powering a computer fan

[JonnybeGood]

im building a small 1 plant chamber, with this computer fan in it. (JLP's male flowerin chamber)
how am i going to power the fan?
iv been looking around, will a 12v DC power supply work?
or whats my easiest route here?
thanks

 

[treble]

Hi JonnybeGood I am researching same thing as we speak...looked at it ages ago, now is time to put something in place. You need to know the voltage and amperage of the fan. Cannot have higher amperage or the fan gets fried.

you have a couple options from what I can see:

1. get a switchable power adapter from Radio Shack:

if you know the voltage/Amps something like this: http://www.radioshack.com/product/i...ssion=1&numProdsPerPage=100&parentPage=search

There are several of that make. find the right volt/amp combo OR if you can't find an exact match you can get ones that can be set to what output you need. Have a look at an earlier post of mine and some suggestions I got.
http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?p=1099730&highlight=power#post1099730

2. Use a PC power supply (PSU). You need to "hot wire" them so they run without being connected to a motherboard but it is easy enough. See the thread link above for more on that.

3. This one is a "idea" at the moment and it is the reason I was browsing around when I saw your post and that is Solar Panels...... I figured I am already running lights in my grow box and I think given its size, I could possibly fit a small solar panel in there to power my fans.

Not 100% sure just yet but curious enough to take a look at it.

So check your fans volt/amp rating, Do not excede that level, check out some small power adapters, a PC power supply or solar.

Note on the PSU. You may need to just check around to see if there is some kind of volt switching that needs to be set. I think power to the mother board can be 3v or 5 v. Don't know how that is decided or if it affects a setup like this.

cheers
treb

 

[treble]

or you could just try this thread.....

http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=70035

 

[JonnybeGood]

I have an old 3.7v adapter.. will that be enough to power say a 20cfm fan?w/ these specs:
Rate Voltage: 10.8-13.2VDC
Starting Voltage: 7VDC

and thanks for the help treble

 

[Guest]

no, that adapter wont even start your fan

 

[JonnybeGood]

ya thats what i thought.

 

[george j warner]

hi you can use anything up to 12volts safely to power computer fans as i have on many occasions

even mobile phone chargers about 6volts work ... the more volts the more rpm you get up to the point past 12 when they will die .

hope this helps

 

[chubby_nugs]

Use free power!

Best way to wire them up is to use your telephone line. Free 12V power supply! Good way to do it is split the line coming out with a multi-jack adaptor and you can wire each fan indivually if you wanted with each being plugged into its own jack. I use a powerstrip with the phone line option and everything is right there in one spot.

 

[NiteTiger]

Using the phone line is certainly not a good idea, sorry. The voltage on a phone line isn't consistent, and you run the risk of some weird back loop pointing a big arrow at your house.

I've never seen a comp fan that wasn't 12vdc. Get a power converter from RS, as mentioned above, or, if you're cheap like I am, head to the pawn shop. They often have chargers and adapters from equipment that they'll let go for super cheap.

 

[chubby_nugs]

I know plenty of people who use the phone line. There are even products on the market now that use the phone lines for power. They're not going to come beat down your door from the electricity powering a few computer fans.

 

[NiteTiger]

I believe I specifically said it would be some weird situation that would cause it.

Oh wait, I sure did...

...you run the risk of some weird back loop pointing a big arrow at your house.

Lots of things use power from the phone line. Primarily, the phone. Just because it works doesn't make it a good option.

Also, you do realize that the voltage on a phone line changes, right? There's a constant voltage (the dial tone), and then a carrier voltage when you get a call (what makes it ring).

I know plenty of people who use a butter knife for a screwdriver, but it still doesn't make it the safest or most effective tool for the job.