im fairly new to growing and right now im in the middle of my first grow, but im already looking into new ideas for my next grow room and ive seen people say that they use old computer fans for ventilation. can someone please explain to me how you are able to wire a computer fan to plug into and outlet...im ok with electronics and wiring, not a pro, but i can manage..thanks in advance
how to use a computer fan
- Thread starter theceo13
- Start date
darkdestruction420
Well-Known Member
cell phone charger is what most use. just snip the part that hooks into the phone off and connect the wires to the ones that are the same color on the fan.
crazeehaze
Well-Known Member
yea thats pretty much it, ive come to have 1 problem with the computer fans hooked up like this though.. they suddenly stop every other day for no apparent reason.
have too unplug it and plug it back in and it starts up again... no idea why though..
have too unplug it and plug it back in and it starts up again... no idea why though..
monty Python
Active Member
Is this the safest way to power a pc fan ?
Anyone got any horror storys about using them or think i will be fine.
I need to hook one up for my dry box.
Thanks.
Anyone got any horror storys about using them or think i will be fine.
I need to hook one up for my dry box.
Thanks.
the seedman
Active Member
think those chargers are for a couple hours charge, fans, suck power, the box is over heating and switching off until cool and reset
the proper way would be a stepdown to 12v box desinged fur longer use
i used a 12v ac charger. cut the plug and exposed the wires. expose the wires for the fans. match colors. red with red and black with black. disregard the yellow. that controls the speed of the fan. wrap some electrical tape around the exposed wires and plug it in and try it out. never had any problems with them shutting down or anything.
monty Python
Active Member
boomdiddly
Member
Just make sure the adapter is 12V output and the amp rating of your fan isn't above the max the charger is able to provide and you should be good, either wrap the wires around and tape or if the have a soldering iron, solder them together and use some heat shrink for a more pro job 
Peace
Peace
purplehazin
Well-Known Member
As posted, make sure the adapter is a 12V DC Output, a good amperage is 1A or 1000mA. You can run 2-3 PC fans safely on this cord. Available for $3 shipped on eBay.
monty Python
Active Member
Thanks for the pointers guys. The only problem is, im not sure of the amp rating of my fan. All i know is, its made by antec, its 120mm and has 3 diff speeds on it.
Anyone have an example of a good apater that will def handle one pc fan like this with the 3 speeds? Perhaps post an ebay link to the kinda thing id be looking at?
{Hope that doesnt sound like i want some1 to do the hard work for me, i just really do not have a clue about amps n volts etc
}
For now il have a look for one which is 1A or 1000mA like you say purplehazin. If i find sumthin il come back and double check its suitable.
Thanks for this.
Anyone have an example of a good apater that will def handle one pc fan like this with the 3 speeds? Perhaps post an ebay link to the kinda thing id be looking at?
{Hope that doesnt sound like i want some1 to do the hard work for me, i just really do not have a clue about amps n volts etc
}For now il have a look for one which is 1A or 1000mA like you say purplehazin. If i find sumthin il come back and double check its suitable.
Thanks for this.
qwerty0260
Well-Known Member
If you are only going to rig one fan to the cord, you don't need a 1a. I have my two fans rigged to 2 different chargers that only ouput 450mA and it works great. 12v cords aren't that hard to find. You don't have any old cell phone chargers or anything? They sell them at radioshack. They also sell pc fans that directly plug into outlets also. They're like 20 bucks a piece though. If you want to do it your self, you strip about an inch off all the wires and connect the one wire with the white dashed line to the red fan wire. And the black to the black. Some people say to also connect the yellow wire with the red one then to the white wire or it wont work. My fans don't have yellow though so I'm not sure. http://www.xoxide.com/yate-loon-highspeed-120.html you can get two of those fans for under 12 bucks shipped. 120mm. 88cfm. I'm going to order 2 probably tomorrow so I'll let you know how they are. You will need 2 fans anyways. one for intake and one for exhaust.Thanks for the pointers guys. The only problem is, im not sure of the amp rating of my fan. All i know is, its made by antec, its 120mm and has 3 diff speeds on it.
Anyone have an example of a good apater that will def handle one pc fan like this with the 3 speeds? Perhaps post an ebay link to the kinda thing id be looking at?
{Hope that doesnt sound like i want some1 to do the hard work for me, i just really do not have a clue about amps n volts etc
For now il have a look for one which is 1A or 1000mA like you say purplehazin. If i find sumthin il come back and double check its suitable.
Thanks for this.
merkstillgrows
Active Member
dude just get a ac/dc 12v converter/adapter and just match the Positive with Positive and - with - im running 4 pc fans off of 1 ac/dc converter/adapter easy shit bro just try it and you'll see for your self try this http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-Regulated-500mA-DC-Power-Adaptor-AC-Converter-AC-DC-/200456103245?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_ConsumerElectronics_PowerAdaptors_SM&hash=item2eac1d654d
monty Python
Active Member
Thanks man. Im in uk though, no radioshack here im afraid :{ Believe it or not i dont have anythin old like that lying around, if i still stayed at my parents id be spoilt for choise, my dad has lots of shit like that lying around.Thanks for the link.
This is just for a dry box. So il only need one for extraction yeah ? And just make lots of holes for passive intake kinda thing ?
Thanks man, good to know. That looks ideal, sorted.
Yeah I just got one of these off of ebay UK, cost less than 4 pounds and arrived the next day.Thanks man. Im in uk though, no radioshack here im afraid :{ Believe it or not i dont have anythin old like that lying around, if i still stayed at my parents id be spoilt for choise, my dad has lots of shit like that lying around.Thanks for the link.
This is just for a dry box. So il only need one for extraction yeah ? And just make lots of holes for passive intake kinda thing ?
Thanks man, good to know. That looks ideal, sorted.
Connected it up to a fan and it works great! Just hoping I can connect it to 3 fans
qwerty0260
Well-Known Member
That should be just fine. Just make sure to add all of the amps up (350mA=.35A ex) on the fans and don't excede the amp rating on the adaptor. you'll probably need a 1A-1.5A. I've seen people put four fans on one adapter.
qwerty0260
Well-Known Member
Never built a dry box but that sounds good.
monty Python
Active Member
Excellente !
qwerty0260
Well-Known Member
I think that should be fine. I hooked up one fan to a 5v cord and it worked. Just make sure not to surpass the Amp rating on the cord.