Replacing a PSU fan?

Greetings,

The tiny fan inside my power supply unit is driving me absolutely insane with its noise level. I was wondering if it’s feasible to simply track down an exact replacement—say, an 8mm model similar to the ones used for case exhaust—and swap it out myself.
Since the current fan is soldered directly onto the board, would it be practical to just snip the wires, reconnect them to the new one, and wrap everything up with some electrical tape? Or is that asking for trouble?
P.S. Just a quick observation: the exhaust fan in my PC case has three wires, whereas this power supply fan only has two...

Or am I looking at a situation where the entire PSU needs to be replaced?

You don't need to swap out the entire power supply unit. You were probably thinking of an 80mm fan rather than an 8mm one, right? It would be a nice touch if he actually soldered and insulated those wires properly. Out of those three wires, you're really only using two—the red and the black—but since most fans you buy come with just two wires, you'll need to keep that in mind. Also, make sure to check the width of the fan before you order anything; they usually run about 20mm or sometimes 15mm, so I guess it's best to measure first.

Just a heads-up though—when you heat that electrical tape, it tends to get all gummy and lose its grip. If you can, try to grab some 2-3mm shrink tubing. Slide it onto the wires before you make the connection, then slide it over the joint once you're done

( Honestly, if you swing by a local electrician, they usually have a couple of 4cm scraps lying around from when they were installing ceiling lights 😁 ))

Joshua Garcia3 said:You don't need to swap out the entire power supply unit; you just buy a new fan and swap it. I assume you meant an 80mm fan rather than an 8mm one? It would be a much cleaner job if you soldered and insulated the wires. Out of those three wires, you're really only using two—the red and the black. However, when you go to buy a replacement, keep an eye on the width; they usually come in 20mm or 15mm sizes, so make sure you measure the clearance before you head to the store.

Do I have to get the exact same gauge for the wire, or can I use a thinner one if that's all they have in stock?
Or, if there's plenty of room, could I actually go with a thicker gauge?

The fan currently in the power supply uses red and black wires.

And what about that third wire? What is its purpose? When I was shopping the other day, the only fans available were Molex-style ones with three wires. If I find one with four wires, do I still just stick to the red and black?
Is the fourth wire on a 4-pin fan used for speed control?

wearymason4 said:....just be careful when you're heating it up; the electrical tape tends to lose its grip. If you can, find some 2-3 mm heat shrink tubing. Slide it onto the wires before you join them, then slide it over the connection once you're done.

( You can usually snag a couple of 4cm scraps from an electrician if they have any leftovers from installing a ceiling light. 😁 )

What exactly is heat shrink tubing?
And how am I supposed to work with it?

Is it enough to just twist the wires together, or do I really need to solder them?

Look, this is what =3+mm&filter[6418]=bu%C5%BEir+termoskupljaju%C4%87i']heat shrink tubing is for. You just apply some heat—like using a lighter, for example—to the connection, and it shrinks down tight around the cable.
As for the fan, you’ll need to pick up one that matches the exact dimensions of the one you've got installed now.

Joshua Garcia3 said:Look, what you need here is =3+mm&filter[6418]=bu%C5%BEir+termoskupljaju%C4%87i']heat-shrink tubing. You slide it over the cable connection and apply a bit of heat—say, with a lighter—and it shrinks down to grip the wire tight.
As for the fan, you'll need to find one with the exact same dimensions as the unit currently installed.

I see, understood.
If I get a fan with the same dimensions, should the wattage be identical as well?

Pretty much. You’ve got those people who prefer a faster spin—either because it’s automated or just because they like more noise—but I’d say you should just find one that matches your own specific preferences.

Joshua Garcia3 said:Pretty much. You'll find some with faster rotation speeds and others that are slower—which usually translates to differences in noise levels or output intensity. My advice? Just look for one that matches your specific technical requirements.

That makes sense, but what if I can't find an exact match for mine? Am I allowed to swap it out for one with a higher voltage, or would that be asking for trouble?

What do you mean, using a bigger power supply just so the fan runs at 12V? Honestly, just unplug the thing and take it back to the retailer. You'll get the right one this time.

Pull out the old fan and peel off the center label to expose the bearing. Add two drops of motor oil—any kind will do, even old stuff—then seal it back up tight with some Gorilla Glue or something similar. It’ll run for another hundred years, probably longer than when it left the factory.

John Turner34 said:Take out the old fan, peel off the label in the center to expose the bearing, and add two drops of motor oil—doesn't matter what kind, even some old stuff you have lying around will do. Then just seal it back up tightly with some Gorilla Glue or something similar... and it’ll run for another hundred years, easily outlasting its factory settings.

But will that actually solve the problem?
The issue I'm running into is that the blade assembly isn't seated properly in its housing anymore; it wobbles back and forth because there's too much play in the connection.
That's exactly why it's making all that noise...

Joshua Garcia3 said:What do you mean by using a larger power supply if the fan is running on 12V? Just unplug the thing and take it back to the retailer; they'll give you the right one.

But are all fans actually on the same voltage?
I mean, are the 60mm ones, the 120mm ones, and those massive CPU coolers all sharing the same specs?

That’s exactly what I plan to do.

If all your PC fans are running at 12V, there’s actually a way to wire them using Molex connectors (specifically by tapping into the yellow and red wires) to run them at 7V instead. The idea is that dropping the voltage makes the fan spin slower, which keeps things quieter, though I guess that kind of tinkering is really only for the hardware enthusiasts who know what they're doing. Just a heads-up, though—that oil droplet trick you mentioned is more of a temporary fix than a permanent solution.