Not sure if this question belongs here but its about redesigning my switch oled dock

Guiding Your Customization: Installing Fans in a Nintendo Switch OLED Dock

If you’re passionate about customizing your Nintendo Switch OLED dock for improved airflow and aesthetic appeal, you’re not alone. Many enthusiasts seek to personalize their gaming setups, often by adding features such as cooling fans. If you’re considering integrating one or more fans into your dock, particularly to enhance cooling during gameplay, there are some key aspects to consider.

Understanding Your Goals

Your main objective appears to be installing at least two 80mm fans into your dock, to activate only when the Switch is inserted and the system is docked. You’re exploring practical ways to wire these fans so they operate appropriately — specifically, turning on upon docking and remaining off otherwise — and you’re contemplating whether to include speed control features.

Designing Your Custom Cooling Solution

  1. Powering the Fans Only When Docked

To ensure your fans activate exclusively when the Switch is docked, you’ll need to identify a power source that energizes only during docking. Typically, this can be achieved by tapping into existing signals or power lines that change state when the Switch is connected:

  • Using the Dock’s Power Lines:
    Many docks supply 5V power via standard USB connections. If this is continuous, you’ll need an additional switch or sensor to control when power is supplied to the fans.

  • Implementing a Dock Detection Signal:
    If the dock provides a signal when the console is connected, you can utilize this to control a relay or transistor that powers the fans only in docked mode.

  • Wiring Considerations

  • Fan Connection:
    Fans generally have either 2-pin or 3-pin connectors. Since controlling fan speed can be complex and may require additional circuitry, a 2-pin setup is simplest and often sufficient.

  • Soldering and Integration:
    To connect the fans, you’ll likely need to solder their power wires to the appropriate points on the dock’s motherboard or use a dedicated power source like the dock’s 5V line. Precise knowledge of the dock’s PCB is crucial to avoid damage.

  • Fan Pin Configurations

  • Two-Pin Fans:
    These consist of a power and ground wire, making them straightforward to connect. They typically run at fixed speed.

  • Three-Pin Fans:
    These include a tachometer wire for speed sensing and can sometimes be used with PWM controllers to adjust speed, though this adds complexity.

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