RGB Box Fan!

For this, I used a Holmes brand box fan, I think I bought this on amazon, but you can get them at stores such as Walmart, or your local big-box hardware stores like Home Depot or Lowes. I had this lying around, but I think I paid about $20-$25 for it. They go for about $40 now though, they're better deal in a hardware store.

The LED strips are from IKEA, they're the DIODER kit, it costs about $35. you could also buy LED strips as a roll and wire it in, if you know what you're doing. I used the DIODER kit since I had it lying around after I moved and hadn't decided what to do with it.

Command strips from walmart. you can also use hot glue, but my glue gun is put away somewhere and I couldn't be bothered. I also ended up using the clear command hooks that came with these, they were pretty good for cable management.

Box Fan.

DIODER kit from IKEA

Command Strips and clear cable management hooks.

A phillips screwdriver

Zip ties

If it wasn't already completely clear, MAKE SURE THE FAN IS UNPLUGGED. DO NOT TAKE THE FAN APART IF IT IS POWERED.

I forgot to get a picture of this, but on my fan, the cable needed to be unplugged to free the back, and the feet needed to be removed. then I undo the six screws, and I could slide the back up a bit to release the back grate and set it aside. this fan is so open, you should be able to pretty easily visually see what you need to do to release the back.

I used the clips from the LED kit and the command strips to attach the LED strips to the inside of the fan. I made sure the strip is forward of where the fan blades will pass so they don't hit it.

be cognizant of where the wires will go, you need them to reach to either the top or bottom and all the way down the support and to the middle of the back of the fan. the second picture shows how I routed mine.

Make sure you're keeping the cables managed so the cords don't get caught in the fan.

I used these clear plastic command hooks designed for cable management, they'll fit two of the flat DIODER cables so they're perfect. Make sure the cables conform to the corners of the fan, loose cables will be obvious if they dangle and could get caught.

I did my wire routing to make sure each cable was long enough to reach the connection box, and that the connection box wasn't blocking the fan's control knob or power input.

you can see in the first picture I had to fold the cables for the right side a little to prevent a ton of extra from getting in the way. I used a combination of command hooks and some zip ties to secure them, but the zip ties weren't entirely necessary, since the back will hold them in the channel formed by the supports for the fan motor.

now you can find where the cables will go through the rear grate, and lower the grate in place. it's a bit tricky to get the grate back one, remember that it might need to hook in place before being screwed back down.

now you can do some final cable management, plug in all the LED strips, the power block, and the LED controller.

Overall, this project was a whim and if I were to plan it out, I would've changed a few things.

First, I'd cut the connectors and solder custom-length wiring to clean up the cabling.

Second, I'd try to find a small 12v power supply that can supply the lighting and wire it parallel with the motor, and hide the hub inside the fan grate.

Third, If I were to do this to another fan, I'd probably just use individually addressable RGB LED strips like these RGB Strips. Combine this with a Pi or Arduino and you could do some REALLY fun patterns besides just glow in different colors