If you're looking for a cheap desktop USB fan, this might fit the bill. Only 23cm high, comes with a 1 metre USB cord, has on/off button as well as fan speed controls and can be used in static or oscillating mode. Quite a neat unit - a little loud when running (as many of these fans are!) but seems to work quite well and puts out a reasonable "breeze" even on the lowest setting. Heaps on the shelf at our local Woolies (Warwick, WA) and also available online.
It's not as if mains desktop fans are expensive & they certainly are more powerful & usually built for more usage for around $10-15 (Kmart, BigW, Bunnings, Reject Shop, etc). I picked up a good 3 speed desktop 32cm fan with rotating grill & timer from Target clearance for $6.
No, mains ones aren't expensive, I've got exactly the same 32cm desktop fan as you and whilst it's great in other rooms, it's of no use for our home office due to very limited space (desktop and otherwise). Even if I could fit it on my desk, I don't need something that size blowing air at me from 18 inches away and whisking all the paperwork off my desk! I'm usually not in there using the PC in the really hot weather anyway, I tend to sit out under the aircon with my iPad :) but for the times I do need to be in the office, that's where these little fans come in handy. They're also good at work, if your workplace allows them of course - some do, some don't.
Guessed that may be the reason. Bigger isn't necessarily better. I have the fan in the small office blowing across me, just not on the desk (paperwork hates fans). There are much smaller mains ones, but that box one was a great deal ;-)
Employers are responsible for workplace ventilation… just a thought. The idea of loading a PSU with an unnecessary load is probably not best. Unauthorised USB devices would usually be frowned upon.
Enjoy the cooling breeze. I am :-)
Yes, anything like this brought into work would have to be checked and authorised by the electricians before it could be used and a few people have fans and heaters (mains). I work in a very old building complex (public hospital) and the air-conditioning in the office areas is erratic, to say the least, and the ventilation … well, let's just say it could do with major improvements! The aircon is also turned off in our building over the weekends and on public holidays, so coming in on a Monday morning in summer can be pretty unpleasant, I have to say. My husband's workplace allows USB fans, not sure what our department's policy is - problem is with a mains fan is that there's a critical shortage of powerpoints in all our office areas and powerboards are very much frowned upon.
Unauthorised USB storage devices are completely banned, thanks to some employees managing to accidentally introduce viruses and trojans on to the system when using their own USB sticks, although thankfully no one in our department was responsible - the proverbial REALLY hit the fan (so to speak LOL).
@SimbaGirl:
My thoughts were based on a decrepit hospital I once worked in, so seems a universal policy :-(
Never can be too sure of these Chinese made USB fans - they may have viruses. I'm wearing my tin foil hat just in case ;-)
@sween64:
Usual government paranoia in places like hospitals. All electrical equipment is required to be certified safe. A power outage could have disastrous consequences.
Overloading of circuits may be an issue in old buildings, along with issues of tripping, spillage of fluids onto powerboard, faulty earthing & other H&S nightmares…
I don't know if stories like that of the cleaner unplugging emergency equipment on a hospital ward is just an in an urban myth… but it is scary if you are a patient. (Its a Myth)
Still, if a death or disruption was traced back to unauthorised equipment, it would be a major story with potential political implications. Easier to have the rule, just in case.
@Infidel: Can't power boards just be certified and placed in a sensible position? Over zealous OH&S really irks me.
@sween64:
I've worked in dungeon like conditions under a hospital. Buildings were due for demolition, so no funds for upgrades. Any chance of a fire was too scary, despite sprinklers.
Every powerpoint had its code on it. Circuits really were at capacity in some areas, so limiting outlets may reduce loads. You never knew what may be plugged into those extra power board outlets.
Certification by a qualified electrician costs many times the cost of a power board. If everyone wanted one, there goes the budget :-(
A properly installed powerpoint doesn't cause the number of issues of a wayward powerboard.
This is emergency services! Sometimes caution is a good idea.
@sween64: there's always a risk that an ignorant person will over load the powerboard and/or plug one certified powerboard into another one
I see infidel and tdw have pretty much hit the nail on the head with their explanations :)
@sween64: I think OH & S would have a collective coronary if they saw that … oh well, they'd be in the right place anyway :)
@SimbaGirl:
Was at Woolies (didn't buy the fan) & met Mattie who has recently retired after over 20 years working for Qld Heath in the Electrical & Biotech section of the hospitals I worked in!
He confirmed the no power board (or extension lead) policy in Queensland Government hospitals. The only exception is where the power board can not be accessed, like in an enclosed medical equipment cart.
He had found earthing problems due to power boards in one clinic. That could have killed someone!
Had a good chat & laugh about this discussion. Then realised my ice cream was melting…
@Infidel: Interesting! Seems like all Health Depts are pretty similar policy-wise on this sort of thing. Still, as you mentioned before, better to err on the side of caution given the age of a lot of these buildings, not to mention the sprinkler systems!
WARNING! The noise from this fan can kill your ear! Bought it last week and feel $5 wasted ;(
Oh well, it was worthwhile then :)
I'm off to Woolies - it'll be cooler there anyway ;-)
Thanks OP.
Plenty in Berala NSW. I think it were priced at $20 last week.
Link to SWBF wallpaper please?
Its not a desktop wallpaper, but a boot screen from SWBF beta on PS4. Didn't realize the USB port on PS4 is so deep & narrow that I need a low profile USB stick….
Anyway, took a screenie & saved for ya. :)
Thanks! I've only played the PC version.
Too bad this very loud apparently. I'll have to settle for my XiaoMi USB Fans which are surprisingly quite good.
Xiaomi Fan operates very quietly? I am after a quiet one , this one is insane
The Genuine Xiaomi is the quietest USB fan I've tried. The motor is practically inaudible, just the wind noise you hear.
Wow that's good to know, now have to hunt a genuine xiaomi fan then, any good deal at the moment?
Commenting due to interest in reply
got mine at Carousel WA. about 5(?) left on shelf.
Just bought them today for $2 each at Woolies at Macquarie Centre, Sydney (NSW). Shelf had them at $25 but when I scanned them at the check out, it scanned up at $2!! There were about 8-10 left. Haven't tried it yet so can't comment on them but for $2…..
Bought 1 today out of curiosity. Certainly not noisy (I've got it beside bed near my pillow), takes up very little space, reasonable air flow as long as you are close, 2 speed fan & oscillation. Worth the money.
Mine's not noisy either - yes, you can hear the whirring noise when it's running but I certainly don't find it a problem and being able to have it oscillate rather than air blowing directly at me all the time is a handy feature too.
Much better than I thought it would be. I like that it takes up so little desk space & oscillates with out taking up any more space.
I prefer a gentle flow of air over my face when sleeping in the heat & this seems ideal on lowest & quietest (oscilating) setting.
So thanks :-)
You're welcome - glad it turned out to be a decent bargain :) .
Power consumption is stated as 500mA, but my readings peak at less than 300mA (top speed, oscillating). Just something to consider if your PC psu is near its limit.
Yes, definitely something to keep in mind. I tried mine from the USB port on my Apple leyboard just to see whether that would work - it did, but got an on-screen message that it was drawing too much power to run from the keyboard so plugged it into the back of the iMac and it ran with no problems. I actually have the fan plugged into a powerpoint at the moment as I had a spare USB wall adapter/charger (from an old Tom Tom GPS) that I wanted to check still worked.
Plenty of these fans still available at Warriewood Square NSW.
8 in stock at Bonnyrigg Woolworths in nsw
Would've pulled the trigger if it was USB3.0!
/s