-
Happy Birthday ICMag! Been 20 years since Gypsy Nirvana created the forum! We are celebrating with a 4/20 Giveaway and by launching a new Patreon tier called "420club". You can read more here.
-
Important notice: ICMag's T.O.U. has been updated. Please review it here. For your convenience, it is also available in the main forum menu, under 'Quick Links"!
Powering computer fans in veg chamber
- Thread starter Sparky 6
- Start date
SupraSPL
Member
Hi Sparky. I use quite a few computer fans for all sorts of growing tasks. The adapters at Radio Shack, Walmart and eBay are generally expensive ~$15-$30 each. What I have been doing instead is going to thrift stores and looking for old AC-DC power adapters from telephones, cell phones and computer equipment. They almost always have a huge pile of them for 99 cents each.
Having a nice selection allows me to choose different voltages depending on the fans task. As long as you match or exceed the mA rating, you should be able to use anything that is 5v-12v.
If you need to power a bunch of fans, you can use a laptop power supply that is ~12v or under. They tend to be decently efficient ~75% or better.
Having a nice selection allows me to choose different voltages depending on the fans task. As long as you match or exceed the mA rating, you should be able to use anything that is 5v-12v.
If you need to power a bunch of fans, you can use a laptop power supply that is ~12v or under. They tend to be decently efficient ~75% or better.
slappyjack
Member
I don't use computer fans, but I do have a few old computer power supplies modified with generic power taps. Having a standby (cooled) 5v and 12v power source is very handy for lots of things around the house.
I have a battery charger than runs on 12v that I can use to charge almost any battery made today, including Lithium Poly, Lead Acid and car batteries. The best part about the charger is that voltage and amperage can be set to whatever I want.
I'd go with the power supply simply because you'll find other uses for it. They're dirt cheap even if you can't find a used one. You can probably find a 300w cheapie at the computer store for about $15. I hate wall-warts.
I have a battery charger than runs on 12v that I can use to charge almost any battery made today, including Lithium Poly, Lead Acid and car batteries. The best part about the charger is that voltage and amperage can be set to whatever I want.
I'd go with the power supply simply because you'll find other uses for it. They're dirt cheap even if you can't find a used one. You can probably find a 300w cheapie at the computer store for about $15. I hate wall-warts.
@Supra- haha that is pretty cool I gotta admit. The same thing could be achieved though with a computer fan controller. Not sure how much static pressure I'm going to need to get through that carbon sheet, might have to go with a Delta 38mm or something but right now I'm planning on trying stacked 25mm fans.
@slappy- I can keep the PS outside the chamber too and just run wires in to the fans keeping temps down. Might get a fan controller or just make inline resistors. My veg chamber is so small I'm liking this idea more and more.
@slappy- I can keep the PS outside the chamber too and just run wires in to the fans keeping temps down. Might get a fan controller or just make inline resistors. My veg chamber is so small I'm liking this idea more and more.
i have a couple computer fans hooked up in my small cabinet
i used the power supply from a dead firewire hard drive, the ide bus on the enclosure is dead but the power supply inside is kicking juice out just fine
i used the power supply from a dead firewire hard drive, the ide bus on the enclosure is dead but the power supply inside is kicking juice out just fine
What supra said. I just find old junk, some old cell phone chargers, old computer speaker adapters and such.
It's really simple, cut the end of the cord off and wire the fan up. You want to make sure the adapter is rated about 12v (I used a 15v once without a hitch)
Sparky, don't stack the fans, that won't boost the CFM rating. Better yet, rig up some type of Y-adapter and have the fans sucking from two holes and blowing into a single exhaust. Running 2 fans inline doesn't boost cfm, the air is still moving through the fans at the same rate, now if you separate them, each one of them is removing air from the cab at the same CFM rate, basically doubling your air movement. Not sure if that makes any sense.
It's really simple, cut the end of the cord off and wire the fan up. You want to make sure the adapter is rated about 12v (I used a 15v once without a hitch)
Sparky, don't stack the fans, that won't boost the CFM rating. Better yet, rig up some type of Y-adapter and have the fans sucking from two holes and blowing into a single exhaust. Running 2 fans inline doesn't boost cfm, the air is still moving through the fans at the same rate, now if you separate them, each one of them is removing air from the cab at the same CFM rate, basically doubling your air movement. Not sure if that makes any sense.
Stacking the fans will not improve the flow rate but it will allow the fan to move air at a higher static pressure.
Here's what I use. It provides four 12v fan leads and can be adjusted. Plus right in to an AC outlet.
I bought it on Newegg a couple of years ago. I did a quick search just now and didn't see it, but I'm sure it's still made.
I bought it on Newegg a couple of years ago. I did a quick search just now and didn't see it, but I'm sure it's still made.
SupraSPL
Member
Another thing to consider is that typical quiet 80-120mm fans running off wall warts will only draw ~2-4 watts each (although I have a mean 120 that will eat 14 watts). If you use PC power supply it might draw a whole lot more than that even when it is only running 1 or 2 fans.
I have an old PC supply that I use for testing. I will dig out my Kill-A-Watt meter and run a couple quick tests. It will be interesting to see how the wall wort compares to the PC supply and the laptop supply.
My plain jane 2005 PC draws 175 watts even when it is just sitting there idling and that is not including the screen or anything fancy. My old 2002 laptop draws 35 watts including 15" TN LCD screen.
I have an old PC supply that I use for testing. I will dig out my Kill-A-Watt meter and run a couple quick tests. It will be interesting to see how the wall wort compares to the PC supply and the laptop supply.
My plain jane 2005 PC draws 175 watts even when it is just sitting there idling and that is not including the screen or anything fancy. My old 2002 laptop draws 35 watts including 15" TN LCD screen.
Here's what I use. It provides four 12v fan leads and can be adjusted. Plus right in to an AC outlet.
I bought it on Newegg a couple of years ago. I did a quick search just now and didn't see it, but I'm sure it's still made.
That's perfect. Who is the maker?
Yes that is unsettling. Don't want to waste that many watts just powering a few fans. Maybe I should look for a laptop PS?
H
headfortrinity
Like Supra said,
Laptop power supplies will work fine they are rated at 12volts and 1 or 1.5 amps typically, so you could run multiple fans off one supply. Look on the fans and add up the amp ratings, give yourself a buffer for surges then wire them up in parallel to the supply, just make sure they are the same voltages and don't come close to exceeding the power supplies amperage rating.
I also like picking up stuff like that at the thrift store, no sense paying top dollar.
Laptop power supplies will work fine they are rated at 12volts and 1 or 1.5 amps typically, so you could run multiple fans off one supply. Look on the fans and add up the amp ratings, give yourself a buffer for surges then wire them up in parallel to the supply, just make sure they are the same voltages and don't come close to exceeding the power supplies amperage rating.
I also like picking up stuff like that at the thrift store, no sense paying top dollar.
Sgt. Stedenko I found it. It's called the Silenx External 4 Channel Fan Controller with AC \ DC Adaptor. Kinda pricey when compared to the alternatives listed in this thread but it fits the bill so perfectly I think I'm gonna get it.
Hephaestus
Member
Watch on laptop power supplies - most are 14-19v not 12v.... I'm using a 2.5aH from a portable dvd player
