12v computer fans are the .... well you get it. I use these in every type of ventilation/circulation I need for my closet. 2 4" fans pull air through carbon filters, 1 provides circulation in the flower box and I have 2 rubbermaid veg boxes each with 1 fan forcing air in and providing circulation. They work great and are very easily mounted due to light weight. With 5 of those fans running in my closet, you wouldnt know it from the outside.
Before I was using the ac/dc adaptors to power the fans but I kept having the same issue, 2 fans on 1 over a period of 5 months would separate the housing of the adaptor making it very unsafe around a metal grow box. So recently I got a new computer and 2 fan speed controllers. Took a little time to figure out how to jump out the power supply so the 12v leads would work but I got it(tied a green wire into a white wire). Anyway, Im much happier with the computer power supply as my power source. I feel much safer this way as well compared to the ac/dc adaptors. To top it off I now get actual voltage to the fan. With the adaptors, if you wire 2 fan to it then turn it on and disconnect 1, the speed increased. Each additional fan caused a voltage drop at all fans connected, thus making my adaptor work harder and eventually fail.
St0ney, if you havnt already get that controller hooked up to an old computer power supply. Being the computer savey guy you are Im sure it would be a simple task that would save you lots of issues in time.
also, the biggest ac/dc adaptor I could find was 1000ma, and most my comp fans were higher then that with required amperage. so even 1 fan hooked to it was a risk. and to finally finish it off, the 1000ma adaptor was 20.00 dollars, I paid that much for 2 controllers that has 3 adjustment knobs each and should handle many many fans per connector. its just safer IMO
great thread BTW, people using this method please remember to be safe. make sure your connections are secure and insulated before walking away. |