cyphercrash
Well-Known Member
Heres a tip... Sometimes a cell phone charger just does not meet your power needs, especially if you are running multiple fans or even just a couple of fans of different voltages. Use a Laptop Computer Charger instead.
Pros: Allows for multiple fans, allows for larger fans.
Cons: More detailed electrical knowledge required.
NOTE: Never work with power supply plugged in. Follow all normal safety precautions dealing with the use, tampering, and repair of electrical circutry. Do not attempt this at home, these directions are for educational purposes ONLY.
That Said...
After you find a suitable Laptop (Notebook) Computer power supply/battery charger (confused as to where to find one, try salvation army, local electroninc store sell universal ones, or online) Cut off the end that plugs into the computer right at the plug and expose the wires.
Depending upon the type of charger you have, you will see either 2 or 4 wires)
For 2 wire chargers hook all of your PC fan black wires together and then all of the red wires together. Connect one of the wires from the charger to the combined black wires, and the other to the combined red wires. Not allowing the red and black wires to touch, test the fans to see if they spin in the correct direction (most fans have an arrow on them indicating air flow and/or spin direction or both) On the off chance that the fans do not spin correctly, reverse the connection of the 2 wires to the red and black wires on the fans.
For 4 Wire Chargers
Hook all of the PC fan black wires together
hook all the red ones together
In 4 wire charges the other set of wires is usually a +5v circut not a +12v circut that most PC Fans Use.
If you do not have any 5 volt fans carefully cover up and isolate this circut so that it does not accidentally short out your system.
If you DO have some 5 volt fans you may hook them up to the second set of wires at this time (why I do not know but hey what ever floats your boat)
The Yellow wire is usually the 12 volt system here, NOT the Red as commonly mistaken but you should always make sure first. Hooking up the fans is usually enough to tell. If the fans spin exceptionally slow then that is the 5 volt circut.
P.S. there are 2 black wires either of them can be used for either circut in most cases (again check before taping or permenantly protecting and covering the connections).
Again this method can handle more and larger fans without causing them to spin at a slower rate as has been reported by some users.
Pros: Allows for multiple fans, allows for larger fans.
Cons: More detailed electrical knowledge required.
NOTE: Never work with power supply plugged in. Follow all normal safety precautions dealing with the use, tampering, and repair of electrical circutry. Do not attempt this at home, these directions are for educational purposes ONLY.
That Said...
After you find a suitable Laptop (Notebook) Computer power supply/battery charger (confused as to where to find one, try salvation army, local electroninc store sell universal ones, or online) Cut off the end that plugs into the computer right at the plug and expose the wires.
Depending upon the type of charger you have, you will see either 2 or 4 wires)
For 2 wire chargers hook all of your PC fan black wires together and then all of the red wires together. Connect one of the wires from the charger to the combined black wires, and the other to the combined red wires. Not allowing the red and black wires to touch, test the fans to see if they spin in the correct direction (most fans have an arrow on them indicating air flow and/or spin direction or both) On the off chance that the fans do not spin correctly, reverse the connection of the 2 wires to the red and black wires on the fans.
For 4 Wire Chargers
Hook all of the PC fan black wires together
hook all the red ones together
In 4 wire charges the other set of wires is usually a +5v circut not a +12v circut that most PC Fans Use.
If you do not have any 5 volt fans carefully cover up and isolate this circut so that it does not accidentally short out your system.
If you DO have some 5 volt fans you may hook them up to the second set of wires at this time (why I do not know but hey what ever floats your boat)
The Yellow wire is usually the 12 volt system here, NOT the Red as commonly mistaken but you should always make sure first. Hooking up the fans is usually enough to tell. If the fans spin exceptionally slow then that is the 5 volt circut.
P.S. there are 2 black wires either of them can be used for either circut in most cases (again check before taping or permenantly protecting and covering the connections).
Again this method can handle more and larger fans without causing them to spin at a slower rate as has been reported by some users.
