[Samsung Gear VR] Ezzine:
Cleanest mod USB Fan + Powerbank for IE Note 4 Gear VR

Pictures of mod items down below.

Back to the topic of modding the IE Gear VR for the note 4:

I just received my IE unit days ago and had a look at the various modding attempts be it on this thread, youtube or google altogether.

Some do look clean enough still I was pondering the idea of the cleanest sleekiest modding design, while keeping the costs to a minimum.

After about 3 days of hectic googling, I came up with the following:

1- 8000mah Note 4 extended battery:

Link: http://www.ebay.de/itm/391342722159?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&var=660582850100&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

As opposed to the many more or less higher capacities at about 9000mah up to 10000mah which cover more width area of the phone. This piece at 8000mah has the same proportions as the original battery, only two times thicker.

That should be taken into consideration as the heating parts on the phone when used with the VR are usually around the back camera upper area. Having a normal sized extended battery should leave free room for air-cooling later on. As opposed to the wider kind at say 10000mah (Wink Wink Zerolemon ;) ) that unfortunately cover the heating-up back side of the phone, theoretically causing the air-cooling mod not to work.

Last but not least, this battery at its offered capacity roughly costs 10 bucks. It should be a steal, once I'll confirm it is indeed offering a close enough performance to its claimed 8000mah capacity. More on that soon.

2- USB Cooling Fan

Link: http://www.aliexpress.com/item/1Pcs-Cool-Cooler-Cooling-Fan-USB-Foldable-Folding-Pad-w-2-Fans-for-Laptop-Notebook-Free/32435788330.html

Now to the main course, the cooling!

Most mods I've seen use an elaborate approach based on adapters and long cables.

Now I have found this piece, two fans already USB'ed and sized at :

167*66*20mm (respectively: Length*Width*Thickness)

These proportions should easily fit my rough calculation of the VR removable Front cover which more or less are:

180*80*18mm

USB is a 5V DC easily powered by any powerbank.

Price is just about 3 bucks. well 2,36 euros for me.

More on that after I receive my order and see to it.

Plan is double sided tape. More on that later.

3- Powerbank for the USB Fan:

With portability always in mind and me not willing to give up any aspect of that portability even at the price of velcro strapping sizeable powerbanks on headstraps. Not cool, that's a matter of opinion and that was mine. Anyhow, here is the link of the smallest powerbank I've seen.

Link: http://www.aliexpress.com/item/keychain-Mini-Powerbank-1800mah-5V-1A-Mobile-Phone-Power-Bank-Mini-usb-Universal-Portable-External-Battery/32585393797.html

proportions: 51.5*41.5*17.5mm

weight: merely 70g

These proportions perfectly fit the left side of the VR where the GEAR VR OCULUS logo is.

It is planned to be installed by surrounding the edges and corners of that logo with thin double-sided tape/Velcro. That should keep the logo visible, harm the appearance as little as possible and hold 70gr just fine.

Also more on that when I receive the goods.

The powerbank has a decent 1800mah for something the size of a key (designed as a keychain). That should be enough to run the fans for two days at least, again theoretically.

The price is an alluring 10 bucks or less if site's discount is applied.

Conclusion:

My note 4 with the original 3220mah holds about 3h to 3h30 inside the VR without mods.

With the 8000mah it should hold up double the time or if conservative then a decent 5 hours. Again without cooling.

Double Fan cooling should be extreme as most of the seen mods report no heating whatsoever with just one fan, still lets see if double fans might be the new standard !

The Powerbank is to be installed as plug and play (with velcro) on the side. Just press it in or pull out from the left side. Easy.

The powerbank's own proportions are fitting the left side, so neither appearance nor design are compromised.

At 23 bucks, this is the lowest cost/design mod seen yet.

Well not seen it perse, I have to make it :laugh:

Pictures down below.