Antec tri-LED fan modding
The problem is that the original Adda fans in my Lian Li PC-70
are powered through the (original) 3-speed switch for the front fans, an (additional) 4-speed switch
for the rear fans and can be regulated somewhere between 6.5 and 12V. Therefore the luminosity
of the blue leds varies proportionally with the applied voltage to the Antec fans.
Did some thinking about a mod... and here is the result. (this mod also works perfect with any kind
of fanregulator or fanbus)
First: the schematic
 The internal fan cabling - before & after |
Above the
original fan cabling. It's clearly visible that the leds are powered through
an integrated 600 Ohm resistor from the same +12V voltage as the fanmotor.
Below the modified cabling. The 3 leds now are connected to a separate constant
+12V voltage coming from the fourth pin of a Molex connector.
Second: the needed tools
A minidrill or a Dremel.
A file and some fine sandpaper.
A soldering iron with a very fine tip.
A magnifying glass and a mill.
A 4-pins female Molex connector. Afterwards this connector will be connected through an adapter cable with a 4-pins male Molex to my fanregulators.
Third: the modding
Original cabling visible after removing the sticker.
I already noticed that de propellerblades were finished
very roughly...
Probably also the reason why these fans produce a little more noise and vibrations
than my original Adda casefans.
Next step: Dismount the propeller to fix this.
Remove the little circlips on the propeller axe very
carefully and remove the propeller.
Remark the original cut for the wires to the fan PCB.
Propeller dismounted.
Here we use the file and the sandpaper to smoothen the edges of the propellor blades.
The result...
With the mill I widened the opening for the wires a bit to have access to the copper run beneath the round cut.
Cut the copper run indicated by the lower arrow,
remove the green lacquer at the upper arrow and apply some solder to the freed copper.
Desolder the original wires except the two going
to the leds.
Solder the
4 wires of the 4-pins Molex connector.
Orange = RPM signal
Red = +12V to fan motor
Brown = GND to motor and leds
Yellow = separate +12V line for the leds
Place wires in place.
View from other angle.
Place sticker back and finished!
Final test.
Just three other Antec fans to mod now...