Last night I noticed the bottom of my laptop computer was pretty hot. Inspection revealed the cooling fan had died. I realized there was no easy way to open the case, nor did I have any idea where to buy the correct fan. So today I stopped at Radio Shack and used another of the $15 certificates they keep sending me (because of the Radio Shack Master Card I took out last year) to get a small computer fan. The new fan is about 1.5 inches square and too big, as the hole in the back of the computer for the fan is about 7/8 inch.
As I pondered how to construct a duct to hook the new fan to the hole, I walked into the cellar to see what I had at hand. Once in there my large oil stash caught my eye and a light bulb popped. There was a Valvoline bottle. The pour end looked about the right size and the neck squared off quickly from the opening. So I retrieved an empty from the garage and cut a chunk off the top. A little shaping with a butane lighter and the fan made a tight fit in the larger end. I pressed the pour end into the hole in the back of the laptop and it stayed.
Then I took a cord off an old wrecked dustbuster rechargable vacuum (because it puts out the needed 12 volts) and connected the fan to it. A three way plug adapter with the dustbuster cord and computer cord both attached ensures I always have the fan on with the computer. It's working great and didn't cost a cent.
In fact, it may be keeping things cooler than the stock fan.
I probably will add a dab of Household Goop (brother to Shoe Goo) just to make sure it doesn't drop off. But that is hardly necessary because this computer remains on the desk all the time. Otherwise it would be rather cumbersome.
As I pondered how to construct a duct to hook the new fan to the hole, I walked into the cellar to see what I had at hand. Once in there my large oil stash caught my eye and a light bulb popped. There was a Valvoline bottle. The pour end looked about the right size and the neck squared off quickly from the opening. So I retrieved an empty from the garage and cut a chunk off the top. A little shaping with a butane lighter and the fan made a tight fit in the larger end. I pressed the pour end into the hole in the back of the laptop and it stayed.
Then I took a cord off an old wrecked dustbuster rechargable vacuum (because it puts out the needed 12 volts) and connected the fan to it. A three way plug adapter with the dustbuster cord and computer cord both attached ensures I always have the fan on with the computer. It's working great and didn't cost a cent.
I probably will add a dab of Household Goop (brother to Shoe Goo) just to make sure it doesn't drop off. But that is hardly necessary because this computer remains on the desk all the time. Otherwise it would be rather cumbersome.
