Need some hardware help please

[BurgerKingDiamond]

I'm planning on installing some pc fans for cab ventilation plus a coin door and maybe a LED light bar. The thing is I don't know how to power all these since you can't just plug them into a power strip. From reading other posts I've gathered that there is a way to connect them to your computer's MoBo for the 12V or 5V that is required. I've never decased a computer though... Is there anyone who can walk me through this? BTW I'm using a laptop. I don't know whether or not that will complicate matters.

[DashRendar]

It depends on the specifics- but usually if it's running through the PC's power, it's connecting through a powered USB connection (meaning, no need to open the case).

I don't recommend opening a laptop case- they're not designed for it (unlike towers).  Since they are designed to be so compact, you won't have easy access to the motherboard like you would with a regular PC.  That, and things like the monitor can pop out if you open the casing, etc etc.

Every laptop is different, but I've never seen one with screws to open it up.  Usually I see them with tabbed clips that hold it together at specific points.  You need to know where those clips are so you can slip a screwdriver in the right spots to unclip them.  Sometimes the keyboard will pop out for better access.

Better bet would be to pick up a cheap tower PC off Craigslist and use that for your cab.   

[z]

I second DashRender, taking apart a laptop will likely lead to some headaches.  Maybe take a different approach, power what you need off a powered USB hub.  Pull apart a laptop cooler like this
http://www.amazon.com/Cellular-Innovations-IE-LCSI-Cooling-Station/dp/B002FB654W/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1268859273&sr=8-3
for fans
and use something like this
http://www.amazon.com/USB-10-LED-Light-Notebook-Laptop/dp/B001LIMDH8
for your LED lighting.
There are literally dozens of USB cooling fans and LED lighting options to look at, the key is by using prewired USB items with the powered USB hub you are eliminating having to wire anything or open your laptop case.

Z

[bkenobi]

You could also just buy the cheapest, lowest power PSU you can find.  That will give you any voltage you are likely to run across.  If you use an ATX PSU, you will need to short a couple pins to turn it on.  If you can find an old AT PSU, there is a power switch right on it.

[BobA]

Most PC cooling fans are 12V so a cheap 300W ATX PS will give you lots of power for lighting and fans.  USB hubs are 5V so I would recommend a PC PS to compliment you laptop.

[daywane]

I have never found the need for a fan in any of my cabs.

[bkenobi]

I have never found the need for a fan in any of my cabs.

Doesn't seem like it should be a problem especially with a laptop.  But, that wasn't the question.  USB hubs are NOT power supplies.  They can be used as such, but that's not the best way to go.  In fact, if you are just using it for power, why not eliminate the hub and use the wall wart that came with it...

Again, the best option really is a low powered PSU since it's designed to SUPPLY POWER!   

[BurgerKingDiamond]

I just installed a 27" CRT TV and there is very little clearance around it and behind it so I'm worried about heat a lot more so then when it was just a 17" LCD inside.

[markronz]

In my case, I had an old power supply lying around, which did work, but with adding a new power supply, it did add more heat into the cabinet.   So that is something to consider.

Another option, and one that I've been tossing around myself is....   If it's just a few things you'd be powering, you could consider getting a AC to molex adapter.  Something like this:
http://www.cablesonline.net/mo4inpotoacp.html

This would allow you to power regular molex devices simply by plugging into a normal AC plug.  You could use any sort of molex adapter cables if you need a specific type of plug in.

Seems like this would eliminate a lot of that heat produced by an extra power supply, yet still do the job if it's just a few things.

[BurgerKingDiamond]

So if I just buy a small seperate PSU, how do I go about connect different things to it? Will it run by itself, not connected to the MOBO? Sorry, I admit that I am ignorant when it comes to electronics. I've never built or modified a PC.

Oh, the things I'm planning on connected are a few fans, maybe an LED bar and a coin mech.

[gryhnd]

Most PC cooling fans are 12V so a cheap 300W ATX PS will give you lots of power for lighting and fans.  USB hubs are 5V so I would recommend a PC PS to compliment you laptop.

Ditto. My cabs run a second cheap AT power supply or left over wall warts for all the add ons (fans, LEDs, etc). I prefer to keep the added stress off the computer's PSU, as well as reduce any additional paths of PC blow outs due to a wiring short or component going south.

I've used this one from Newegg: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817338010

for my upright cab which runs 12V incandescent bulbs in the coin mechs, 3 large fans, and various other goodies. All it requires is you plug it in, and turn it on with its switch. It's ultimately controlled by a smart strip.

For my cocktail, I used 1 12V wall wart for everything. Since I was just driving 2 fans and some LEDs, it didn't need to be big and powerful. It too is plugged into a smart strip so it's only on when needed.

[Nacimroc]

So if I just buy a small seperate PSU, how do I go about connect different things to it? Will it run by itself, not connected to the MOBO? Sorry, I admit that I am ignorant when it comes to electronics. I've never built or modified a PC.

Oh, the things I'm planning on connected are a few fans, maybe an LED bar and a coin mech.

You need to short pins 14 with 15 or 16 as far as I remember. That was the green with either of the blacks beside it! This will make it turn on when you plug it in. Otherwise it will sit dead.

Then take any of the yellows for 12v and black for ground. If you want 5v, just use red, and black for ground again. Simple as! Just make sure not to short the cables.

A tip for installing fans! A fan will only spin when connected the correct way, therefore before installing it, plug it in to your 12v and ground and reverse cables if necessary to get it moving, only then install it. Reason is, I installed mine, then wired them, but figured out they were blowing the wrong direction and had to remove and reinstall the opposite way!

(Disclaimer: I have blown up a few items over the years but this worked for me)

[markronz]

So if I just buy a small seperate PSU, how do I go about connect different things to it? Will it run by itself, not connected to the MOBO? Sorry, I admit that I am ignorant when it comes to electronics. I've never built or modified a PC.

Oh, the things I'm planning on connected are a few fans, maybe an LED bar and a coin mech.

Yeah, when I wired up my power supply to work on it's own, what I did was short the green wire and connected it to a black ground wire.  Then it will turn on whenever you have power.  I've been told that some power supplies simply have a power switch on them you can use on it's own, but I haven't come across any of those myself.

You can then use a "smart strip" or something similar.  Like this:
http://www.amazon.com/Smart-Strip-SCG5-Autoswitching-Technology/dp/B000L9FQUO
So when your computer shuts off, it will cut the power to all the other devices hooked up to the strip.


If you were thinking of trying to get a smaller device to power the lights, as I linked before, its just important to make sure it will be supplying enough power to work your fans and LEDs.  So you would need to add up the power requirements for all those devices and get the one that has enough power.