<div dir="ltr"><br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Mon, Oct 20, 2008 at 4:01 AM, Peter Loron <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:peterl@standingwave.org">peterl@standingwave.org</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
<div class="Ih2E3d"><br>
On Oct 17, 2008, at 1:41 PM, Yan Seiner wrote:<br>
<br>
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> That way you could stick the temp sensors inside the raid array and<br>
> run<br>
> the fans based on the max temp in the array.<br>
><br>
> (and a LCD showing the temp, usb interface, drivers... :-) Just<br>
> kidding<br>
> on those.)<br>
<br>
</div>I've been tinkering with parts and spreadsheets. Looks like my cost<br>
(in prototype quantities) for a unit that will programmatically<br>
control 3 fans (via PWM), have 3 thermistors controlling them, and<br>
have a 2x20 LCD screen, and USB connectivity would be around $26.<br>
<br>
A "dumb" controller with direct temp controlled PWM driven fan headers<br>
and 3 thermistors would be around $13. No microcontroller, no USB, no<br>
display.<br>
<br>
The fancy controller would have some kind of software that would allow<br>
you to monitor the status of the fans, adjust the speed<-->temp ratio,<br>
etc. The display would also have some programmability.<br>
<br>
Thoughts? How much would *YOU* pay? :-)<br>
<br>
Basically if I can determine there is a market worth my time, I'll see<br>
what I can do.<br>
<br>
-Pete<br>
<div><div></div><div class="Wj3C7c"></div></div></blockquote><div><br>This has been an interesting thread. I never thought I would be taking on an electronics project when I started playing with mythtv.<br><br>I'm building something similar, but less ambitious. One temperature sensor with a simple microcontroller and I'm not really planning to run more than 3 fans (though the circuit could probably support more as long as the power supply is up to the task). I want the flexibility to change the programming of the fan controller, but that's where my ambitions end. LCD's and direct monitoring of status does have a certain geeky attraction, but I don't really think I would use those features. If it keeps the computer cool without being loud, it will be good enough.<br>
<br>For my project, the parts aren't very expensive. The only thing that's moderately expensive is getting the circuit board made. Even then, I would have to have multiple boards manufactured just to use up the real estate of a standard board used in pcb manufacturing. I think the end cost would be less than $10 each if I went with surface mount parts.<br>
<br>I'll post my results. I might have the programming/schematic finished in a week or two depending on my work schedule...<br></div></div><br></div>