEAEYASAAEgJL3PD_BwE

You still need caps.

 

For the price, if it will work, that mini buck converter would be a cheap small solution. Just being used on a 60x60mm 5v fan.

Would that be ok?

Any heat issues? Ideally I'd use some double sided tape and tuck it away somewhere.

Amp wise, it'll only output what it gets from the PlayStation correct? Should be safe that wise. My understanding is that if voltage correct, even if amps are high the fan motor draws only what's needed.

If I go with the 3 terminal drop in, what do I need to do? Pair of caps, and I assume one of the terminals is a shared ground?

 

hi THR,
Assuming that the fan is a 5V direct drive, no PPM control, then 2 or 3 1N4001, 1Amp diodes in series would drop the 7V to ~5V on load.
E

 

Assuming that the fan is a 5V direct drive, no PPM control, then 2 or 3 1N4001, 1Amp diodes in series would drop the 7V to ~5V on load.

I tried that method once to drop 5V to 3V. Wasn't happy with the outcome, and the 3V device died for some reason. Haven't gone after PFA's (Post Failure Analysis).

 

Hi tony,
Used that method often with no problems, you must have had a problem elsewhere.
E

 

I don't know much about electronics. Looking at it I guess needs the 7805 plus caps?

Some very small buck converters. Safe to use double sided tape on these? Would something like this work? Set to 5v.

Buck Converter

Yes, the 7805 would need a couple of capacitors. The buck converter is certainly more efficient, though. The fan is rated at only 250mA, so it’s not a big load. You want some headroom for startups and stalling but 1A should be more than you would ever need.

 

For my limited skill, I think I'll grab that buck converter and set it to 5v. Looks pretty small so I should be able to find a spot for it.

Thanks!

 

Hi tony,
Used that method often with no problems, you must have had a problem elsewhere.

As mentioned, I haven't pulled it apart to diagnose the failure. It could be a failure of the 5V module.

 

Sent the link/specs to Noctua as well as a description of the situation and they said should work fine with the buck converter, though being 3rd party tech, can't guarantee (of course). Bought 2 of them off eBay, found some that looked a bit better built, after S&H cost me a whopping $4.74CAD.

LINK

So, from what I gather I need to take an xacto knife and cut the connection (red line) and add a blob of solder to connect the two pads (red circle) and that will bypass the ability to adjust output and make it 5v only... correct?

 

Bought 2 of them off eBay, found some that looked a bit better built, after S&H cost me a whopping $4.74CAD.

I bought 10 of these from Ali Express for US$4.74

For 5V output, you'd remove both of the solder blobs on A and B. If you remove the one by the LED, it disconnects the LED.

 

@dl324 that doesn't help me in the slightest. lol

2yrs ago I bought 20 things off AliExpress... various items, various sellers, small stuff for putting in the nieces/nephews presents. Grab bags basically. Ordered near the end of Sept. 5 things never showed. 2 showed after Xmas. 2 were just garbage and not like the pics at all. 2 were the wrong item. Out of 20 items, 9 items were OK. First time using AliExpress... now I avoid like the plague.

 

Yes, you use a utility knife, razor knife, X-acto knife and cut the copper trace without cutting your finger. Then bridge the two. 5v pads exactly as you said. Good luck and nice Ebay find. I agree with you about Ali-express. More like playing the raffle sometimes. My son likes it because he randomly gets a package delivered and can't remember ordering anything is was so long so - then it's like a gift from a random stranger. Some times he likes the gift and sometimes he has no idea what the heck it is because it is nothing like he ordered. One time he got a bunch of baseball-card sized cards with photos of people performing martial arts moves with instructions in Chinese.on the back.

 

that doesn't help me in the slightest.

Just showing you that you overpaid by buying on eBay.

I bought 10 each of 2 different regulators. I've only tested one of each.

I ordered 6 different items in my last purchase. 5 showed up in about 3 weeks. The 6th showed up a week later.

 

Just showing you that you overpaid by buying on eBay.

I bought 10 each of 2 different regulators. I've only tested one of each.

I ordered 6 different items in my last purchase. 5 showed up in about 3 weeks. The 6th showed up a week later.

You won but can you do it three times in a row? That's the point. You need to add risk of not getting the right thing AND the time it takes for the parts to arrive (check the dates - Oct 3rd vs Nov 13. Time is money. For the whopping $4 purchase, well, that was important when I was making $2.70/hr but it's noise in the monthly budget these days.

 

Exactly... I'm in Canada so cost is a bit higher than what you paid, not much but in the end for 2 converters, I'd rather pay the extra $2 total to buy from eBay than from AliExpress that (for me) had a high fail rate.

I was just joking around before when I said that didn't help because how that board works isn't how mine does. But, if you went out of your way just to show me you got it cheaper than me, that's a bit weird.