can you replace a psu fan?

tylerjrb

tylerjrb

Member
hey guys!, my brother has a old corsair tx750w psu from his old computer and has said I could have it. Currently ive just done some testing using the paper clip test and got my two front 140mm fans to work fine using a Molex. the only problem is the psu fan itself does not work therefore if I powered my whole system it would proberly overheat the psu.

the PSU works fine and as I don't have any receipts dates etc, I doubt I could return it to corsair its a couple of years old. I was wondering if there was any huge danger to open the psu case up and have a look at how the fan is connected. and then depending on how it is connected replace the fan for a new one. (if that is at all possible). I just don't want to spend £90 on a new power supply id rather have a go at repairing or replacing the current fan as that is a much cheaper alternative as the psu itself runs fine.

How do I discharge the capacitors too as they look pretty scary, do I just need to press the on and off button loads of times on the psu itself or do I need to do something complicated, or can I just leave them entirely alone.

Or... do you strongly go against me attempting this. I at least want to have a look at the connection to see if its connected correctly. Id rather replace the fan as to send it to corsair it would cost me more than to replace the fan itself.

Any help appreciated!, thanks guys.

Tylerjrb.
 
Last edited:
Just opened the case, the warranty sticker was gone anyway, ive noticed its a 140mm fan with a 2 pin adapter. Could i just mod the cable and basically put the 2 pin adapter on the 3 pin cable removing the yellow rpm sensor wire.

Or... What i think is best and get a fan with a molex, run it out with all of the other psu wires and fit it onto a molex, as i have too anyway for my case fans. It will then run from the psu cable.

Regards, Tyler.b
 
ordered a 140mm nzxt white led fan for the PSU. Comes with a molex connection as well as a 3 pin connection.

Id rather just run the cable from the psu and connect to a molex so i dont damage the fan and so i don't have to modify any of the cables.

if i were to modify the cable would i just need to remove the yellow cable leaving the red and black and then basically just add the red and black and solder them onto the 2 pin connector, then plug that in to the 2 pin header on the PCB on the PSU. but this is for a neater look only really depends on the length of the cable.

let you all know how it all goes fan will be here Saturday ready for install. hopefully all goes well. if anyone can answer my question above it will help me greatly.

regards, Tyler.b
 
Last edited:
tylerjrb said:
hey guys!, my brother has a old corsair tx750w psu from his old computer and has said I could have it. Currently ive just done some testing using the paper clip test and got my two front 140mm fans to work fine using a Molex. the only problem is the psu fan itself does not work therefore if I powered my whole system it would proberly overheat the psu.

the PSU works fine and as I don't have any receipts dates etc, I doubt I could return it to corsair its a couple of years old. I was wondering if there was any huge danger to open the psu case up and have a look at how the fan is connected.
Tylerjrb.
Click to expand...

EPIC FAIL!

Firstly, Corsair are known to have AMAZING RMA and the warranty on that PSU is 5 years, so you just simply had to send them an email, they'd email you a RMA form and FREE postage paid slip in PDF and you would be set. I know, as I had the exact same PSU, had no receipts and RMAd it.

ALSO

The fan on that unit doesn't spin until it reaches a certain temperatures, so what you're are seeing there mate is PERFECT OPERATION.

ALSO

YES it is very very dangerous to open a PSU unless you know what you're doing (and clearly you don't), because of large voltages stored in capacitors.

You have simply replaced a working PSU fan with a crappy alternative, voiding a fantastic warranty and risking your personal safety.

Well done.
 
Last edited:
Okedokey said:
EPIC FAIL!


ALSO

The fan on that unit doesn't spin until it reaches a certain temperatures, so what you're are seeing there mate is PERFECT OPERATION.

.
Click to expand...

This^^^

From Corsair for the TX750.

The 140mm double ball-bearing fan automatically adjusts its speed to deliver the proper amount of airflow, so high-performance power delivery isn't at the expense of noise. In fact, when you're just surfing the web, doing light office applications or otherwise keeping your TX Series PSU at less than 50% load, the fan doesn't even spin.
 
tylerjrb said:
Tyler.b
Click to expand...

Reading your posts, you remind me a lot of myself. I open my Antec PSU every six months just to clean it out and have been doing so since it turned one year old. I'm OCD when it comes to dust in my tower.

Oddly enough I did read a news story regarding a young man who killed himself after disassembling an old PSU in his bedroom. Somehow he managed to discharge the fully charge capacitors into his body. Assuming he was grounded in one way or another, wrist strap perhaps?
 
Last edited:
Hahahahahahahahaha... I couldnt feel any worse than i already do now. I was completely un aware of the fan spinning ive always known of them being on all the time. With regards to the warranty there is no sticker anyway so it would not matter if i sent it or not and they have a non-transferable warranty, this means id have to send it back to my brother costing 15 pound or so. I left the psu for a while and tested it was safe before doing any work.

I'm also going to swap the fan anyway for a nice led one with better airflow and quieter, i can solder the fans wires onto the two pin so it will come on when too hot like you say.

I seriously feel stupid but the warranty was void anyway so no harm done, call it a mod so it runs nicer and looks better.

I contacted corsair and couldnt rma anyway because of the removed sticker, it was free from my brother so all should be fine.

One question i can remove the yellow rpm wire on the three pin and solder the red to red and black to black on the 2 pin wires.

Turning the fan now i find it sounds a little whiney and that would seriously annoy me while playing games, i remember my brother saying the fan was breaking or broken, hense why i took that it was when it wouldnt turn on.

I do feel very burned but the warranty was void anyway, so it will run quieter, cooler and look better. What more :). No but seriously i feel bad.

Just a mistake on my part i guess ive never had a psu with controlled fans so i didnt know.

Regards, Tyler.b

Okedokey said:
EPIC FAIL!

Firstly, Corsair are known to have AMAZING RMA and the warranty on that PSU is 5 years, so you just simply had to send them an email, they'd email you a RMA form and FREE postage paid slip in PDF and you would be set. I know, as I had the exact same PSU, had no receipts and RMAd it.

ALSO

The fan on that unit doesn't spin until it reaches a certain temperatures, so what you're are seeing there mate is PERFECT OPERATION.

ALSO

YES it is very very dangerous to open a PSU unless you know what you're doing (and clearly you don't), because of large voltages stored in capacitors.

You have simply replaced a working PSU fan with a crappy alternative, voiding a fantastic warranty and risking your personal safety.

Well done.
Click to expand...

Firstly the fan i purchased is not "a crappy alternative", it pushes more air than the corsair fan (83 cfm), giving better cooling on the psu. The nzxt brand is well known and they make one of the best Fan cpu coolers known... The havik 140, with the same fans. The current fan i just tested has a problem, its really noisy and makes a whining noise therefore needs replacing, it would annoy the hell out of me. The fan looks good, will keep it cooler than the original.

Secondly there is no warranty sticker so i could not RMA, i think my bro removed then when checking the noisy fan. Its not mine corsair states non transferable warranty.

Thirdly the fan is a hell loads better than the chinese one installed, id rather fit a new performance fan than buy a new psu, so its worth doing. True it can be dangerous but the caps bleed out the remaining voltage in time and the fan header is on the opposite side. I will and have taken necessary safety precautions.


Again the fan sounds pretty bad and needs replacing therefore thats what ive done.
 
Last edited:
Ive decided to leave the psu fan be and put the psu back together, testing the fan on 12v it sounds ok a little loud but not too bad. Ive changed my 120 exhaust for the nzxt fan and put the 120 exhaust on a different mounting point.
 
tylerjrb said:
Ive decided to leave the psu fan be and put the psu back together, testing the fan on 12v it sounds ok a little loud but not too bad. Ive changed my 120 exhaust for the nzxt fan and put the 120 exhaust on a different mounting point.
Click to expand...

Testing it with 12V will make it run 100%, which, i very much doubt it will ever need to in the real world.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top