Windows 7 - [Project] Fan Speed Controller

Alright! I finally succeeded in getting the first third of my fan controller completed.

I thought I would post a picture of what it looks like right now:


What do you all think? I have it plugged into my side fan for now, and have left it on full speed.

The issues I have run into are:
LED dimming/brightening (http://www.sevenforums.com/chillout-...ightening.html)
Clean wiring (as in cable management)
Random unexpected problems (minor stuff)

Other than that it is not complete yet, and that damned LED, I am really happy with how it looks. I think the silver knob really sets it off.

My plans to finish:
Wire up all 4 of my case fans with potentiometers and LEDs
Mount the 4 pots onto a 2 bay mount plate
Get the LEDs to actually dim and brighten
Put the switches for the case lights (4 fan lights eventually, cathodes, and maybe undermounted LEDs)
Get that key switch mounted on the plate as well
Replace the start button with my toggle switch with safety cover (like in a fighter jet)

Anyways, hope you guys like this.

Update:

So I ordered my pots and knobs. Everything is ready and in place to begin, save for that front plate. I made it 5mm too large, and I don't think there is a way to fix it.
I really am not looking forward to making a new plate, but that may be what I have to do...

~Lordbob

Looking good so far LordBob... However, I really hope you're going to get black knobs for the fan speed controllers though. That large, shiny, silver controller looks a little bit out of place on the nice black mesh.

As for the cabling and piece of brown PCB visible through the side: cable sleeving and some black spray paint should sort that out quite nicely.

For the new power switch idea; if you can find a switch of the same size and shape, there are some really stylish looking on/off switches over at MNPCTech. Although they have some really awesome looking stuff there, the site isn't really the easiest to navigate and there isn't a search function (not that I can see anyway), but if you email them they reply pretty quickly.

Zalith, I already have my safety switch and everything.

Everything will be mounted on a plate, not the mesh it is on now. As I said above, the one I made is too big, so I am stuck.

~Lordbob

Oh... I see now, I wasn't really sure what that bracket was for. Makes a lot more sense now.. Anyway, here's the message I posted in the other thread, figured it'll go better here anyway:

The problem is that the rivets are not necessary now. I JB Welded the entire thing together (chemical welding), so I cant take it apart.

There is also no way to make it smaller, so I HAVE to make a new one, which is disheartening...

~Lordbob

I have good news!

I made a new plate, and here it is:


I am now going to start writing my tutorial on how to make the potentiometer connection here:
Fan Speed Controller - Build your Own

~Lordbob

Looking really good so far..

Looks sick! If you ask me.

Thanks guys. Yesterday was (hopefully) my final run to Frys for this project.

I have everything I need, and I have 3 of the 4 pots wired up. Next up today is to wire the last pot, then work on the switches. I also have to figure out which ground wire on the fan goes to the LEDs.

~Lordbob