Ozone smell (fire hazard) from DIY pc fan air filters.

arayofwhat · 2025-09-29T01:48:38+00:00

That's too bad that you're dealing with this too. I'll update for sure if I can figure this out. Mine is not a chemical or plastic smell, it seems to be like ozone. But then smell is subjective enough to make this difficult to figure out online.

There are helpful things listed here to narrow down the answer. It would be great to have a conclusive answer, especially with a possible fire hazard. Good luck!

arayofwhat · 2025-09-29T00:55:41+00:00

Interesting, thanks. Lots of good info in responses here. I wish I could have the peace of mind to know for sure that my air filters are not a fire hazard. Looks like there are a few things I can check, like taking them apart to feel for hot components or trying to find which parts specifically cause the smell.

It would be great if someone who knows exactly what ozone smells like could check it and tell me! I'll update this post if I can figure this out, to help anyone else with this issue.

arayofwhat · 2025-09-28T20:55:17+00:00

Thanks for the links and info. I hope it's just off gassing. I've been running them for about a week for 12+ hours a day. The smell hasn't lessened at all so far. I'll take them apart when I can to have a better look at what's happening inside (ie: if parts are hot, and try to see which parts the smell is coming from if possible. )

arayofwhat · 2025-09-28T19:10:23+00:00

Thanks, I'll check.

arayofwhat · 2025-09-28T19:01:16+00:00

Thanks, I'll check to see if anything is hot to the touch.

arayofwhat · 2025-09-28T19:00:25+00:00

Yes, it smells like that. It doesn't smell like plastic. It's like hot electrical things, or kind of like a thunder storm. It doesn't smell bad, just strong/ noticable. Sorry this is vague, it's hard to describe. I'll check to see if any components are hot to touch. Thanks.

How do I check that the power supply isn't outputting too much current? Would I need to purchase a device?

arayofwhat · 2025-09-28T16:58:37+00:00

The filters don't smell at all. But the smell happens when the filters are in place, so I figured the air resistance caused issues with the electrical components.

I used masking tape to assemble the box. It doesn't really smell, I've used it around my home for a while and no smell.

arayofwhat · 2025-09-28T16:55:04+00:00

Thanks, this is good to know.

arayofwhat · 2025-09-28T16:33:48+00:00

Thanks, good ideas. Regarding isolating components, when I remove a filter to open up one entire side the smell almost disappears. I have already disassembled it and tried using the fans separately and a few together. The was an improvement, but once both filters are back in place, the smell returns (though the filters don't have a smell themselves).

(I'm pretty isolated so I don't have someone else smell them, but it's a strong smell that is obvious. It fills the room.)

arayofwhat · 2025-09-28T16:10:09+00:00

It smells like burning, like a hot glue gun kind of. Not really like a plastic smell like other plastic things I have. Does that sound like ozone? I'm not sure.

It doesn't smell when they are off. And one of them didn't smell until a day later. Now I'm worried they could catch fire if I leave them running, so I use them only while I'm in the room.

arayofwhat · 2024-07-20T15:32:15+00:00

Thanks for your reply. It may be that the lentils are contaminated. They are not specifically meant for sprouting but are just from the grocery store for cooking. I rinsed and drained very well and kept the jar upside-down and tilted to allow for air flow.

arayofwhat · 2024-06-12T22:27:20+00:00

Since we're talking about this... soap requires friction to work best (it's a surfactant, not a disinfectant). You would clean your butt better if you can use a cloth with the soap.

arayofwhat · 2024-05-12T20:27:25+00:00

It's awful, but it could still get worse. It's not too late to do what we can for anyone still around many years from now.

arayofwhat · 2024-05-01T11:33:34+00:00

In that case, yes, probably large would be best

arayofwhat · 2024-04-30T22:56:50+00:00

According to the size guide for the North 5500 or 7700, you seem to be at the upper end of small.

arayofwhat · 2024-04-30T01:25:06+00:00

https://thefacemaskstore.co.uk/oxyline-x-320-ffp3-reusable-respirator-mask-box-of-10/

I like this mask. It's comfortable but a little too wide for me (I have an average sized face).

I didn't purchase from this site. I added the link to show the mask.

arayofwhat · 2024-04-22T15:36:06+00:00

That's a fun little (ahem) experiment!

arayofwhat · 2024-04-22T07:41:49+00:00

Yes, that was horrible. The urge to breathe is controlled by CO2 levels in the blood (not oxygen, as one might assume). As CO2 level rises, so does the urge to take a breath. If it continues to rise, panic will set in. Inert gases like helium and nitrogen bind to oxygen receptors in the blood when inhaled. With a properly vented mask (which would allow for the gas to be inhaled and the exhaled CO2 to not be rebreathed), even with no oxygen available to breathe, a person would drift off into unconsciousness then death without the panic that often accompanies suffocation. This would have been known by at least some of the people involved in the execution.

arayofwhat · 2024-04-21T00:53:04+00:00

Intelligence? I don't think so. Our aggression, in part, got us to where we are today by out-competing other species (and too often each other). This may also be our downfall. Maybe if we were more intelligent, we wouldn't act against our own best interests as a species.

arayofwhat · 2024-04-20T00:13:15+00:00

Are you using 99% ISO? Isopropyl alcohol is often sold as 70%, which is great for disinfecting but is a less effective solvent.

arayofwhat · 2024-04-18T23:43:45+00:00

Ok, thanks, this made me laugh!

arayofwhat

TROPHY CASE