[Project] Fan Speed Controller

[Lordbob75]

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-room/87882-led-dimming-brightening.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.

 

[Lordbob75]

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

 

[ZaLiTH]

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.

 

[Lordbob75]

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

 

[ZaLiTH]

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:

I don't know what you mean....

~Lordbob

Ok, let me try explain a bit differently.. Looking at the face plate of the panel you made, I see four pop-rivets (two on the left, two on the right). If these pop-rivets hold the side panels on, then you'd obviously need to remove them to take the bracket apart.

What I was suggesting, instead of scrapping the whole thing and starting again, cut off one side of the bracket you've already got there, and make it narrower. I was only suggesting cutting the right hand side from the photo you posted because there's a larger piece of flat metal next to the holes on that side than there is on the left.

 

[Lordbob75]

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

 

[Lordbob75]

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:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/87295-fan-speed-controller-build-your-own.html

~Lordbob

 

[ZaLiTH]

I have good news!

I made a new plate, and here it is:
View attachment 79100

Looking really good so far..

 

[Nemix]

Looks sick! If you ask me.

 

[Lordbob75]

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

 

[Lordbob75]

IT WORKS!

I have it installed on the front of my computer, now controlling 3 of 4 fans, my UV cathodes (or red), and replacing the start switch.

So it is not COMPLETELY finished, but I need a freaking break for a day or two. I worked on it all of today for almost 6 hours straight.

Here it is:




~Lordbob

 

[Jonathan_King]

Looks great David, and very useful as well. Wish I had one on my machine.

 

[wallyinnc]

Looks cool!
What are UV cathodes?

 

[Lordbob75]

Thanks Johnathan.

Of things I would want to fix from my experience so far, here is a list:
1. Longer power cables
2. Better connections
3. Have both male and female molex power connectors

~Lordbob

 

[Lordbob75]

Looks cool!
What are UV cathodes?

They are cold cathodes that have UV light (kinda purple blue) instead of a regular colour. It makes anything that is UV reactive glow.

~Lordbob

 

[A Guy]

Looks good Lordbob! You must be feeling satisfied to have worked it all out. A Guy

 

[Lordbob75]

Looks good Lordbob! You must be feeling satisfied to have worked it all out. A Guy

I am, but I am still wondering what I can do to make it better.
Or in some cases, fix it.

~Lordbob

 

[smarteyeball]

I am, but I am still wondering what I can do to make it better.
Or in some cases, fix it.

~Lordbob

Mission control, we have a go!

Good work mate.

Aesthetically, how about adding a 'dummy' dial for the fourth hole?

 

[Lordbob75]

I am, but I am still wondering what I can do to make it better.
Or in some cases, fix it.

~Lordbob

Mission control, we have a go!

Good work mate.

Aesthetically, how about adding a 'dummy' dial for the fourth hole?

Thanks.

No need, I have the 4th pot sitting on my desk, just need to solder it up and wire it.
Just needed a break today. I was happy to get it as done as I did.

~Lordbob

 

[Nemix]

Wow! I love the space station PC look and launch missiles button.