This project is a very straightforward guide for converting an old PC power supply box with a cooling fan into an AC powered, activated carbon fume extractor. After coming across a similar guide for the poor man’s fume extractor on Instructables (which consisted of little more than the gutted power supply itself), I decided to add activated carbon and a few other things to make the power supply fit my situation. The innards will vary from power supply to power supply, so I will not provide any precise measurements, just outline the steps. Down to business…
Projects from Make: Magazine
Re-purposed Power Supply Fume Extractor
This weekend project is useful for any maker attempting to solder indoors. Instead of just throwing away that old power supply you've got in the junk box, bring it back to life as a super cool (and super effective) fume extractor.
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Steps
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Step #1:
- First things first: choose a power supply to work with. I was too eager to crack open the one I chose to remember to take a picture before modifications. Pretty much any old power supply will work, just a few things to note:
- The bigger the fan, the better
- Pay close attention to any openings in the unit's frame. Ideally, you want one opening for intake (with the fan) and one for exhaust.
- After deciding on a power supply to use, separate the two halves of the frame and remove the PCB. It just took a few screws to lift out the one I have pictured.
- As always, use caution when taking your unit apart. There are many high-voltage capacitors on the board, so don't go blindly stabbing around with your screwdriver.
TIP: Cut the screen a little longer on the final side so that you can fold a corner that overlaps the starting edge of the first side. It’s much easier to join than at a corner, and eliminates any gaps.