Cooling Fans

[cotter4601]

I'm looking for a way to cool my new light setup in my canopy. Should I use jsut regular PC 12v fans? Or the 120v fans? If I get the 120v fans I could just hook them up to the lights so when they come on so does the fan. This way the fans wouldn't be on all the time.

Do any of you know of a way to power a 12v fan like this? I guess I could get another timer powersupply and put them on that, but I was hoping I could do it differently.

 

[Alarmguy66]

Computer power supplies use a 12v fan that works perfect for these application. I use an old 12v AC/DC converter (like the power cord for a cordless phone, or any other 12v converter) to power it.

 

[Phyxius]

You can also get some ac/dc adapters at Walmart for pretty cheap. Lets you run the fans at 12V or 9V or 6V and etc. Computer fans are also a bit cheaper than the 120V fans

 

[cotter4601]

How can I wire the 12v fans so they only come on when the lights do? I do not have enough spots on the timer power supply to turn them on and off when the lights come on. Suggestions?

 

[Phyxius]

Do you have room to add another timer elsewhere or on another circuit close by?? You can get single timers and use them. On my smaller tank I have all the plugs used up on my reefkeeper so I hooked my canopy fans and sump fans to a single timer that kicks them on before the lights come on and 30 min after the lights go out.
I could have sent you a 12v power supply with the ballast if I had know you needed one.

 

[cotter4601]

Actually my last spare 12v ps is going towards my new moonlight fixture that I need to make yet( upgrading to to 16 LEDs from 8 ). I'm not sure if i'm going the 12v route or the 120v route. I guess a $5 single timer could solve the issue for now. If I do use a 120v fan I could just wire it in right before the ballast right? Would I wire it to the black or white for power?