[Q]About PC-FANS overpowering!??

C

cstribal

Active Member
Hello growers!
I was wondering if in case i power my PC fans i want to install in my growbox with a more than 12V power source, will there be any problems like overpower the fan and burn it or something?
And is it safe to do so?

If it's not safe, then how should i power my PC fans in their maximum and safe speed?
 
JoObJoOb

JoObJoOb

Active Member
you can take an old pwer supply like old printers used,or even an old cell phone chager,splice your fan to it,it will run on less the 12 volt but anything over 12-14 will fry it those run on dc not ac,u can also use an old power supply out of a desktop pc,it will run many fans,and old laptop supply will work great too
 
C

cstribal

Active Member
JoObJoOb said:
you can take an old pwer supply like old printers used,or even an old cell phone chager,splice your fan to it,it will run on less the 12 volt but anything over 12-14 will fry it those run on dc not ac,u can also use an old power supply out of a desktop pc,it will run many fans,and old laptop supply will work great too
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I actually have an AC ADAPTER from my old scanner, it says INPUT:100-240V and OUTPUT:+12V. Is this one going to work like a charm with my FAN or I'm wrong?
 
ButchyBoy

ButchyBoy

Well-Known Member
cstribal said:
I actually have an AC ADAPTER from my old scanner, it says INPUT:100-240V and OUTPUT:+12V. Is this one going to work like a charm with my FAN or I'm wrong?
Click to expand...
That would be perfect! I use an old charger from a hand held spot light.
 
Abiqua

Abiqua

Well-Known Member
Be careful with 12v supplies. Even regulated 12v supplies can put out more than 12v's especially when not under a full load. If you have a voltage meter, this helps a lot. It is much better to get the fan sized as close or just under full load.

Right now I run a 12v .5mA power supply to 2 fans about 430mA's combined. One fan is controlled by an 1k linear pot. I use it to lower the voltage going to the fan, which essentially makes it a fan speed controller. Better ways than this, but works and cheap.

Flower cab#2 has [2] 510mA 120mm fans. I run them both off a 12v 1a and I use 1k pots for each fan. [I am actually thinking about using a Ps2 power supply so I can add more fans] Ps2 = 12v@.25-5A's.


Honestly, over the last 6 months I have run variations on all kinds of 12v and pc fan/blower setups [2 micro cabs].

The "safest" would be to build a simple controller using a LM317 voltage controller and they make an adjustable. This way you can take even bigger than 12v [have to read the datasheet on the LM317] and put out a clean regulated 12v 1a source.

If I don't want to blow up my fans........ I do run any random Phone or random charger less than 12v's unregulated. 5-7v's regulated /unregulated will power even 120mm fans at a little more than half of full speed.

Cooler guys makes a nice AC to 4 pin fan power supply that puts out 1.5 amps @ 12v's. You can then buy a cheap PC fan controller, which are potentiometers with a Cap, and run fans that way too.

http://www.amazon.com/Coolerguys-100-240v-Molex-Power-Adapter/dp/B000MGG6SC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1386236428&sr=8-1&keywords=coolerguys+4+pin+ac+fan+cord
 
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