is it safe to change the fan in a psu?
- Thread starter Harbz
- Start date
Doesn't seem to be a whole lot of logic and common sense in this thread! 
It's all either,
- OMG PSUs are so dangerous! Never even look at one if you arnt an electrical engineer!111!!!!
or
- LOL Im a crazy suicidal nutter who opens all my PSU s up while they're plugged into 240V and running! Oh and BTW I have a death wish!
You don't need to be an engineer to build PCs and you dont need to be an engineer to mod a PSU, providing you have a bit of basic knowledge and are careful.
PSUs store charge in big capacitors. If you know what these are and what they look like then just don't touch them! If you dont know what these look like, then prolly better off not bothering.
It is true that these capacitors can store a heck of a kick and its takes a while for them to discharge properly. However, if you switch the computer off at the mains and then press the power button of the PC, a good bit of the charge will be drained instantly.
Ive opened up PSUs a couple of times to clean dust out of them properly and while I've not actually changed a fan, it's not going to be rocket science, as said above.
Of course, having said all that, PSUs can still potentially be very dangerous and often times a new, quieter PSU would be a better bet rather than changing a fan. In general tho, you should be fine so long as you don't touch, or drop a screwdriver, across the terminals of a big fat capacitor!
But messing about with a PSU while it is switched on is frankly madness. You do need to have a bit of respect for the things.
It's all either,
- OMG PSUs are so dangerous! Never even look at one if you arnt an electrical engineer!111!!!!
or
- LOL Im a crazy suicidal nutter who opens all my PSU s up while they're plugged into 240V and running! Oh and BTW I have a death wish!
You don't need to be an engineer to build PCs and you dont need to be an engineer to mod a PSU, providing you have a bit of basic knowledge and are careful.
PSUs store charge in big capacitors. If you know what these are and what they look like then just don't touch them! If you dont know what these look like, then prolly better off not bothering.
It is true that these capacitors can store a heck of a kick and its takes a while for them to discharge properly. However, if you switch the computer off at the mains and then press the power button of the PC, a good bit of the charge will be drained instantly.
Ive opened up PSUs a couple of times to clean dust out of them properly and while I've not actually changed a fan, it's not going to be rocket science, as said above.
Of course, having said all that, PSUs can still potentially be very dangerous and often times a new, quieter PSU would be a better bet rather than changing a fan. In general tho, you should be fine so long as you don't touch, or drop a screwdriver, across the terminals of a big fat capacitor!
But messing about with a PSU while it is switched on is frankly madness. You do need to have a bit of respect for the things.
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Well, to actually answer the question at the top, Yes YOU can - if you want to that is, the information is provided to try and help you understand what is involved, If you attempt it or not is up to you.
The risk's are as i'm sure you're aware by now are there, but so long as you stay away from things you dont need to touch then the chances of any shock are very drastically reduced, just look for the wires coming from the fan, probably tied into a larger bundle of output wires, the risky area is on the High Voltage input side and is opposite the side where all the other cables exit your psu, you may notice 2 can shaped objects the diameter of a quid coin approximately and you may see the label stating 400V thats definately the bit to stay away from and generally everything on that side of the psu and as stated above you need to respect electricity not be scared of it.
The fan may or may not have a plug on it but as it's only going to be 12volts
it matters very little as either way the cable will be simple to cut and re-attach an alternative fan even if it is only by twisting the ends together and insulating with some electrical tape.
Before i get flamed or something, humans are inquistive buggers anyhow so isnt it better to at least let folk know whats what rather than the "NO you'll blow yourself up" and then have them poke around unknowing and do exactly what you warned them of ?
The risk's are as i'm sure you're aware by now are there, but so long as you stay away from things you dont need to touch then the chances of any shock are very drastically reduced, just look for the wires coming from the fan, probably tied into a larger bundle of output wires, the risky area is on the High Voltage input side and is opposite the side where all the other cables exit your psu, you may notice 2 can shaped objects the diameter of a quid coin approximately and you may see the label stating 400V thats definately the bit to stay away from and generally everything on that side of the psu and as stated above you need to respect electricity not be scared of it.
The fan may or may not have a plug on it but as it's only going to be 12volts
it matters very little as either way the cable will be simple to cut and re-attach an alternative fan even if it is only by twisting the ends together and insulating with some electrical tape.
Before i get flamed or something, humans are inquistive buggers anyhow so isnt it better to at least let folk know whats what rather than the "NO you'll blow yourself up" and then have them poke around unknowing and do exactly what you warned them of ?
wow, thanks for all the replies guys. i've been busy at work so havent had a chance to reply.
The electrics is not the problem as I am pretty skilled in it, the thing i am not sure about is will the quieter fan be able to keep the internals of the psu cool enough. dont want the thing to burn up! I was hoping to 7 or 5v the existing fan.
The electrics is not the problem as I am pretty skilled in it, the thing i am not sure about is will the quieter fan be able to keep the internals of the psu cool enough. dont want the thing to burn up! I was hoping to 7 or 5v the existing fan.