Reef Central Online Community

Home Forum Here you can view your subscribed threads, work with private messages and edit your profile and preferences View New Posts View Today's Posts

Find other members Frequently Asked Questions Search Reefkeeping ...an online magazine for marine aquarists Support our sponsors and mention Reef Central

Go Back   Reef Central Online Community Archives > General Interest Forums > Do It Yourself
FAQ Calendar Today's Posts Search

 
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
  #1  
Old 01/03/2008, 05:05 PM
SanFranTodd SanFranTodd is offline
Anemone Addict
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: California
Posts: 1,537
Will this power suppy & PC fan work?

Wanting to wire up a computer fan to cool of the lighting canopy, just don't want to burn the house down!


Fan: DC12V 0.19A

Power Supply: Input 100-240V~50/60Hz 0.4A / Output DC12V/1.5A





Thanks!
  #2  
Old 01/03/2008, 05:12 PM
israelnajar israelnajar is offline
Resistance is Futile
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Albuquerque
Posts: 685
Man I need a 12V/1.5A powersupply. I use the phone charges. They are anywhere from 6 to 12V and usually 300 to 900mA. I wouldn't use that charger unless you were wiring more than one fan on it. But that is just me.
__________________
I would never do such a thing unless you would already have been going to do that!
  #3  
Old 01/03/2008, 05:16 PM
SanFranTodd SanFranTodd is offline
Anemone Addict
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: California
Posts: 1,537
Is it too much power? I found it in my junk drawer .
  #4  
Old 01/03/2008, 05:26 PM
Pbrown3701 Pbrown3701 is offline
Registered Member
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Stillwater, OK
Posts: 987
you're fine using it. I think israelnajar was suggesting that it was a "waste" of power. IT's completely safe however.
  #5  
Old 01/03/2008, 05:33 PM
SanFranTodd SanFranTodd is offline
Anemone Addict
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: California
Posts: 1,537
great, thanks guys!


I also dug this one up, if it would be a better option:

Input: 120V~ 60Hz 15W / Output: 12V 700mA



It's twice as big as the other one (in size), but I think those specs use less juice (correct?)



thanks again
  #6  
Old 01/03/2008, 06:06 PM
israelnajar israelnajar is offline
Resistance is Futile
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Albuquerque
Posts: 685
If it were me I would use the 700mA one as I don't like to waste energy when at all possible. The difference in fan speed will hardly be noticed.
__________________
I would never do such a thing unless you would already have been going to do that!
  #7  
Old 01/03/2008, 09:13 PM
ErikJL ErikJL is offline
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Spokane, WA
Posts: 65
You're not really wasting energy as the fan determines the power drawn, not the DC supply. The 700mA supply will work just fine and would support 3 of those fans in parallel.
  #8  
Old 01/03/2008, 10:32 PM
smcdonn smcdonn is offline
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Fayetteville, AR
Posts: 823
When they state an OUTPUT on the power supplies, the amperage is simply a MAX. The fan will pull .19 amps at 12 volts no matter what amperage the supply is rated at (assuming its rated higher than .19A).
__________________
75 gal Reef, 29 gallon sump, Dual 250W SE 14K Hamiltons. A few SPS, and some softies
  #9  
Old 01/04/2008, 01:57 AM
bebitte70 bebitte70 is offline
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Canada
Posts: 155
Quote:
Originally posted by smcdonn
When they state an OUTPUT on the power supplies, the amperage is simply a MAX. The fan will pull .19 amps at 12 volts no matter what amperage the supply is rated at (assuming its rated higher than .19A).
I agree with you 100%, just take note that usually the voltage will be slightly higher than stated when using a lower load than indicated. You are still fine using it though. I would use the 700mA PS.
  #10  
Old 01/04/2008, 12:54 PM
israelnajar israelnajar is offline
Resistance is Futile
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Albuquerque
Posts: 685
That is true but you are still wasting energy with the unused juice. Don't believe me plug that same power supply into a kill-o-watt meter, with nothing connected to it. I'm pretty positive that it will be using/wasting energy.
__________________
I would never do such a thing unless you would already have been going to do that!
  #11  
Old 01/04/2008, 10:52 PM
kgross kgross is offline
Can't be listed on **
 
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: Nampa, ID
Posts: 2,343
Yes the higher wattage powersupply will have more wasted energy if both power supplies are built to similar efficiencies. But you will be looking at less than a watt so I don't think you could ever notice it on a power bill.

Kim
__________________
America will only be the Land of the Free as long as it is the Home of the Brave.
  #12  
Old 01/05/2008, 03:17 AM
Icefire Icefire is offline
Phyto tank master
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: In Quebec, Canada
Posts: 2,342
That is rediculous, plug both in a kill o watt meter and they will have less than 1W in difference.

And you could be supprised as the 700mA might be way less efficient than the 1500mA and be the one taking 1W more.
__________________
2 ocelaris 1-1.5", 1 bandaii cardinal, 1 yellow watchman goby

1 pep. shrimp, 10 nas, 1 astrea , 1 cerrith snails

Some softys

PH 8.1, Alk 11, NH3/4, NO2, NO3 0, Temp 77-79F, SG 1.025
  #13  
Old 01/05/2008, 11:33 AM
eznet2u eznet2u is offline
Registered Member
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Central California
Posts: 257
Quote:
Originally posted by israelnajar
I don't like to waste energy when at all possible.
And you own a reef tank? No offense, but this is not the hobby to be in...

ALL wall warts consume power when they are plugged in. The higher amperage one's are usually MORE efficient than the little ones. Check for yourself.
 


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:22 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Use of this web site is subject to the terms and conditions described in the user agreement.
Reef Central™ Reef Central, LLC. Copyright ©1999-2009