I had a similar problem with my laptop(Dell Latitude). The internal fan kept running after an hour or so sitting on my desk. I bought a foam wrist support for typing and put that under the back of the laptop. It raises the back of the laptop about 5/8" off the desk. There is enough air circulation under there now to keep the fan off. I also don't install my battery until I need it - that open bay also allows more air to circulate through the laptop (my assumption). The slight incline to the keyboard makes typing more comfortable as well! When I travel, I have a laptop backpack, and I put the foam piece under the laptop backpack - it gives it extra cushion on the bottom of the backpack so when I set the backpack down on a hard surface I don't jar the laptop. The best $5 investment for may laptop! Mark On Thu, 2008-08-21 at 02:38 -0400, fouldragon@aol.com wrote: > 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 --------------------------------------------------- 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