PS3 Fan Controller w/12F683

[RDC]

Hey all, jam_az and I (The CGnome Project) did this little thing up awhile back, we just never bothered with it much after getting it working.

This has only been tested on the Phat PS3, but the Slim works in the same way, so it should work on it also if anyone wants to give it a go.

NOTE: It's as-is, so any bugs you find would be nice to hear about, but don't have a fit if nothing gets done about them.

A little info on the PS3 fan first...

The PS3 fan is a 12v ~2A monster that uses a PWM line to control the fan's speed. The 12v is turned on/off with the console, but the PWM line is what controls the speed of the fan. This PWM control line is 25kHz and 3.3v p/p. It's Duty Cycle changes from 20% to 100%, and what changes the fan's speed from 20% to 100%.

On initial start up the fan is run at around 30% or so for a couple of seconds, this ensures that it starts up and spins, then it's dropped to 20% after that until the PS3 heats up and then speeds it up accordingly. This 20% is too low for a default speed, so the PS3 Fan Controller here has been set to a default of 30% minimum, which is barely noticeable from the 20% as far as noise goes.

This PS3 Fan Controller also does not interfere with the normal operation of the on board fan controller, besides keeping the minimum setting at 30% instead of the 20% value. If you have the PS3 Fan Controller set to 40% and the PS3 heats up and needs the fan too run at 50%, it will override the PS3 Fan Controller setting and run at 50%, and blink the LEDs to let you know that it's in 'override' status. You can speed the PS3 Fan Controller up to match what the on board requires, then the LEDs will return to normal, or leave it to control itself and when the on board fan controller drops back to 40% or less the PS3 Fan Controller keeps the fans at the previous 40% setting and resumes normal operation. It also retains the setting you have it at when powered off, so there's no having to reset it over and over again.

Parts Needed

PIC 12F683 - U1
3.3v Regulator - U2
10k Resistors - R1 and R2
0.1uF (6.3v min) Capacitor - C1
10uF (6.3v Min) Capacitor - C2
LED Blue - D1
LED White - D2
N.O. Tact switch x 2 - S1, S2
HEX for 12F683 - http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?jc91rliih2e5lq4

The 3.3v Regulator is used to power the PIC, which is used to keep the PWM line the same 3.3v p/p 25kHz signal and then vary the   Duty Cycle, so it's pretty much exactly the same as the PS3 driving the fan, but at the speed you want it.

The Blue and White LEDs were used because most of them can take the 3.3v with no Resistors. If you choose to use other colors or ones rated for less voltage then use the correct Resistors for them.

A note on the LEDs.

Only LED 1 is lit if speed is between 25% and 40%

LED 1 and 2 are lit if speed is between 40% and 60%

Only LED 2 is lit if speed is between 60% and 100%

LED 1 and LED 2 alternate (blink) in override mode.


Schematic (updated 6-10-12)




J2 is just for programming the PIC. (R1 and R2 must NOT be installed while programming the PIC)

J2.1 - Vpp
J2.2 - Vdd
J2.3 - Vss
J2.4 - PGD
J2.5 - PGC


J1 connects to the PS3 fan wires. Only the PWM (Gray) wire needs to be severed so the PS3 Fan Controller can be installed inline. The 12v and Ground wires can just be tapped into, or any Ground and 5v or more source could be used, but since the 12v and Ground are already right there they are the easiest to use.

J1.1 - 12v (Brown)
J1.2 - Ground (Black)
J1.3 - PWM from PS3 (Gray)
J1.4 - PWM to Fan (Gray)

[Phantom]

Nice work RDC, it looks like this thread was lost in the depths of the forum, if i had a ps3 id try it out. I guess there would be alot of work involved in getting it to work for 360?

[1TONpete]

I believe the xbox does not use pwm for fans. Thats why people use the 12v mod. But I have heard of people doing something similar doing the  12v mod and running a pwm with 555 and an adjustable pot. But all of this is well and good. But nothing helps a ps3 more than a thermal paste job, and regular cleaning. My ps3's pretty much run all the time except when me and the kids are sleeping. I had one in my bedroom a very loud fatboy. I did a thermal paste job with arctic silver and now the thing is a whisper. The pwm fan kicks in a lil bit still but not like the turbo jet that it was doing before.
But either way nice work RDC . I might give this a try to help with debugging.

[KingMike_OS]

Man RDC Beat me to it
Something We been Working On

[RDC]

I guess there would be alot of work involved in getting it to work for 360?

The 360 fans don't work the same way, they are just controlled with a Linear voltage, so the more voltage they get, from 5v to 12v, the slower/faster they go. PWM can still be used to drive them. On a 360, the PWM would have to be able to handle the increased current of powering the fans directly, which can be done with a FET, plus the override part would have to be redone to match how the 360 fans work, but it's something that could just as easily be done on the 360 with the 12F683 PIC, a FET, couple of Resistors for the voltage divider to knock down the fans original voltage to be used for the override sensing, then whatever LEDs and button(s) setup you wanted. We really only spent a day or two on this, then it has just sat around for the last 5 months or so doing nothing at all.




@ KingMike_OS -  Nice work. Ah, the 16F690 dev board, I have that useful little tool as well, though my coding skillz are right beginner.


This is a cruddy video of earlier testing on the Fan Controller we did. It goes from 25% to 50% or so incrementally, then on the way back down. The scope is just showing the PWM Duty Cycle of the PIC.

RDCXBG - PS3FanController005.mp4


Another from 25% to 100%.

RDCXBG - PS3FanController003.mp4


Then from 100% to 25%.


RDCXBG - PS3FanController004.mp4

[Rodent]

Impressive, nice work RDC.

[RDC]

Update.

Despite this being d/l over 120 times now and not hearing any kind of problems with it (no news is good news the back of my front) I've finally heard of a couple of people having issues with this and looked into it some. Putting a couple of Pull-Up Resistors on the GP0 and GP1 (button) lines to the 3.3v source should resolve any 'funky' behavior.

The Schematic, parts list and some info in the thread have been updated.

[Rodent]

Thank you RDC for keeping us updated..and letting us know there has been a problem. i still have yet to try this.. thanks again for your work

[Frosty]

so its like a dimmer switch for lights.but just fans instead

[RDC]

You could use a dimmer switch as a comparison for what it does, but they don't work the same way.

It's not for all fans either, it's for the PS3 fan, or any other fan type that uses a Control (PWM) line for adjusting the fans speed.

Most of those fan types have 4 wires, Ground, Power, Sense (RPM) and Control (PWM). The PS3 fan just has 3, Power, Ground and PWM, where most 3 wire fans are just setup for Ground, Power and RPM.