How make a simple cooling fan for your fursuit :3

This example is for total beginners with no knowledge of electronics so everything is kept as simple as possible. There are much more sophisticated electronics all over the internet but you really need to know what you are doing with them ;3

Here are all of the things you need.

Find an old computer fan like the one in the picture. Check that it says it runs on 12V. This particular one draws 0.36A of current. More powerful ones give you more air but they also make more noise. You have to try each one to test for the noise level.

You also need a battery case or holder because you need to put 1.5V alkaline battery cells in series to get the 12V required. Going under this voltage is OK, the fan will just spin a bit slower. In the picture there is a single 9V cell which spins the 12V-fan just fine and is also a lot more quiet. However don't go over the 12V because the fan was not built to handle more power.

Here is a simple diagram of the circuit

It is a good idea to place a connector you can plug and unplug easily as you will most likely want to install the fan in your head, whereas the battery-pack will be located somewhere on your body, like in a hidden pocket. Having a connector between allows you to detach the head from the body so you won't be trapped by wires.

A switch is also a good idea if you want to save battery life or just want a convenient way to temporarily switch off the fan if it making too much noise or something. This is entirely optional as long as you have some way of quickly detaching the battery from the fan if something goes wrong.

A fuse is must. I cannot stress this enough. Electronics without a fuse are dangerous, especially if they are installed in a flammable fursuit. A fuse rated about double the current draw of the fan is just fine. For example here I have used a 0,75A fuse.

Note on the power source: this is an example for beginners and is basically fire-safe. Using alkaline batteries makes the power source pretty powerless in a short-circuit situation. The current draw might burn through the wiring in the fan coil but pretty much anything else will just get very hot. DO NOT USE ANY OTHER TYPE OF BATTERY IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING! Chargeable batteries such as NiCd/NiMh and especially various Lithium-battery technologies can deliver huge currents and are not inherently safe in a short circuit situation. They have enough power to melt and set wire insulation on fire - or even worse, burst into flame due to an internal fault in the battery pack or charger circuit.

The advantage of using non-chargeable cells in a fursuit fan is convenience. If you are travelling between con hotels you don't want to be lugging with you chargers and worrying if your battery pack is running low. Alkaline cells are quick and easy to replace and every shop cells them so you will never run out.



OK, now let's assemble this baby :3

I prefer to use MOLEX-type plastic connectors. They are cheap and reliable and universal. This one has a small safety hook that keeps it from becoming loose. If you don't have the special tool to crimp the connector-pins inside then cannibalize and cut a ready made cable harness from some old electronics. You can find them inside computers and cars ;3

Don't solder wires together! They will brake. Solder is hard an brittle and will crack when there is any strain or pull on the wire. Instead just use crimps like these :3 Again your car electrician is your friend. You can lend the crimping tool and a bunch of these connectors or buy them from any shop that sells car-stereo equipment. Crimping wires together is the best most reliable way to make connections.

Sometimes wires are really really tiny. Too thin to make a proper connection reliably. The strands of wire will break when you are crimping them. You need to use a shell on top and pre-crimp them with so that when you place them under a screw or a larger connector it will hold better.

Wiring the switch and fuse. Here make sure you have a switch case with some strain relief mechanism. If all else fails, use hot glue on everything! ^^'/

You can run the fan either from a single 9V cell. Or a battery pack with 8 cells each 1.5V so 8x1.5 = 12V. Battery contacts are always a short circuit hazard so make sure you transport them safely. For example remove a cell from the battery pack will make it safe for transport (or just remove them all).

Fuse will protect everything so if you accidentally short circuit anything it will blow. Make sure you have spare fuses with you when you are travelling ;3

There! All finished! Wasn't so hard was it ^^'

Now how you install this to your fursuit is up to you or the fursuit maker. That is very specific for every suit but if you have managed to build a fursuit and this circuit then you will have no problem figuring it out.

Here are some pictures how I have installed mine:

My nose has no room for a fan so the only place is to put it up on my forehead. This the approximate location. And of course it is actually installed inside the head you dummy! >:3

I drilled some holes (carefully!) into the resin base to make some ventilation holes. They won't be much but at least some air will get through.

Finally I used the holes to ran metal wires to fix the fan in place. The firmer you are able to fix the fan the less it will vibrate and make odd noises. You might think it is useless over there and only cooling my forehead but that is not the point of the fan. It circulates the air around my inside my head and stops my glasses and the eyes from fogging over. And brings in some fresh air even though it is not directly in front of my mouth.

~ Tinka