mini 12v case cooling fans,controlling speed?

[General-Lee]

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My high tech trial
Doubt the pipe is big enough, but can go bigger easier than smaller

Did you open the box up or drill willy nilly?

 

[davidroberts30]

Did you open the box up or drill willy nilly?

 

[davidroberts30]

View attachment 717908 View attachment 717910 View attachment 717912
My high tech trial
Doubt the pipe is big enough, but can go bigger easier than smaller

Id have cleaned the cab first

Bound to help

 

[Badshot]

Did you open the box up or drill willy nilly?

Took a chance, it's all still working

 

[Badshot]

Nah, opened up to check where everything was

 

[davidroberts30]

Nah, opened up to check where everything was

Liar

 

[Mursal]

Good idea taking the air through the air con air filter, but you'd need to draw or force it through the box and increase the volume considerably. 25 - 30mm pipe if that's possible?

 

[davidroberts30]

just a thought
the fan i got is 12v and theres a fan socket on the circuit board.if the socket is 5v output will the fan work at reduced flow or not?
or get a 5v fan

 

[Netherfield]

just a thought
the fan i got is 12v and theres a fan socket on the circuit board.if the socket is 5v output will the fan work at reduced flow or not?
or get a 5v fan

It will work but slower, that's the way speed controller's work anyway.

 

[Pheasant Surprise]

just a thought
the fan i got is 12v and theres a fan socket on the circuit board.if the socket is 5v output will the fan work at reduced flow or not?
or get a 5v fan

Check if there's 5V present on the fan port, it may be switched (or it may be continuous, or it may have a variable voltage...).

Also I'd focus some cooling on the circled components below in the power supply section of the board. There is a heatsink already attached, but it looks suspiciously close to the case wall to be effective - may be simple enough to get some holes drilled behind it, to get some outside airflow/release some heat.

If they're getting too warm, there may be fluctuations in the supply voltage to other components across the board which could be why you're seeing things slow down.

 

[davidroberts30]

Check if there's 5V present on the fan port, it may be switched (or it may be continuous, or it may have a variable voltage...).

Also I'd focus some cooling on the circled components below in the power supply section of the board. There is a heatsink already attached, but it looks suspiciously close to the case wall to be effective - may be simple enough to get some holes drilled behind it, to get some outside airflow/release some heat.

If they're getting too warm, there may be fluctuations in the supply voltage to other components across the board which could be why you're seeing things slow down.

View attachment 718622

I got a workshop day friday to tinker with it

 

[Pheasant Surprise]

I got a workshop day friday to tinker with it

Swiss cheese effect is what you’re after

 

[davidroberts30]

Swiss cheese effect is what you’re after

But the size and placement of the Swiss is the key

 

[Pheasant Surprise]

But the size and placement of the Swiss is the key

Hahah. Yeh I guess as long as you can keep curious fingers from poking in there, you’re golden.

 

[Mursal]

Does it say anything on the board beside the fan port apart from 5V, I wonder.

 

[Pheasant Surprise]

Does it say anything on the board beside the fan port apart from 5V, I wonder.

Kind of interesting how the board designers thought to put a fan connection on there, and a heat sink on the power supply regulator, but whoever decided on the enclosure didn’t even think to put some ventilation slots in there....hmmmm

 

[Mursal]

Yes it is, they probably thought it would be cleaner if the temperature remained low enough and 80% of the time it probably is.
Popping the control box out the window would do the trick, if you had long enough arms?

 

[davidroberts30]

Kind of interesting how the board designers thought to put a fan connection on there, and a heat sink on the power supply regulator, but whoever decided on the enclosure didn’t even think to put some ventilation slots in there....hmmmm

My thoughts too...

 

[davidroberts30]

Does it say anything on the board beside the fan port apart from 5V, I wonder.

No,just fan

 

[Pheasant Surprise]

Yes it is, they probably thought it would be cleaner if the temperature remained low enough and 80% of the time it probably is.
Popping the control box out the window would do the trick, if you had long enough arms?

Dangle control box out the back window for a bit of fresh air eh

They probably didn’t do any heat soak testing on the finished article. Who would run a hedger all day? nah that would never happen

A lot of control boxes and screens get pretty toasty, especially if they’re in the sun. Typically they’ll have ribbed or finned heatsinking built into the back of the enclosure/screen and that seems to do the trick nicely without needing fans etc.

Same sorts of tricks employed for engine, trans etc ECUs, sealed up tight as a drum, no hope of any external air for cooling, but the PCB is attached to a usually alloy enclosure which acts as a giant heatsink for the goodies inside.

Plastic sucks if you’re trying to get rid of heat.