Summer - homemade laptop cooling

llol_slim

So now the summer is here (woohoo!) I took my laptop out in the garden for a bit of wireless Eve Online.
Soon enough, the fan was working overtime. So i thought id make a home-made laptop stand with USB powered fan similar to this one.
Im doing it by butchering a USB cable and connecting it to a PC fan.
However the only fan I have to hand right now is a 12v 14amp where as (i believe) usb power is 5v 100amps. Ive tried it and it runs the fan giving a nice gentle breeze however is the ampage difference going to be a problem?
Now I know the answer is "If youre not sure, you shouldnt be doing it" but I am :eek:
So until I get the correct stuff, will it be ok?!
Thanks
Laurie

espresso

llol_slim wrote:

However the only fan I have to hand right now is a 12v 14amp where as (i believe) usb power is 5v 100amps.

I think that you have got a bit confused with your Amps! The fan that you have may be 12V but it won't be 14A as that would be 168Watts!

:eek:

USB ports usually provide a maximum current of up to half an Amp or 500mA at 5V and this could be less on a laptop! If you go into the hardware device manager and look at the properties of your USB port, you should see the maximum available current. Good idea as long as you are not drawing too much current from your USB port, as this will shorten your battery life.

:T

llol_slim

espresso wrote:

I think that you have got a bit confused with your Amps! The fan that you have may be 12V but it won't be 14A as that would be 168Watts!

:eek:

USB ports usually provide a maximum current of up to half an Amp or 500mA at 5V and this could be less on a laptop! If you go into the hardware device manager and look at the properties of your USB port, you should see the maximum available current. Good idea as long as you are not drawing too much current from your USB port, as this will shorten your battery life.

:T

well thanks :-) it seems to be working a treat touch wood. Its very "Heath Robinson" but it was free.
The only reason I wthought it was 14amps is because the fan says DC12v14a on it so I assumed :-)
and is says 500mA in device manager :-)
Thanks
Laurie