How to Build a Laptop Cooling Pad

If you use your laptop computer a lot, especially for gaming or other activities that use the processor heavily, it can have overheating problems. A cooling pad can help this problem. There are multiple ways you can make a resting pad to keep your laptop cool. If you want one that assists in cooling down the computer, you can build one with a fan that is powered by the computer through a USB connection. If you just want something to give the laptop air clearance, you can build a support frame from wood and metal brackets.

Instructions

Fan Powered Pad

1

Cut a sheet of acrylic large enough for your entire computer surface. Cut a hole in the acrylic in the spot that would be directly under the computer fan. This hole must be large enough for your extra fan. If the computer has multiple fans, cut a hole for each of them and make sure the largest fan's hole is the size of your fan.

2

Snip off one connector end of the USB cable, making sure the end you leave intact has the standard connector plug that connects to the computer's port (the long, thin connector). There are four wires within the cable--red, black, green and white. Disregard the white and green cables.

3

Connect the cable's red and black wires to the same color wires on the fan. Make sure the wires are completely touching each other and secure them together with electrical tape. The red wire uses five volts of power, so the fan must be able to work with that amount.

4

Mount the fan inside the hole in the acrylic. It must be positioned so this fan is turning in the same direction as the fan within the computer. Attach it to the acrylic with fan screws or glue.

5

Glue felt circles (the type attached to the bottoms of table and chair legs) to the edges of the acrylic on the underside. This gives the cooling pad a little extra clearance and keep the acrylic from scuffing.

6

Lay the laptop on top of the cooling pad, making sure the fans line up on both. Plug the pad into one of the computer's USB ports and the fan will start up.

Cooling Frame

7

Cut the wood pieces to the same length as the laptop. Sand and smooth every part of the wood, especially around the edges, to remove any splinters.

8

Glue C-shaped or similar brackets to each of the wood pieces to form a rectangular-like frame using super glue. Wait for the glue to dry. Coat the ends of the wood and brackets where they meet with epoxy pipe sealant and wait for it to dry.

9

Position the frame so the wood pieces are on top. Glue small rubber or felt circles to the ends if your laptop doesn't have rubber pads on its underside. Lay the laptop on the wood pieces.