Electrical connection question: Multiple PC fans
- Thread starter reef_doug
- Start date
artful-dodger
New member
hook them in parallel.
any 12v adapter will work...the fans are very low draw (is it really .08 amps??? the computer fans I've used are closer to .1 to .2 amps.) so 4 of them will probably be less than the rating on whatever adapter you find.
the best adapter (unless you are going to recycle an extra cell-phone charger) is one that gives you the choice of multiple voltages. I use an adaptor I found at Amazon--Coby 800mA Adaptor (part # CA-989) that gives you a simple switch to choose between 1.5, 3, 4.5, 6, 7.5, 9 or 12 volts. The speed of the fans varies with the voltage (the wonders of direct current!) so you can better control how much cooling you get. (I think you could get the same effect on a more DIY basis with a potentiometer/variable resistor.)
any 12v adapter will work...the fans are very low draw (is it really .08 amps??? the computer fans I've used are closer to .1 to .2 amps.) so 4 of them will probably be less than the rating on whatever adapter you find.
the best adapter (unless you are going to recycle an extra cell-phone charger) is one that gives you the choice of multiple voltages. I use an adaptor I found at Amazon--Coby 800mA Adaptor (part # CA-989) that gives you a simple switch to choose between 1.5, 3, 4.5, 6, 7.5, 9 or 12 volts. The speed of the fans varies with the voltage (the wonders of direct current!) so you can better control how much cooling you get. (I think you could get the same effect on a more DIY basis with a potentiometer/variable resistor.)
reef_doug
Premium Member
Thanks.
I currently have a variable Coby 12vdc 300mA and it works great for one fan. When I hooked 2 fans in parallel, the speeds diminished by about 30%. I double checked... it is on 12v.
I'm thinking to get a 1200mA adapter, would this allow 4 fans to have the speed of 1 fan at 300mA? Do I need to be concerned with watts? (each fan at .96w).
(I don't know if you can just add up amperages and/or watts, my electronics mathematics is not good).
A couple vendor sources on the internet confirmed the 120mm Vantec Stealths are 0.08A and .96w.
I currently have a variable Coby 12vdc 300mA and it works great for one fan. When I hooked 2 fans in parallel, the speeds diminished by about 30%. I double checked... it is on 12v.
I'm thinking to get a 1200mA adapter, would this allow 4 fans to have the speed of 1 fan at 300mA? Do I need to be concerned with watts? (each fan at .96w).
(I don't know if you can just add up amperages and/or watts, my electronics mathematics is not good).
A couple vendor sources on the internet confirmed the 120mm Vantec Stealths are 0.08A and .96w.
