how to wire computer fan?

[Louis Kirkland]

No, you can buy a regular computer fan and it should come with 2 wires a red and black.

Than find some sort of plug with the 2 wires coming out the back. Not sure if you can buy them or you might just have to ruin an old extension cord.

Then you just match the wires and plug it in.

CAUTION!!!!!

Do not connect your computer fans directly to 120 VAC household current.

Most computer fans are 12VDC. You will need to get an AC adapter to convert your household current from AC to DC.

Here's a link to an example.

http://www.radioshack.com/sm-3-12v-r...i-2552560.html

The unit shown has adjustable voltage from 3-12 VDC. The fan will run at full speed @ 12 volts and slower as the voltage is reduced. We are using some similar to this, but we use only the 12 volt selection.

I recommend that you choose a unit that has an output amperage exceeding your fan's required input amperage by at least 25%. Don't worry if the unit you choose has an amperage output greater than your fans input requirement. It will not hurt your fan.

If you have more than one fan, you can use multiple AC adapters or you can use one AC adapter as long as the total required input amperage of the fans doesn't exceed the AC adapter's output amperage. As before it would be best if the output amperage exceeded the total required input amperage by at least 25%.

[Texas Dan]

CAUTION!!!!!

Do not connect your computer fans directly to 120 VAC household current.

Most computer fans are 12VDC. You will need to get an AC adapter to convert your household current from AC to DC.

Here's a link to an example.

http://www.radioshack.com/sm-3-12v-r...i-2552560.html

The unit shown has adjustable voltage from 3-12 VDC. The fan will run at full speed @ 12 volts and slower as the voltage is reduced. We are using some similar to this, but we use only the 12 volt selection.

I recommend that you choose a unit that has an output amperage exceeding your fan's required input amperage by at least 25%. Don't worry if the unit you choose has an amperage output greater than your fans input requirement. It will not hurt your fan.

If you have more than one fan, you can use multiple AC adapters or you can use one AC adapter as long as the total required input amperage of the fans doesn't exceed the AC adapter's output amperage. As before it would be best if the output amperage exceeded the total required input amperage by at least 25%.

Already said this.

And sent a PM, hope he listens.

[Louis Kirkland]

Already said this.

And sent a PM, hope he listens.

Sorry Skoalbasher. I didn't mean to repeat your post. I guess you posted while I was putting my post together. It's all good though. I don't think it will hurt to say it more than once. That's SCARY just to think about. I would hate to see someone get hurt.

[Texas Dan]

Sorry Skoalbasher. I didn't mean to repeat your post. I guess you posted while I was putting my post together. It's all good though. I don't think it will hurt to say it more than once. That's SCARY just to think about. I would hate to see someone get hurt.

Yeah I know, that kind of advice can never be said enough. When I first read that, my jaw dropped. Since the OP hasn't responded since we've posted I really, really hope he didn't take that advice.

If so, I hope he has insurance.

[GirDance]

Why not just wire it up to an old CPU power supply and plug that in.... Seems so much easier to me than fiddling around with solder etc - plus their might even be a way to connect your heat source as well (although that would require solder).

[Texas Dan]

Why not just wire it up to an old CPU power supply and plug that in.... Seems so much easier to me than fiddling around with solder etc - plus their might even be a way to connect your heat source as well (although that would require solder).

Good idea, but not really the best. Using a PC power supply is going to be way expensive if you don't already have one. Pluging in a heater to it probably wouldn't be the best idea because.. where are you going to plug your thermostat? I mean, I certainly wouldn't plug an old power supply into a thermostat, not that it would hurt anything, I just wouldn't do it.

It's much cheaper, cleaner, and probably safer to just buy a 110v-12v transformer at radio shack.

[JenH]

An alternative is to use an AC fan that can be found at Radio Shack, but it's a little pricey. You can wire these up directly to a standard power cord.

That's what I did - it was $20. But looks pretty heavy duty compared to a normal computer fan. I'm wireing it to a non-grounded extention plug. I've got 2 girls opaque so I'm setting everything up and getting it all running this weekend.

[tncorns]

Well I wasn't thinking before but I guess I could just take the fan from my hovabator since I want need it anymore once the fridge is done. That is a ac motor. It should work, wouldn't it

[filly77]

what if one hooked up a 12V computer fan to a 7V ac adapter. it might not run as fast but it wouldn't cause a fire would it?

[Texas Dan]

what if one hooked up a 12V computer fan to a 7V ac adapter. it might not run as fast but it wouldn't cause a fire would it?

Depends.. is your fan powered by AC or DC?

You have a 7v AC adapter? Is that output? Or is it 120v AC input and 7v DC output. If that's the case, then you can use it, just won't run as fast.

More than likely your AC adapter is pushing 7v DC out, so that would be totally alright. Double check though.