QuadCooler News: February 2008

Thursday, February 14, 2008

QuadCooler Laptop Cooler Instruction Manual

QuadCooler Instruction Manual - User's Guide
The Quad Cooler Laptop Cooling System - Model No. LCQUAD01 - The QuadCooler is a laptop cooler designed to sit under your laptop or notebook computer to help your portable computer maintain normal operating temperatures - Please visit QuadCooler.com for additional product information - No Batteries or AC Adapter required, but it does require a laptop or notebook computer that has USB capability and an available USB port.

1. Power Jack: This is where you plug the "barrel" shaped plug into the Quad Cooler.
2. USB Jack: This plugs into any standard USB port located on your laptop computer.
3. Speed Dial: This is where you adjust the speed of the 4 fans.
4. On/Off Switch: This allows you to shut the cooler down without unplugging the power cord.
5. Warm Air Exhaust: The warm air blown out the sides of the cooler and into the surrounding atmosphere.
6. 4 High Performance Fans: There are four high performances fans located right beneath the intake grill. The fans draw the air down and then out the sides of the cooler platform.

Quick Start Guide:
Place laptop or notebook computer on top of QuadCooler cooling platform
Locate the Special USB cable and notice that one end is shaped like a "barrel" and the other end is a standard USB jack (flat and rectangular in shape)
Plug the round "barrel" shaped end into the QuadCooler
Plug the flat "standard USB" end into any available USB port on your laptop or notebook computer
Slide the power switch to the "On" position.
Adjust the fan speed to suit your needs

Specifications:
Fan Dimensions: 60 x 60 x 10 mm
Voltage: 5VDC (USB)
Current: 0.4A
Power: 2W
Fan Speed: 1900 to 2600 rpm
Air Flow: 40 CFM
Noise: Less than 24 dBA
Dimensions: Length 10.5" x Width 12.8" x Thickness .71"
Weight: 1.46 lbs

Note: I posted the QuadCooler instruction manual as a "blog post" to help make this information easier to find for fellow QuadCooler enthusiasts. Keep in mind that the original QuadCooler Instruction Manual or User's Guide can be found at: http://www.vieworprint.com/

For the latest QuadCooler product information please visit: http://www.quadcooler.com/

Search for QuadCooler laptop cooler on Google

Monday, February 11, 2008

WHAT IS A LAPTOP COOLER?

Above is a new Laptop Cooler diagram that illustrates how a laptop is placed on top of a laptop cooler.

What is a Laptop Cooler?
Now that's a very good question and my answer is as follows: A laptop cooler is a device that is used to cool or maintain the temperature of a "laptop" or notebook computer. The most common form of a laptop cooler is a rectangular platform that sits underneath the laptop computer. A laptop cooler typically has one or more built-in fans to facilitate the cooling process, however, they do not have to have any fans at all. In addition, some laptop coolers don't sit underneath the laptop but instead sit behind or to the side of the laptop. In fact, there is even a new device that plugs into and clips to the side of a laptop computer. It has a nozzle that rotates 180 degrees. The nozzle is supposed to suck out the hot air and shoot it out to the atmosphere. I haven't tested the little laptop cooler, but I find it hard to believe that a little fan sitting on one side of the laptop could provide adequate cooling.

Why are most Laptop Coolers come in a Rectangular Platform?

I think the best solution is a light weight rectangular platform that you can pack along with your laptop or notebook computer. I also think that fan enhanced cooling is the way to go. There are many good laptop coolers out there and I would think that any rectangular platform with built-in fans will provide adequate cooling, but then there is another factor and that is "balanced cooling". What is balanced cooling? Balanced cooling is how well the placement of the fans match the location of the hot spots on the bottom of your laptop or notebook computer. The hot spots include your hard drive, processor, battery, and DVD drive. A good example of a balanced laptop cooler is a three (3) laptop cooler that has the three fans arranged in a pyramid (triangle) fashion. Another good example is a four (4) laptop cooler like the QuadCooler, which does an excellent job of providing balanced cooling to a laptop computer. All in all, there are many laptop cooling products out there, but you can educate yourself by searching the internet for more product information.

Laptop Battery - Above is a cartoon version of a laptop battery with a sad face or frown.

Does it Drain my Battery?
Most laptop coolers are powered by the USB port on the laptop or notebook computer. That means they are actually powered by either the laptop's AC adapter or the laptop battery. Therefore, if you are plugged into the wall via the AC adapter, then the laptop cooler draining your battery will not be an issue. And no it will not drain enough AC juice to have a big effect on your utility bill. Now if you run your laptop in portable mode (not plugged in the wall) then, yes, the laptop cooler will have an effect on your battery time. However, the good news is that it doesn't have huge effect. In addition, on some laptop coolers like the QuadCooler for example, you can power down (on/off switch) the unit and use it un-powered mode which still provides an air gap below the laptop and it also provides a heat shield between your lap (legs) and the hot computer. Furthermore, the QuadCooler can also be powered by an optional AC adapter. The only problem with the AC adapter is that you end up with an extra cord, which adds to a clutter of cables.

2011 QuadCooler.com - QuadCooler Information Series - What is a Laptop Cooler?

Wednesday, February 6, 2008

BLOG QUADCOOLER COM

BLOG.QUADCOOLER.COM

A new name for a newly revamped blog site. Now the QuadCooler Blog shares part of the famous "QuadCooler" domain name, but don't worry it's the same blog with new and hopefully better stories.

Old QuadCooler Blog URL web address: http://quadcooler.blogspot.com/

New QuadCooler Blog URL web Address: http://blog.quadcooler.com/

Please tell us what you think. Please use the comment section below to leave any questions or comments you may have.

Thanks!

blog.quadcooler.com

http://www.quadcooler.com/

RADIATOR FOR LAPTOP?

Cars and Laptops are similar in the fact that they both generate lots of HEAT. With the automobile you want the engine to be warm, but not overly hot. However, in the case of the laptop computer, you strictly want the temperature to be as low as possible. In other words, you never want to "warm up" a laptop the way you would warm up a car. Computers actually run faster at lower temperatures. The main purpose of a laptop cooler is to protect you and the delicate components of your laptop from the dangers of heat, but a side benefit is that it could theoretically give you a tiny boost of computer performance.

What is QuadCooler TV?

ANSWER:

We obviously want to sell you a laptop cooler, but there are some things you can check out to keep your laptop from overheating. Keep in mind that most laptops run pretty warm, but when the laptop starts locking up then you either have a broken laptop or you are not operating the laptop correctly. The first thing I would like to point out is that a laptop is designed to sit on a flat surface. Even though it is called a "LAP-TOP", the soft curves of your lap (legs) is not the best surface for your laptop. The reason is because the laptop needs to have a little gap of air underneath it so that warm air can escape to the surrounding atmosphere. Even worse than your laptop is carpet or thick comforter in your bed, because the laptop will literally sink into the carpet or blanket and completely block the air flow. If you are going to be lying in your bed with laptop I would recommend you place something big and flat beneath your laptop like for example a large book. Of course the QuadCooler works much better than a book, because it's light weight and it's made of plastic which insulates you from the hot laptop. Ok, the next thing I would check is the internal fan or fans on your laptop computer. The easiest way to test it is to wait until the laptop gets warm and then turn it upside down and look at the fan. If the fan is not turning you may have a bad fan or a loose connection. I would recommend that you call a local computer technician to take a look at your laptop. If the internal fan is not working, then your laptop may have too much of a heat problem for even the QuadCooler to handle.

ANSWER:

Yes that makes sense. The QuadCooler will still help your laptop even if the fans are pulling air in different directions. However, it does make sense that the QuadCooler should work better if it is pushing air in the same direction as your laptop. To find out whether your laptop is a "sucker" or a "blower" you should give it the "Toilet Paper" test. Simply get one square of toilet paper and place it over the fan on your laptop. If the square blows off then you've got a blower. If the square gets sucked onto the grill of the fan then you've got a sucker. In theory the QuadCooler works best with "blower" type laptop fan. I hope this answers your question.