How to Make a Paintball or Airsoft Goggle Fan
Parts Needed:
Small Fan
Wire
3 AAA’s
Small Switch
Electrical Tape
Bread Ties/ Tip Ties
Tools Needed:
Wire Cutters
Exacto Blade/ Knife
Wire Stripper
The first step of making your airsoft goggle fan is to measure the inside or top of the goggles, where you will place your fan. Then find a retailer selling a computer fan at that size or less. I used an Evercool 25 X 25 X 10mm fan, which fit perfectly inside my JT paintball goggles. Take the goggle fan and clip the end connector off of the wire, a strip a half inch of wire bare on the black and red wires. Also pick up a small, light weight switch from an auto parts store, or online.
Now time to make the battery pack for your goggle fan. You can use any configuration or positioning of the batteries, as long as they are in series. This means the positive end of each battery has to match with the negative end of the next. I made a pyramid/ triangle out of them, and then used small pieces of wire to connect the ends of alternating batteries to form a series. First I wrapped the triangle in tape to hold it together, and then placed wire on some electrical tape and put that connecting two batteries on each side so that it forms a series for enough voltage to power the goggle fan. You could also consider using 4 batteries and running the goggle fan over it’s recommended voltage for extra air flow, although this is generally unnecessary.
You have the goggle fan parts ready to go, now you just need to place them on the goggles. Arrange the parts on top of the goggles how you would prefer. Refer to the picture to see how I arranged my goggle fan system. The batteries are on the left, with the switch hanging over the right side for easy access.
Take the bread ties and thread them through the fan’s screw holes, and place the fan inside the top of the goggles. Make sure that the goggle fan blowing direction is pointing inward, as this produces better results. Pull the bread ties through the holes in the top of your goggles until you can grab both sides, and then tighten them down. Be sure not to over tie, as bread ties will break easily under stress. Continue this process with the rest of the components of the goggle fan system until they are all secure to the goggles. The switch should have at least 2 ties on it to prevent if from moving while you are turning the switch on, since it will often be done one handed, with all of the pressure being placed on the bread ties to hold it in place.
Next is the wiring of the airsoft goggle fan. Tape a stripped end of wire onto one side of the battery back, and connect it to the switch. From the other end of the switch, run a wire from it to the wire of the fan. Continue the goggle fan circuit by connecting the other end of the fan wire to the end of the battery pack. Now test the switch to be sure your goggle fan works properly. If so, secure your wires down with bread ties, and tidy up your new goggle fan system.
If the top of your goggles has small or insufficient holes, use the exacto bade to expand the holes. Cut away all material in front of the area the goggle fan pulls air through so that it can pull it’s maximum air current. You may still want to be sure the holes you cut are smaller than a bb so that the goggle maintains it’s protectiveness.
Say good bye to fogging during paintball or airsoft wars, because with the flip of a switch on your goggle fan, the fog disappears in a matter of seconds. It is also possible to use a capacitor in conjunction with a momentary switch to provide a preset time of goggle fan. Depending on the size of the capacitor you place in the circuit, you can arrange it to come on when you press the switch, and then automatically turn off the goggle fan several seconds later.
Alternatively, you can contact wingsfan23 at www.airsoftforum.com to arrange him to build a pair for you to your specs. He also can put in the proper capacitor to limit the time the fan is on, I suggest contacting him if you are interested.
