How to wire computer fans for use in a canopy

overanalyzer

overanalyzer

Active Member
Title says it all how do you wire a computer fan to work in your canopy. I know there was a thread on this once long ago but you would not believe the number of returns i get when I type in fan on the search for this forum .....
thanks
 
gollus

gollus

Member
umm here is how i wired mine, i got an old extention cord that worked crappy cut of the part that doesnt plug into the wall then took those 2 wires and wirenutted em onto the fan, works like a breeze (hehehe). Not sure how high tech you wanted to get, mine is kinda low ball, but it works so im happy.
 
reefnut

reefnut

Active Member
Mine had 3- wires. A black (-) Red (+) Yellow (temp control). The yellow or temp control is used by the PC so I just cut it short and taped it up. You will need a 12v power supply. Splice the power supply into the fans, check rotation and your good to go.
 
scottnj

scottnj

Member

Originally posted by gollus
umm here is how i wired mine, i got an old extention cord that worked crappy cut of the part that doesnt plug into the wall then took those 2 wires and wirenutted em onto the fan, works like a breeze (hehehe). Not sure how high tech you wanted to get, mine is kinda low ball, but it works so im happy.

ACK... and NO....
At least not with a computer fan. As Kip and Reef said, you need something to covert to 12V to use the computer fan, and it should be the red and black your most concerned with. If the fan runs backwards swap the wires. ;-)
I am thinking Gollus was talking about the 4 inch AC fans you can buy from radio shack which yes you can just connect the two leads to the end of an extension cord and your set. But please don't try that with a 12V DC computer fan.
-Scott
 
gollus

gollus

Member
oh sorry that is indeed what i was talking about. it was NOT a computer fan, but that got me thinking, would it be possible to use the computer fan's temperature control on the tank, like hook it to something so the fan would automatically go on when the tank got to hot?
 
temple2101

temple2101

Member
Gollus ... yes you can use the temperature control. I have two computer fans setup in my tank that are temperature controlled. They have a thermistor attached to the yellow wire (temperature sensitive resistor). However I don't know how effective the thermistor really is. My fans never seem to change speed. HTH :D
 
luptinpitman

luptinpitman

Member
Don't know if you got this going yet but there is a quicker and cleaner way of doing it.
Go to some of the computer mod shops online and pick up the little computer auxillary powersupplies used for powering additional fans in/on a modded computer.
pcmods.com
xoxide.com
etc...
Been out of the industry for awhile, but they exist and are perfect for your application. Steps down the voltage to 12v for you direct from the wall.
Hope that helps.
 
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