The most you can reliably get out of a USB port is 500mA. Typical fan draw varies wildly by size and performance level. 100-200mA at 12 volts is typical for 80/92/120mm "PC case" fans, but then there are a few rated as high as 900mA at 12 volts. Of course, the 5v versions will draw more current for an equivalent performance level. -----Original Message----- From: Nadim Hoque To: 'Main PLUG discussion list' Sent: Wed, 20 Aug 2008 9:25 pm Subject: RE: running a pc fan outside of a case In terms of getting extra air or cooling your laptop more efficiently, just yet a laptop cooler. Pick one up at fry’s for 20 bulks. The fan’s power is directly fed via the USB cable. Thermaltake has this one laptop cooler that uses this weird past, but it’s supposed to cool down the laptop passively. I don’t know the power usage of the USB ones, but do keep in mind that you might be powering 2 fans at once. This way is far safer and cheaper and don’t forget easier to just use a laptop cooler. Again Fry’s has them; just ask a employee and they should guide you.   From: plug-discuss-bounces@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us [mailto:plug-discuss-bounces@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us] On Behalf=2 0Of Eric Cope Sent: Wednesday, August 20, 2008 3:14 PM To: Main PLUG discussion list Subject: Re: running a pc fan outside of a case   exactly. Get a 5V DC supply and solder it to the power lead on the fan. At 5 volts the fan will be slower and quieter. If you need more air movement, get a 12V DC supply. The fan will move faster, but be louder. Depending on your notebook, you may have some fun experimenting with heat pipes... Eric On Wed, Aug 20, 2008 at 3:00 PM, Alex Dean wrote: Eric Cope wrote: Outside of that, some solder, a wall wart, and a 4-5" PC fan would make a great air mover... But given you lack of hardware knowledge, go with the above recommendations.   well, i do know how to solder.  just haven't done anything inside a pc case since i was in highschool, and have never attempted to do anything with a power supply.  but wiring a fan to a power brick i could do... a wall wart is one of those bricks that take up all the space on the power strip, right? --------------------------------------------------- PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mai l settings: http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss     __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 3372 (20080820) __________   The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus.   http://www.eset.com __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 3372 (20080820) __________ The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. http://www.eset.com --------------------------------------------------- PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings: http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss --------------------------------------------------- PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings: http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss