Need fans and only fans

Telesphoreo · Jun 28th 2021

So basically my network equipment is running really really hot. The switch is at like 75 degrees C and so is my raspberry pi. The solution is to run a fan to at least blow the hot air out of it. If I run a fan then bam it's at a chill 32 degrees C.

However it's mounted up high and I don't want to run a loud fan 24/7. I'm wondering if, since I already have a raspberry pi, maybe I could buy some USB fans to keep the stuff cool. The thing is I'm looking for fans that are like CPU cooler ones. Not desk USB fans. I'm wondering if anyone would know the best place to buy those kind of fans? Or any advice for keeping it cool in any other way? It's in a closet which gets hot. I think I should probably get 4 for the switches / router / etc.

Thanks

**StevenNL2000** · Jun 28th 2021

I wouldn't recommend trying to buy a cooler-style fan with a USB connection because the quality manufacturers don't sell them that way. If you don't mind messing with wires, Noctua sells 5V versions of most of its fans, which you should be able to power via the Raspberry Pi's GPIO pins.

root · Jun 28th 2021

only fans, eh?

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Windows · Jun 28th 2021

↩ root
I knew someone was going to do this.

↩ StevenNL2000
They could always wire the electrical pins of the USB to the cooler fan's electrical pins. This should work ok I would think as long as it is wired right.

root · Jun 28th 2021

↩ root ok i read the title wrong too glad im not the only one

Telesphoreo · Jun 29th 2021

↩ StevenNL2000 https://www.raspberrypi.org/documentation/usage/gpio/

So looking at this I'd only be able to power 2 fans? There's only 2 5V pins. I could use the 3V ones too but would i have to get special fans for it? Also the Pi is on Ubuntu and I'm wondering if I'd have to do any special programming to get it to work

**StevenNL2000** · Jun 29th 2021

↩ Telesphoreo Just like a power strip with an electrical socket, you can split a 5V pin into as many as you want and still have 5V. You don't need to do any programming to get power because the 5V and 3.3V pins are always on.

However, what I didn't notice before and will make it even easier is that Noctua's 5V fans actually come with a USB adapter, so you don't need to go through any of the GPIO things.

Telesphoreo · Jun 29th 2021

↩ StevenNL2000 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DXLV5Z6?tag=noctua0b-20

So this one? It looks good but some say the noise levels are pretty loud. The closet is inside my room so I think I'm trying to aim for something that's quiet

Folfy_Blue · Jun 29th 2021

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**StevenNL2000** · Jun 29th 2021

↩ Telesphoreo Yes, that's one of them. Take a look at the different models and sizes here, some are louder than others:
https://noctua.at/en/products/fan?voltage=5

Telesphoreo · Jun 30th 2021

↩ StevenNL2000 So I think 40mm is going to be the best size for me.

Do any of these actually have USB things like the bigger ones? If not is it possible to buy those individually? If the answer is no, I guess I will need a thing that can give multiple 5V things. I'm not sure exactly what that's called either

**StevenNL2000** · Jun 30th 2021

↩ Telesphoreo Of the 40mm models, the NF-A4x10 5V PWM comes with a USB adapter, the others do not. Noctua doesn't tell those adapters separately, but they're called "USB to 3-pin/4-pin" and they're pretty readily available.

Telesphoreo · Aug 29th 2021

Sorry for the big-ish bump but this got put on the backburner.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071W93333?tag=noctua0b-20
So (I think) if I buy these and this USB adapter
https://www.amazon.com/TeamPro…pin&qid=1630265931&sr=8-4

I should be good
Double checking because it takes forever to get things and I don't want to have to return and rebuy because I bought the wrong thing

**wild1145** · Aug 29th 2021

Other thought / comment - Is the kit running at this temp actually an issue?

I don't know if what you've suggested will work, I've not tried it / thought to try it but would certainly be interested to hear how it goes.

**StevenNL2000** · Aug 30th 2021

↩ Telesphoreo The things you have there should be fine. The other option is a 5V fan and a cable without a voltage converter. That works because USB always runs at 5V.

Telesphoreo · Sep 3rd 2021

↩ StevenNL2000 So this one https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071FNHVXN?tag=noctua0b-20 and the USB adapter I listed above (https://www.amazon.com/TeamPro…pin&qid=1630265931&sr=8-4) should work then?

**StevenNL2000** · Sep 3rd 2021

↩ Telesphoreo No, that combination doesn't work. That cable is a special one with a built-in converter that turns the 5V from the USB into 12V, so you need to combine it with a 12V fan. If you get a normal cable that doesn't convert anything, you need a 5V fan.

Telesphoreo · Sep 3rd 2021

↩ StevenNL2000 ok so I'll just get what I said first then. I obviously can't seem to figure out what is the right combo LOL

**StevenNL2000** · Sep 5th 2021

↩ Telesphoreo Yes, the fan and cable you said first will work together.

Telesphoreo · Nov 24th 2021

↩ @'Ryan' I've been extremely busy and haven't had a chance to go home until now. I installed them yesterday night and the answer is yes, there is a significant difference. What I didn't anticipate was there being enough room for 4 USB ports on the pi so i used a cable to use the 3 pin and 4 pin on one cable. In other words the 3 and 4 pin are being used on one cable so I only am using two cables for 4 fans for now. This may or may not be a placebo effect but websites loading seem to be much faster then normal. The CPU usage on the gateway went down after installing the fan. Nothing on the switch except that it's very cool to the touch. Sitting at 38 C at the moment. The Pi also went down from being around 45-50C to 38 C as well. So it seems like the fans are consistently bringing the temp to 38 C. Yes, the equipment is technically rated to run at the temps they were but things seem to be a lot happier now that they're not.

Also sorry for the bump

Need fans and only fans

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