where to get extra 12v line?

[tnynyn]

Hey guys, Im almost finished modding my cube (hardwired sd w/ switch, 70mm fan, and changed thermal paste on heatsink) and just wondering if I can splice up the current cube's fan wires to add the extra fan to it. Would the extra load on the same oem fan wires cause problems? I know the psu is ~3 amps, and Im adding an extra .70 amps while the current cube fan is .06 amps. So would sending .76 amps to the fan plug on the psu cause it to overload?

[Duey2k]

Originally posted by tnynyn
Hey guys, Im almost finished modding my cube (hardwired sd w/ switch, 70mm fan, and changed thermal paste on heatsink) and just wondering if I can splice up the current cube's fan wires to add the extra fan to it. Would the extra load on the same oem fan wires cause problems? I know the psu is ~3 amps, and Im adding an extra .70 amps while the current cube fan is .06 amps. So would sending .76 amps to the fan plug on the psu cause it to overload?

the extra load to the fan wire should be fin as its power comes stright form the Adaptor and not the GC internals, a while ago i did write a tutorial about getting switched 12v power for all mods

it cna be seen a http://www.duey2k.com/info/


i hope that helps some...

[tnynyn]

koo, thanks for the quick reply! one more question, is the oem fan blow in or suck out the air? i dont know why, but i just got my new dremel and im itching to do some more modding :p

[Duey2k]

Originally posted by tnynyn
koo, thanks for the quick reply! one more question, is the oem fan blow in or suck out the air? i dont know why, but i just got my new dremel and im itching to do some more modding :p

in pretty much all application like this hte fan will always pull air through the system, so the fan is blowing air out of the system not into it. It helps prevent dust build up.

[tnynyn]

ok, i got a problem maybe you can help me out with, i put everything back together but when i turn on the cube, the led comes on for a sec then shuts off. the fans are still running, and the drive doesnt even spin up. did i fry something??

[Duey2k]

Originally posted by tnynyn
ok, i got a problem maybe you can help me out with, i put everything back together but when i turn on the cube, the led comes on for a sec then shuts off. the fans are still running, and the drive doesnt even spin up. did i fry something??

sounds like you have a short...check all you wires and polarities if you installed any kinda mods in the system. as the fan is actually independant from all the other gamecube internals...

[tnynyn]

if it was a shortage, shouldnt the fans shut off too? i check the nintendo website and it says i'd have to bring it in for repairs, but dont think that'll happen anytime soon. anways, im going to check my hardwired sd adapter and switch because thats the only thing i've added, other than changing the thermal paste on the heatsink. i double checked to make sure the heatsink was in full contact. oh yea one more thing, could the controller port most likely to cause this? i kinda had to dremel the edges a bit to make the adapter fit, but i made sure i didnt touch any area where it had a "connection"

[Duey2k]

Originally posted by tnynyn
if it was a shortage, shouldnt the fans shut off too? i check the nintendo website and it says i'd have to bring it in for repairs, but dont think that'll happen anytime soon. anways, im going to check my hardwired sd adapter and switch because thats the only thing i've added, other than changing the thermal paste on the heatsink. i double checked to make sure the heatsink was in full contact. oh yea one more thing, could the controller port most likely to cause this? i kinda had to dremel the edges a bit to make the adapter fit, but i made sure i didnt touch any area where it had a "connection"

if it was a short in any place but the fan assemble the fan would still stay on as the gamecueb has an internal voltage regulator that is inline after the fan assembly.

its not going to be a heat issue if it shuts off instantally, but if you add too much thermal paste (depending on what kinda paste) that could cause it, i would prolly go over your connection for the the controller port/reader as if anyhting (voltage or data) is grounded this will cause it to freak out

[tnynyn]

hmmm, i just disconnected my sd reader, and it didnt work, so i took off the heatsink and it appears that half of teh ati chip isnt touching the heatsink as the thermal paste is still "smooth" from when i applied it. could that be it?

edit* the oem thermal paste was like 1 cm thick, so adding a thinner , more liquidy thermal paste should be any problems right? looks like i gotta sand down the "legs" on the heatsink so it can touch the chips

[hiaaa]

when i turn on the cube, the led comes on for a sec then shuts off
Did you use resistor with your LEDs?

[Duey2k]

Originally posted by tnynyn
hmmm, i just disconnected my sd reader, and it didnt work, so i took off the heatsink and it appears that half of teh ati chip isnt touching the heatsink as the thermal paste is still "smooth" from when i applied it. could that be it?

edit* the oem thermal paste was like 1 cm thick, so adding a thinner , more liquidy thermal paste should be any problems right? looks like i gotta sand down the "legs" on the heatsink so it can touch the chips


to be honest the termal paste isnt even needed, i have also read about poeple damagin there cube when pulling the heatsink off as they have pulled too hard and raised the chip off the board (reaching for ideas now)

also if the screws are screwed in it should matter ground wise but may lead to other problems.

the led still comed on when you try it right? but it just goes off right away...or was it a 1 time light and now it no longer comes on...

[tnynyn]

yea its just flashes everytime i push the power button and the dvd drive doesnt spin up or the laser doesnt turn on, but the fan still stays on. ill recheck if any chip was loose when i pulled out the heatsink. btw, thanks for the advices...

edit* should i try it without the heatsink and its screws if it might be the screws cause it to short? i just dont want it to overheat...

[Duey2k]

Originally posted by tnynyn
yea its just flashes everytime i push the power button and the dvd drive doesnt spin up or the laser doesnt turn on, but the fan still stays on. ill recheck if any chip was loose when i pulled out the heatsink. btw, thanks for the advices...

edit* should i try it without the heatsink and its screws if it might be the screws cause it to short? i just dont want it to overheat...

trying it w/o the heat sink should not really hurt as long as its only for a a short time. Some times problems like this can be hard to trouble shoot with out extra hardware or extensive knowldge of the system.

So does the system also have a modchip or anyhting else?

[tnynyn]

Nope, no chip. Never been opened by anyone except me, but....

SUCCESS!!!!!

I just tried it without the heatsink and screws and everything worked! So could it be the heatsinks screws that was shorthing me out? If it is, could it be that the screws are screwed down a bit more than what its originally was?

[Duey2k]

YEAH!!!! its possible making them too tight with the added thermal compound may have put too much pressure on the parts....but its amasing that it still works :D

[tnynyn]

Ok, finally got it all working perfectly, seems that it was either the hs or screws that connected the hs to the board but I just re did everything. thanks for the help Duey2k!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Heres some pics of my mod, quality was from a phone camera so its not that grea...

http://server2.uploadit.org/files/tnynyn-4.jpg

http://server3.uploadit.org/files/tnynyn-3.jpg

http://server3.uploadit.org/files/tnynyn-2.jpg

http://server3.uploadit.org/files/tnynyn-1.jpg