Grilledeggplant
New Member
Would anyone happen to know how to install mini fans in helmets? Or forward me to a site/video on how to install them. Thanks!
Installing fans inside helmet?
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Spitfire22V
Well-Known Member
It's not that difficult. Feel free to check out my build thread for some ideas. Starting at post #67 and onwards, there should be some photos of my fan installation. Unfortunately, I don't have specific photos of the wiring/soldering process, but it's very simple.
Basically, I built a little plywood holder that I could glue in anywhere, yet still remove the fan if needed. Some people go even simpler and just hot-glue the fan in there. Get a battery or battery pack (no more than the rated voltage of your fan, i.e. I have a 12 Volt fan and used a single 9 Volt battery), and solder/set-up the wires to attach the fan to the battery. Then, simply cut one of the wires and solder in a slide-switch (available at Radio Shack or other electronics stores) to connect the now-cut wires, thus completing the circuit.
Just be sure to do a bit of pre-planning to know how long your wires need to be so you can place all the components where required.
Basically, I built a little plywood holder that I could glue in anywhere, yet still remove the fan if needed. Some people go even simpler and just hot-glue the fan in there. Get a battery or battery pack (no more than the rated voltage of your fan, i.e. I have a 12 Volt fan and used a single 9 Volt battery), and solder/set-up the wires to attach the fan to the battery. Then, simply cut one of the wires and solder in a slide-switch (available at Radio Shack or other electronics stores) to connect the now-cut wires, thus completing the circuit.
Just be sure to do a bit of pre-planning to know how long your wires need to be so you can place all the components where required.
I used a 12V fan with a 9V battery, just like Spitfire. You don't have to go crazy with the wiring. I didn't use any solder, just some electrical tape. My kids' helmets did not last more than 6 hours when they had the fan turned on. If you can find smaller fan and use less power, you can add more LEDs, and a 9V will last longer.
Here is a simple wiring of the fan.
Here is a simple wiring of the fan.
Spitfire22V
Well-Known Member
Yup, that's almost exactly how my fan wiring looks like. Only difference is I used a slide-switch instead of a button switch, but either works fine.
Hiya,
Worth noting that USB fans are 5v - and 3 AA batteries are about 4.5v so will run them fine.
I bought a laptop cooling pad from ebay for about £5 that included 3 fans (with some nice blue leds) then just made a very simple circuit with a switch. I wanted my fans to show, but would be easy to hide them away. The fans made it really nice and cool, unfortunately I broke the cabling/solder on mine pretty quickly.
Note that fans/motors use a lot of AMP hours, so 3 good AAs won't last ages, probably a good few hours, but not tens of hours (where as I ran 2 LED torches off 1 AA battery for over 24 hours).
Pics (mine is the white one): http://www.405th.com/showthread.php/32841-Daft-punk-Guy-helmet
and video:
Worth noting that USB fans are 5v - and 3 AA batteries are about 4.5v so will run them fine.
I bought a laptop cooling pad from ebay for about £5 that included 3 fans (with some nice blue leds) then just made a very simple circuit with a switch. I wanted my fans to show, but would be easy to hide them away. The fans made it really nice and cool, unfortunately I broke the cabling/solder on mine pretty quickly.
Note that fans/motors use a lot of AMP hours, so 3 good AAs won't last ages, probably a good few hours, but not tens of hours (where as I ran 2 LED torches off 1 AA battery for over 24 hours).
Pics (mine is the white one): http://www.405th.com/showthread.php/32841-Daft-punk-Guy-helmet
and video:
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Grilledeggplant
New Member
Thank you guys for the info!
NovemberAdam
Jr Member
Wish I would have known that the fan would work even if under powered! I have a 12v fan and used 8 AA batteries to power it. It was interesting trying to find a spot for that battery pack.
I actually didn't even install a swith, just attach the connector (looks like the conector for a 9v) to the battery pack when I want to turn it on.
Now that I know a 9V will work with a 12V fan I may have to add a couple more as one doesn't work all that well.
I actually didn't even install a swith, just attach the connector (looks like the conector for a 9v) to the battery pack when I want to turn it on.
Now that I know a 9V will work with a 12V fan I may have to add a couple more as one doesn't work all that well.
trendkiller
New Member
Anyone using any alternative power sources? Nicd or lithium packs?
NovemberAdam
Jr Member
I put the fan over the visor facing down on it to prevent fogging. The battery pack was in the back of the helmet. I have a piece of foam at the top that I guttted from a motor bike helmet, so I just notched that a bit to make a seat for the fan. I have a couple of holes in the back of the helmet, and a couple in the sides of the "ear" pieces of the grenadier helmet. With that in mind, one fan is still not enough, so I may put a couple by those ear holes to either push air out, or possible blow it in, but I'm not sure I want air blowing dierctly into my ears.
My first helmet looks a little crude in the inside. Once wore, nobody can see inside anyway. Putting a fan in MK VI is easy. There is plenty of space on the chin. I cut a hole and glued the fan above it. On the front, I glued a plastic tubing to cover it up. A hole helps remove the stale air, making wearing the helmet more bearable.
For the Recon helmet, I drilled tiny holes on both sides of the cheeks. Outside of the helmet is black, so you can't really see the holds. I glued the fan on one of the holes. Again, this helps circulate the air inside the helmet.
The button is called push on/off switch I found at Radio Shack.
Lt Ambrose
Member
I know this thread's a bit old, but I'd rather revive someone else's work than start something new. I've been lurking this one for a couple of weeks to get a quick lesson in fan wiring for a mask/helmet I'm working on for Halloween. (Considering how long I've been a member of this site, it's about time I actually put something together.)
Anyway, I know most people use solder and some even use electrical tape, but how about some hot glue? Considering we're just talking about 5v fan here, would hot glue prove a good enough bond to keep wires together and allow the current to flow?
Anyway, I know most people use solder and some even use electrical tape, but how about some hot glue? Considering we're just talking about 5v fan here, would hot glue prove a good enough bond to keep wires together and allow the current to flow?
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