How to power PC Fans..??
- Thread starter DocDoom
- Start date
pc fans 99% of the time plug into the motherboard not the PSU power supply unit. His best best is to get a small desk fan or if hes on a budget find an old household item that plugs into the wall splice the wires hook it to the pc fan tape it off really good with some electrical tape and voila. Personally i would use 2 on opposite ends and sides of my grow box if its a small area for instance
[ ] <---- PC fan Exhaust x
x PC fan intake ------> [ ]
or something along this line thats just my opinion though gets a nice cycle of air going your getting fresh air in and hot air out
what i did i have a motorcycle charger with overload which mean if it get to hot it cuts off but most pc fans have a negative and a positive wire i stripped the end of the wires added more wire then attached them to the battery clamps on the charger and it works out fine and i have 4 pc fans hooked up to the charger you could pick up a charger at a local parts store for $17
vh13
Well-Known Member
To wire my PC fans I scrounged up some small adapters from friends broken electronics; two of 'em were 4.5v and a third 3v. I wired the adapters in series to stack up the voltage, making it 12v total. Then I wired a couple PC fans in parallel, giving 'em each 12v.
Pick up the basics of wiring and electricity and the creative solutions will find themselves.
Pick up the basics of wiring and electricity and the creative solutions will find themselves.
You can use PC Power supplys you have to mod them by putting a paperclip or wire between 2 of the connectors that normally plug into the motherboard and it tricks the power supply to thinking its turned on. (you CAN find this online and itll tell you how to do it, takes maybe a whole whopping 20 seconds to mod)
I started out with that but due to their size and my tiny grow space I changed over to using my extra AC adapter for my old cellphone.
Both options work well.
I started out with that but due to their size and my tiny grow space I changed over to using my extra AC adapter for my old cellphone.
Both options work well.
la9
Well-Known Member
Don't know what kind PC's you are working on that 99% of the fans plug into the mother board. You should look again. The cpu fan plugs into the mother board and all those case fans plug into 4 pin peripheral power cable.
That connector right their is what most fans plug in to.
Here is a fan right here see the connector on it ?
If you have info on a motherboard that has those kind of connectors let me know because I've never seen it.
Furthur
Active Member
freakaccident
Member
Easiest thing to do is go to Radio Shack and buy an ac/dc adapter and hard wire it. Basically the block plug thing than many devices need. They sell a generic one there for about $10. One polarity is suck and one is blow. Simple. Look at my post linked below to see what I did with a PC fan and ac/dc converter.
https://www.rollitup.org/newbie-central/195688-could-i-start-out.html
https://www.rollitup.org/newbie-central/195688-could-i-start-out.html
don't use a pc power supply.
if you're using a pc grow case you will find that a PSU takes up valueable space in the case. you'll need to remove everything inside the case so it is only a box.
you can wire the pc fans directly to an old mobile phone power supply. oir any kitchen appliance that has the correct voltage requirements.
check out this thread.
https://www.rollitup.org/do-yourself/4105-computer-fan-wiring.html
if you're using a pc grow case you will find that a PSU takes up valueable space in the case. you'll need to remove everything inside the case so it is only a box.
you can wire the pc fans directly to an old mobile phone power supply. oir any kitchen appliance that has the correct voltage requirements.
check out this thread.
https://www.rollitup.org/do-yourself/4105-computer-fan-wiring.html
freakaccident
Member
My original post needs admin review first but using the radioshack ac/dc adapter will allow you to run several fans without an issue. You can probably run 4 120mm fans on it with no issues. I went there and just got the biggest 12vdc output one they had. Has run on my cacti farm for about 6 years now with no issues.
Ill try to get pics of the adapter I use tomorrow.
I actually have a nice AL pc case I am not using that I might scavenge for this instead of my aquarium deal.
Ill try to get pics of the adapter I use tomorrow.
I actually have a nice AL pc case I am not using that I might scavenge for this instead of my aquarium deal.
v12xjs
Well-Known Member
KaliKitsune
Well-Known Member
Out of hundreds of systems I've repaired and built, the only fans that plug into the motherboard are fans for the northbridge, the CPU, and sometimes onboard video. Any other case fan usually hooks up using 4-pin Molex connectors, the same as what desktop hard drives use for power.
Just leave the power supply in the computer case, and clip the GREEN wire at the base of that plug that goes into the motherboard. Strip the first centimeter of insulation off, then touch it to each ground plug (They're all black wires connected to them,) at the end of that fat plug. Eventually the power supply fan will rev up - you'll know you have the right one, only one will work with it. Turn off the power, unplug it, cut that black wire, strip the insulation, short those two wires together, twist, cover with electrical tape. Use the switch on the back of the power supply for turning it on or off (unless you run 12v lighting in there as well, in which case put the whole system on a timer,) and you can power PC fans without a motherboard.
Find a tiny 150w power supply. That'll handle all you need and leave you with more workable room.
i did this to run my rc lipo chargers, worked well and the way i did it. i had enough connections and power to run 4 chargers off one ps. just be on the safe side of things and solder the 2 wires together then use 2 heat shrinks on it.
KaliKitsune
Well-Known Member
Another satisfied DIY customer! I love PC power supplies, as long as you don't run too hard of a load on the wires amperage wise you're golden. I'm thinking of turning an older PC case into a cloning box, hook up my 12V T5 handheld light inside and let it rip with a couple of fans for airflow and temp control.
la9
Well-Known Member
they used to be the best bargain around for test bench power supplies, all the voltages you needed all in a switchable supply with shutdown protection for $25. Looks like they are starting to market them now so the prices seem to be $50 and up anymore.
proheto8008
Well-Known Member
You can use these components
110v AC to 12v DC Power Supply
http://www.coolerguys.com/840556029977.html
Fan Controller
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811998808
110v AC to 12v DC Power Supply
http://www.coolerguys.com/840556029977.html
Fan Controller
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811998808
KaliKitsune
Well-Known Member
The fact they can't tell "Affect" from "Effect" makes me not want to buy such a nice product.
Jrankin89
Well-Known Member
all you have to do is find a DC power supply, anywhere between 4 .. and 12 Volts, anything under 12 has less power to the fan, wont spin as fast.. just cut the wires and connect them, if it doesn't work when you plug it in then switch the wire order, should work fine, and easy to do... cheap also.
