Predator Helios 300 G3-571 Fans Stopped Working Immediately After Cleaning

I took apart my Predator Helios 300 G3-571 to clean out the fans and heatsink. There wasn't much that needed to be cleaned, most likely the thermal paste needs replacement so I am waiting on that to come in. However, I attempted to plug both the fans' power chord in upside down, and then, discovering my issue, plugged them in the correct way. However, both fans have simultaneously stopped working (Predator Sense shows 0 RPM for both fans). Are these fans broken, and needing replacements? Zero problems with them before taking them apart earlier today, I'm horrified I broke the fans plugging the power chords in upside down somehow.

{ edited the title to add model name }

Accepted answers

StevenGen

scylax said:

I took apart my Predator Helios 300 G3-571 to clean out the fans and heatsink. There wasn't much that needed to be cleaned, most likely the thermal paste needs replacement so I am waiting on that to come in. However, I attempted to plug both the fans' power chord in upside down, and then, discovering my issue, plugged them in the correct way. However, both fans have simultaneously stopped working (Predator Sense shows 0 RPM for both fans). Are these fans broken, and needing replacements? Zero problems with them before taking them apart earlier today, I'm horrified I broke the fans plugging the power chords in upside down somehow.

{ edited the title to add model name }

Just to add a bit more info to this thread, you never ever work on a laptop/desktop if the internal battery or the desktops power mains cord is connected to the mains pug as that is absolutely crazy, having the battery in a laptop connected and working on it is the same as having a desktop plugged into the mains which is crazy.

You have to disconnect the battery and always work on a laptops/desktop internals with an anti-static band and the first thing that you do is disconnect the battery as you can short circuitries and damage components like you have in your laptop completely. The Predator Helios 300 G3-571 has 2x mylar constructed type fans that are secured to the thermal module (see caption below for all OEM Acer fan parts) so get these new fans as none OEM fans are easily available and are not expensive.

All comments

JackE

>>>However, I attempted to plug both the fans' power chord in upside down, and then, discovering my issue, plugged them in the correct way.>>>

Was the charger unplugged and battery pack disconnected when you did this?

scylax

That’s actually the question asked by the shop worker when I took it in today. I can’t say positively yes, would there be the possibility that I shorted both fans when I “corrected” their plugs, assuming I DIDN’T unplug the batter?

thank you also for adding more detail to the title

JackE

>>> I attempted to plug both the fans' power chord in upside down, and then, discovering my issue, plugged them in the correct way.>>>

Attempted? Does this mean you actually didn't force them on and then try to turn the machine on with them upside down?

scylax

They were fully plugged in upside down, for whatever reason they barely gave any resistance to this happening. I did put everything back together and turn the machine on with them plugged in this way, yes.

JackE

>>>That’s actually the question asked by the shop worker when I took it in today. >>>

Shop worker? With the fans disconnected from the mainboard, can he apply about 5 volts DC to each fan red+ and black- pins on their connector to see if they still spin?

scylax

I actually took it in to get a second opinion, they didn’t end up doing much. They also didn’t have any fans that fit my ports on my predator, so all they did was test a few things, and came back to me saying that either my fans failed simultaneously, or that I have a motherboard sensor issue. I have my computer back now, they weren’t very helpful without any fans to test on my computer unfortunately.

JackE

They don't have to have any fans to fit your fan mainboard sockets. All they have to do is to see if your existing fans spin if they connect the red+ and black- wires to a 5v dc power supply. If they spin, then it's a mainboard issue. Which is big money. If they don't spin, then you can replace the fans by ordering them on line. Which is not so big money.

scylax

Considering I’m going home tomorrow, and I don’t believe I can take it back without paying again for another diagnostic, I’m not sure there anything I can do at the moment besides waiting for the replacement fans to show up.

Do you believe there’s any other action I can take? Did anything I describe to you earlier make your think I could’ve shorted or otherwise ruined my current fans?

scylax

Actually, I just posted that above comment, but I’m going to test it right now. I have everything I need at home to do so, I’ll come back with the results.

scylax

Okay, good news, the fans appear faulty. They did not run after completing their circuit like should’ve happened, and there was the audible sound of flowing current. It looks like, for some reason, the fans simultaneously failed, and since I have replacements on the way, hopefully that will fix the issue?

JackE

>>>They did not run after completing their circuit like should’ve happened, >>>

What circuit are you referring to?

scylax

JackE said:

All they have to do is to see if your existing fans spin if they connect the red+ and black- wires to a 5v dc power supply.

I did what you described above here.

JackE

What did you use for a 5 volt power supply? Three alkaline batteries?

StevenGen

scylax said:

I took apart my Predator Helios 300 G3-571 to clean out the fans and heatsink. There wasn't much that needed to be cleaned, most likely the thermal paste needs replacement so I am waiting on that to come in. However, I attempted to plug both the fans' power chord in upside down, and then, discovering my issue, plugged them in the correct way. However, both fans have simultaneously stopped working (Predator Sense shows 0 RPM for both fans). Are these fans broken, and needing replacements? Zero problems with them before taking them apart earlier today, I'm horrified I broke the fans plugging the power chords in upside down somehow.

{ edited the title to add model name }

Just to add a bit more info to this thread, you never ever work on a laptop/desktop if the internal battery or the desktops power mains cord is connected to the mains pug as that is absolutely crazy, having the battery in a laptop connected and working on it is the same as having a desktop plugged into the mains which is crazy.

You have to disconnect the battery and always work on a laptops/desktop internals with an anti-static band and the first thing that you do is disconnect the battery as you can short circuitries and damage components like you have in your laptop completely. The Predator Helios 300 G3-571 has 2x mylar constructed type fans that are secured to the thermal module (see caption below for all OEM Acer fan parts) so get these new fans as none OEM fans are easily available and are not expensive.

scylax

StevenGen said:

scylax said:

I took apart my Predator Helios 300 G3-571 to clean out the fans and heatsink. There wasn't much that needed to be cleaned, most likely the thermal paste needs replacement so I am waiting on that to come in. However, I attempted to plug both the fans' power chord in upside down, and then, discovering my issue, plugged them in the correct way. However, both fans have simultaneously stopped working (Predator Sense shows 0 RPM for both fans). Are these fans broken, and needing replacements? Zero problems with them before taking them apart earlier today, I'm horrified I broke the fans plugging the power chords in upside down somehow.

{ edited the title to add model name }

Just to add a bit more info to this thread, you never ever work on a laptop/desktop if the internal battery or the desktops power mains cord is connected to the mains pug as that is absolutely crazy, having the battery in a laptop connected and working on it is the same as having a desktop plugged into the mains which is crazy

I did disconnect the battery! The first time, at least. When I went to reorient the fans’ plugs, I do not believe I unplugged the battery that time, which appears to most likely be my mistake (if it wasn’t the ‘plugging in the fans upside down’ part). Regardless, thank you for the words of warning, the replacement fans will be arriving tomorrow and I will disconnect the battery before installing them!

JackE said:

What did you use for a 5 volt power supply? Three alkaline batteries?

I used a stripped down USB cable with its wall plug. Does it matter?

JackE

>>>I used a stripped down USB cable with its wall plug. Does it matter? >>>

What wall plug? If you mean the laptop power supply, then yes it matter. Unregulated output is 19+ volts DC.

scylax

JackE said:

>>>I used a stripped down USB cable with its wall plug. Does it matter? >>>

What wall plug? If you mean the laptop power supply, then yes it matter. Unregulated output is 19+ volts DC.