The ultimate beginner's guide to PC FANS

[hoknuf]

I learned quite a bit about computer fans after reading ScrubNinja's tutorial about fans. Thank you for a simple to understand tutorial. I am upgrading my pc grow box, and I ordered two Delta fans after I learned its performance in this tutorial. I have some questions about it. Fans are: Delta 120 x 25mm Extreme High-Speed Fan - 150.33 CFM (FFB1212EH) and Delta 120 x 38mm Super High-Speed Fan - 151.85 CFM (AFB1212SHE). I also ordered a Fan Controller.

I already have a PSU with following specifications:
AC Input: 180VAC/264VAC - 4A(Max) 50Hz
DC Output: +12V(Max 16A), -5V, 5V(Max 18A), -12V(Max 0.5A), +3.3V(Max 16A), +5VSB(Max 2A)
Total WATTSfor PSU: 350W

My question is: Can I run these both 2 Delta Fans with a 20W per channel Fan controller with the above Power Supply Unit(350W) without a problem ? Sorry I am new to these PC Fans.

 

[k1net1k]

looks like those fans use 12.6watts (make sure total under the 350 psu watts)
and under 20w per fan on your fan controller

fan needs 12v, psu gives out 12

hook em up

 

[ScrubNinja]

Yup, hotwire the PSU and show us what you got

Edit: The biggest one is 17.4 watts.

 

[maryjohn]

Sorry dude, I meant 500w of CFLs. I think you said you weren't using all 500w yet or something?

I don't think I ever will use all 500w lol. I have the sockets but can only fit 11 42 watters in. To do all 12 I would have to remote ballast. beh. I will probably run 9 or 10 of them. I'm hoping to avoid making a heat shield for the summer.

Right now, with my veg lights, and the lower bin filled up to raise the plants, I am 11F over ambient. My tests without the bottom box blocked and the consequential airflow/space reduction were close to ambient, so by stoner logic, I should be 11F over ambient with the flower lights.

 

[hoknuf]

looks like those fans use 12.6watts (make sure total under the 350 psu watts)
and under 20w per fan on your fan controller

fan needs 12v, psu gives out 12

hook em up

Thanks k1net1k for your quick reply. I had a relief after reading it.

Yup, hotwire the PSU and show us what you got

Edit: The biggest one is 17.4 watts.

Thanks ScrubNinja. I already know how to hotwire the PSU. I will show you my setup once I hook up.

 

[maryjohn]

FIY hok, the delta's starting with AFB are better for undervolting acccording to some computer dealer site I read.

 

[hoknuf]

Thanks for the hint MJ. Now I will use the AFB one. I ordered two with the intention of selling the other one.

 

[medi-useA]

Hiya one and all!..
Let me state this first...I have yet to read this thread fully...it's on my short term 'to do' list.

THAT being said...I'm researching @ the moment...and in my travels came across a site you might be interested in if you don't know it already.

One interesting article was how to build a temp control for computer fans...which I think has some significance to this subject..

The parts needed?

A MOSFET Power transistor (N-Channel), price between $1 and $2
A 10K spindle trimming potentiometer, price around $1
A 10K NTC temperature sensor, price around $1

Th@'s about it!

Having your fans turn on or off @ your preset temp....

Th@'s got to be worth a look!

Hope this is new info for you all!

Have a Great Holiday!

muA

 

[ScrubNinja]

Bookmark'd and rep'd, medi!! I hope to give this a go one day.

 

[medi-useA]

Thanks....Glad to have discovered something useful...I don't yet have the know how to put half the info I have to use!

muA

 

[Paranoid one]

Hello scrubs.

1st merry Christmas to you!

2nd I have a 12 v 1A adapter, 2 fans, and everything I need to connect them.

But I must be a complete retard. I have no clue on how to connect them in parallel. And the diagram you have on the first page is no help to me. I searched dozens of sites. I even checked YouTube. No help. Can you tell me how to connect in parallel in a detailed explanation? Sorry but I have 'ed myself 4 times already, and it's no good.

I don't get the part how to connect the 2nd fan to ac/DC adapter and 1st fan wires.
Please help me out? I'm talking about soldering them togeather.

By the way I couldn't use the 12v 300 and 500 mA adapters because I need those for my modem/phone.

 

[ScrogBoxJenkins]

12v.....to fan.....add wires to that connection and go to next fan....add wires go to next...and so on... that adapter should hold a few fans
Just make sure all the reds share the same wire and all the blacks share the same wire.
if the fans dont work reverse the red and black at the first connection.

 

[Paranoid one]

LOL. Thanks but that did not help at all.

All wires as in combine R+R and B+B. Than, 2R to 2nd fans R wire which makes 3R wires put together. And than 2B to last B wire of 2nd fan? That makes a completely different diagram...(well atleast in my head...)
Wait I think I got it after editing my post.

Will I have to solder 2times to make a sideway "T" solder?


Like, adapter
| |
. .
|- [•] -|
. .
|- [•] -|



sorry for the shit diagram.
.=solder
[•]=fan

Edit:Sorry can't match the lines up


2nd Edit:
Scrubs i came across this wonderful video just now... even though its "lights" you can easily understand the concept of parallel. You might want to add this to your guide.

Here is the link to it:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-eNaJrOTcBY&feature=related

 

[ScrubNinja]

Did you work it out then? You lost me at the diagram I can do a diagram if you want, just that it's all the same - my first diagram, the new diagram I'd do, or the video. Not looking down at all, but it's a very simple concept and I think you may have just been approaching it the wrong way. I get that a lot. Detailed explanation:

Take fan #1 and fan #2 and join their red wires to each other. Take the black wires of each fan and attach them to each other. Then get the two leads from your power supply and attach positive to the joined red fan wires, and attach the negative to the joined black wires. Just flip them the other way if you don't get it right the first time. There's only two combinations. Let me know if that doesn't fix it. I noticed you got blue in your diagram but not sure if you used that so black doesn't get mixed up or what... If any problems tell me how many, and what colour fan wires are coming out of the fans. Peace.

 

[whatissixbynine]

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[ScrubNinja]

Man, don't read all that, you must be nuts!

 

[Paranoid one]

thanks scrubs!
I was just not thinking straight.
After seeing that video, I was like... Dam that's what I did at first. I was just making much mor complicated than it really was. So yeah I got it after I posted it.

 

[ScrubNinja]

Heheh cool, cool. Glad it's all good. I had to wire 12 ccfl inverters in parallel and the only tough bit is stripping that many wires

 

[medi-useA]

Just a query?..Has anyone thought of using a fan with one of those big-arsed heat sinks to cool equipment?

Or am I totally out of the ballpark?

muA

 

[ScrubNinja]

Pedro started working on fins for pl-l bases. Disfunktional is planning a heat sink type thing for his res. That's all I can think of. Aerohead may have utilised something like that too, I seem to recall.