Cooling Options for External USB Drives?

[EwanG]

I have six Maxtor 300GB External USB-2 harddrives. They have been pretty reliable, but I notice that the cases tend to get pretty hot after a while. I'm hopeful a hot case means that the heat is being wicked from the drive (since the cases are metal) - but I suspect that's wishful thinking.

I'm thinking of getting a small desk fan to blow on them to help, but am wondering if there isn't anything a tad more elegant, and that doesn't cost an arm and a leg (like pulling all of the drives out of their cases and putting them in a large, cooled enclosure).

TIA,
Ewan

[redwudz]

Two methods occur to me. The first would be to mount small 4cm fans to the rear of the cases. You would have to make the mount hole and some vent holes for exhaust. Fair amount of work and wiring to do them all.

The second method would be to take the top covers off all the cases and stack them vertically in a 'bookshelf' with a little space between the drives, with a couple of quieter 120mm 12VDC or even a 110VAC fans to the rear, blowing air between them. Make the bookshelf just wide enough for the drives and use spacer strips on front to make it look better. Exhaust holes in the spacer strips or on the sides of the shelf.

Heat is a real enemy of hard drives. I've noticed some of my Maxtor drives run hot enough to burn your finger. That can't be good for lifespan. I always put a fan in front of them when installed in a tower case and it makes a lot of difference in the drive temps.