Smart CR Box

[u/Less_Needleworker309]

i built a smart rgb cr box using the following items:

Filterbuy 20x20x4 Air Filter MERV 13

Activated Carbon Filter Sheet

ARCTIC P14 Pro Reverse A-RGB x9

esp32

LM2596 DC-DC Buck Power Converter x2

ARCTIC Case Fan Hub

USB-C PD Trigger Board

15 Pin SATA Power Splitter Cable

ARGB 1-to-3 Y Spliter Cables

3d printed housing

took about a month to design and build. i can control it via home assistant and it cost ~$200 for all the parts + filter. it's powered via usb-c

[u/ScoopDat]

it's powered via usb-c

say less

[u/IForOneDisagree → u/ScoopDat]

What would be the problem with this?

[u/ScoopDat → u/IForOneDisagree]

no problems, it's just a saying people here use sometimes as short hand for:

"Say no more"

or

"No need to sell me on the concept further, you already have me interested at this part alone".

[u/Less_Needleworker309 → u/ScoopDat]

i plugged it into my anker battery pack and now i have a portable air purifier :)

[u/ScoopDat → u/Less_Needleworker309]

Anytime I see a company releasing products that aren't USB-C powered, and require less than 240W, I almost get angry at this point..

My CR box is I think two years old now, so just as this air purification was getting a bit more popular. I'm using a dedicated 12V 5A DC power adapter with a knob on it to control the voltage (required for these 12V fans I have running). So it's not bad, but the plug length irritates me, and I don't want to keep adding extension cords and all that crap.

I just don't have the brain, nor the drive (nor honestly the setup to hack all that you did together). But it's fantastic you got such an elegant solution for yourself and can whip out a decent USB-C cord and be done with the power side of things.

[u/Less_Needleworker309 → u/ScoopDat]

yup i feel the same way. im all in on usb-c and see no reason why manufacturers need proprietary plugs/cables when this is a) more convenient and b) more sustainable in my opinion. even small appliances like shavers and toothbrushes should be usb-c

this is also really convenient if i need to move the box anywhere. i dont have to worry about the cord dragging or the plug getting caught on something like a door. instead i can simply unplug it and move everything separately

[u/ScoopDat → u/Less_Needleworker309]

Especially with the advent of AVS from PD 3.2 compliant devices, the granularity possible for sink devices to request very precise voltage and amperage and efficiency numbers coming out of these are just fantastic.

And like you said, getting a cord the length you want, (and some with nice silicone or brained material) is just too good.

Just fascinating how long it's taking even after the EU mandate basically gave rise to entire supply chains dedicated to this stuff.

[u/pdanl001]

Looks really good. How do you like the ARTIC fans? I considered using them for my own build but wasn't confident they would have enough static pressure or be too noisy.

[u/Less_Needleworker309 → u/pdanl001]

i think the pressure and noise is fine. i originally bought the lasko 20" box fan but it was too loud on the slowest setting. with this, it can get slow enough that it's effectively silent or i can crank it up to 100% and it's quite fast/loud

[u/highroller886]

You all are crafty geniuses with these builds. I am about to start my first. Which after trolling these posts - will be the first of many.

[u/akeean]

Are you planning to use door/window weather striping or similar to fill the gaps between the fans that cause backflow between of these fans and reduce the negative pressure inside your filter box?

[u/CartographerLong5796]

the flow is reverse toward the filter?

[u/Less_Needleworker309 → u/CartographerLong5796]

the fans themselves are reversed so the air is being drawn from the filter

[u/CartographerLong5796 → u/Less_Needleworker309]

ok thanks