installing computer fans?

Milleme · #1 07/30/2006, 04:54 PM

Today I took a trip to frys to get a coupla computer fans and found out that they dont plug directly into the wall so I wouldv'e had to by a 20$ adapter plus the 15$ fan, Which wasnt worth it IMO.

Is this what evrybody here is doing or is there something im missing?

dolfans1 · #2 07/30/2006, 04:57 PM

Go to Radio Shack. They have computer fans that run on 120V AC (make sure you don't get the ones that run on 12 V DC). Get a spare plug/power cord and wire them to the plug with connectors - make sure the connetions are water resistant (and keep them above the water).

cristhiam · #3 07/30/2006, 05:06 PM

That's a lot for a computer fan IMO. I got 4 fans at 4.99 from a local computer store and the $20 adapter from radio shack.

crvz · #4 07/30/2006, 09:07 PM

And dpeending on the draw of the fan, you can normally wire a few of them onto one AC-DC adapter. Many DC fans will pull less than 500mA, and you can easily find adapters that will run at over 1200mA, which should allow you to wire in 2 and sometimes 3 fans onto on plug.

cristhiam · #5 07/30/2006, 10:11 PM

That's what I have a 1200mA, I'm running 4 3.5" fans

bimmerzs · #6 07/30/2006, 10:15 PM

I went to a used computer store and purchased an old power supply from a computer case, then hooked up (3) 12V fans that I bought there also..cheap

csb · #7 07/30/2006, 10:18 PM

Almost everyone has a few spare "wall warts" hanging around in the back of junk drawers, closets, etc. You don't have any? Almost any 12v DC adapter will work, as long as it can supply the mA needed by the fan.

That's exactly what I run for cooling... I swiped a couple of fans from dead computers (FREE), then scrounged through my junk electronics box and picked a DC adapter that once belonged to a RC battery charger. Wired it up, and it's been running on my tank for the past 6 months.