Power Fan from XMC-2 USB

[millst]

Anyone powering a fan off the firmware upgrade USB port of their RMC-1/RMC-1L/XMC-2? Example:

acinfinity.com/component-cooling/component-usb-fans/multifan-s2-quiet-usb-cooling-blower-120mm/

Looks like a benign load (5V, 0.2A), but I couldn't find any official recommendation on the practice.

[Priapulus]

You could power this with a USB phone charger wall-wart?
Would an amplifier trigger-out be able to drive a 12v fan?
/b

[ttocs]

I wouldn't recommend using that USB port for that purpose, especially when AC Infinity has such great products with thermostatic control built-in. Set the desired On temp, and the fans turn on only when the temp is above the set threshold. And as always should be the practice with electronics components, the fan direction should be away from the component.

I haven't needed fans for quite a while now, but when I did need them I only used the thermostatic controlled versions, which only needed the fan speed to be the lowest setting.

AC Infinity has a plethora of fans from $12 to $26 with and without power adapters, bought in singles or pairs, and then there are the thermostatic controllers, one for $30 with a single temp sensor, and another with 4 temp sensors for $60. And then there are the Component Fan Systems starting at $50 and only go up to $130, and they look great and are a complete air system with top exhaust, rear exhaust, or even blowing into the component if that's what you want.

Here's a temp controller.


And here's a Component Fan System with front exhaust.


When used in a rack, the fan system sucking air from the top of a component will not only cool the component on which it sits, but also create a draft from components below. One key element in all this is to know where to exhaust the warm air so it completely escapes the area where the components reside.

[AudioHTIT]

I power a USB guitar interface (Focusrite 2i2 — 2.5W)

[millst]

Jul 22, 2024 14:44:46 GMT -5 Priapulus said:

You could power this with a USB phone charger wall-wart?
Would an amplifier trigger-out be able to drive a 12v fan?
/b

Of course, but the USB port is right there. Simpler cabling, less points of failures, less heat, etc.

 The trigger is an apples-oranges comparison. Those are well-known not to tolerate much load. The USB 2.0 spec dictates a minimum 500mA from a low-power port, if I recall correctly.

[millst]

Jul 22, 2024 15:36:50 GMT -5 ttocs said:

I wouldn't recommend using that USB port for that purpose, especially when AC Infinity has such great products with thermostatic control built-in. Set the desired On temp, and the fans turn on only when the temp is above the set threshold. And as always should be the practice with electronics components, the fan direction should be away from the component.

I haven't needed fans for quite a while now, but when I did need them I only used the thermostatic controlled versions, which only needed the fan speed to be the lowest setting.

AC Infinity has a plethora of fans from $12 to $26 with and without power adapters, bought in singles or pairs, and then there are the thermostatic controllers, one for $30 with a single temp sensor, and another with 4 temp sensors for $60. And then there are the Component Fan Systems starting at $50 and only go up to $130, and they look great and are a complete air system with top exhaust, rear exhaust, or even blowing into the component if that's what you want.

Here's a temp controller.


And here's a Component Fan System with front exhaust.


When used in a rack, the fan system sucking air from the top of a component will not only cool the component on which it sits, but also create a draft from components below. One key element in all this is to know where to exhaust the warm air so it completely escapes the area where the components reside.

Yes, I'm already using one of those for my amp. I don't have enough clearance for one on the processor. I can just fit the blower with the exhaust going right out the back of the cabinet. 

I'd rather just run it full-time at low speed since I'm using VRO and it avoids additional wear/tear.

[KeithL]

In general the USB ports on COMPUTERS are designed to be able to power a variety of devices... 
USB outputs are also specified to deliver quite close to the specified +5 VDC.
(And are usually quite well able to deliver the specified 500 mA or more.)

HOWEVER, it's usually not a great idea to run devices that draw a lot of power from the USB ports on devices like audio gear and TVs.
The actual capabilities of those types of ports varies... especially on older gear.

And, no, the Trigger Output on most gear may be rated at anywhere between 100 mA and 500 mA...
(Besides which a Trigger Output may actually deliver anywhere between 9V or so and 12V since virtually all Trigger Inputs will work fine on anywhere over about 5V.)
 

Jul 22, 2024 21:44:59 GMT -5 millst said:

Jul 22, 2024 14:44:46 GMT -5 Priapulus said:

You could power this with a USB phone charger wall-wart?
Would an amplifier trigger-out be able to drive a 12v fan?
/b

Of course, but the USB port is right there. Simpler cabling, less points of failures, less heat, etc.

 The trigger is an apples-oranges comparison. Those are well-known not to tolerate much load. The USB 2.0 spec dictates a minimum 500mA from a low-power port, if I recall correctly.

[millst]

Jul 23, 2024 9:48:14 GMT -5 KeithL said:

In general the USB ports on COMPUTERS are designed to be able to power a variety of devices... 
USB outputs are also specified to deliver quite close to the specified +5 VDC.
(And are usually quite well able to deliver the specified 500 mA or more.)

HOWEVER, it's usually not a great idea to run devices that draw a lot of power from the USB ports on devices like audio gear and TVs.
The actual capabilities of those types of ports varies... especially on older gear.

I didn't think the USB spec changes based on the device implementing it, but I don't doubt that many consumer gear violates it. Care to comment on Emotiva's compliance specifically?