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Ok guys... got a challenge for you all...
I have a corner glass aquarium that I've turned into a false bottom enclousure, complete with waterfall, pump and submersible fish tank heater...
The top is 2/3's plexie, 1/3 screen on a hinge, and I' don't think it's getting enough fresh air in the enclosure ( the air has a smell to it inside the enclosure )
So I want to wire up a couple spare PC fans I have laying around from my last PC build... any suggestions??
>>So I want to wire up a couple spare PC fans I have laying around from my last PC build... any suggestions??
24V, 12V or 110V?
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Jeremy
"I am become death, the destroyer of worlds" July 16, 1945 Robert Oppenheimer
0.1 Snow "Khal" RTB
1.1 Double Het "Sharp" Snow RTB's
1.0 Hypomelenistic RTB's
0.2 Pastel Hypo RTB's
0.1 Suriname RTB
0.1 Anerthrystic RTB
3.1 Red Bearded Dragon's
1.0 Ball Python
1.1 Cream Golden Retrieviers
1.0 Pomeriaian
0.3 Catus Terribilis
0.1 Spouse
1.0.1 Child
12v
>>12v
Well like Mark said, you'll be better off, and there are plenty of 12VDC adapters at Radio shack or comparable electronic stores, hell you might even be able to score one at a Garage Sale...tiss the season.
Regardless, for fan placement you will be best off by drawing air out of the enclosure rather than in. However, you will be somewhat limited with fan placement in a glass enclosure. Ideally I would use one fan to draw air out the top of the cool side of the enclosure. While simotaniously venting the lower portion of the cage. This will create an airflow, in the bottom and out the top. In cages with animals with heavy soiled urates or fecal matter it may be advisable to reverse this flow drawing air and funk off the bottom and venting the top. Either way the priciples are the same.
It is possible to regulate the fan at the same time. There are many thermostats that can be used for a cooling operation. Ranco even makes one for both, and while you could find a 12VDC thermostat you can simply run the power pack off the thermostat, although I would use an on/off rather than a proportional. The Adapter regulates the voltage already changing the voltage via the thermostat like in a proportional may in turn effect how well if at all the fan works. Many PC fans won't operate at anything less than full VDC at which the unit is rated. Meaning they are either off or on.
I myself had considered a similar project, although mine may be for a Rodent room. I had planned to use 110 VAC fans, unlike Mark I don't worry about a little shock every now and than. LOL
Cheers
Sounds like fun, be sure to post pics...
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Jeremy
"I am become death, the destroyer of worlds" July 16, 1945 Robert Oppenheimer
0.1 Snow "Khal" RTB
1.1 Double Het "Sharp" Snow RTB's
1.0 Hypomelenistic RTB's
0.2 Pastel Hypo RTB's
0.1 Suriname RTB
0.1 Anerthrystic RTB
3.1 Red Bearded Dragon's
1.0 Ball Python
1.1 Cream Golden Retrieviers
1.0 Pomeriaian
0.3 Catus Terribilis
0.1 Spouse
1.0.1 Child
Here's some pics Jeremy...
The AC/DC adapters Mark mentioned is your best bet. However, if you're a real cheapskate like me and have an extra PC PSU (Power Supply Unit) you can use it to run the fans.
A PSU has to have a completed circuit in order for it to work. Use a small piece of wire or paper clip and connect pins 13 & 14, plug in your fan(s), turn on the PSU, and you're in business. Here's a photo of the pins that need to be connected.
www.ochardware.com/articles/psuvolt/psuvolt2.html
By the way, this is also a good way to test a PSU.
Just a lil' tip that might come in handy sometime.
Take care!
HH
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Due to political correctness run amuck,
this ol' hillbilly is now referred to as an:
Appalachian American
Thanks as always Hillbilly... I was going to just to that, but I wanted something a little more pleasing to the eye as this enclosure is in the corner of my living room...
...but I wanted something a little more pleasing to the eye as this enclosure is in the corner of my living room...
What you talkin' about? That is more eye pleasin' than my tractor battery & jumper cables.
When's the last time you've seen the inside of a hilbilly's house?
/
/
/
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Due to political correctness run amuck,
this ol' hillbilly is now referred to as an:
Appalachian American
Love the picture... takes me back to upstate ny...
Maybe I've been station in southern california for too long!!
Ha! Ha!
That pic was taken 9 yrs ago. When we first moved back here that was the only house we could find to rent till ours was ready. It was soooo small & we had soooo much junk to put in it!
The horse, at the time of the pic, was 28 yrs old and thought he was a lapdog. We let him in the front yard to graze & he got up on the porch eatin' dog food out of the dog's bowl. I opened the door and said, "Come on in Casper." And he did, just as pretty as you please. Hahaha!!! He died when he was 35.
My mom & dad (in the pic with my kids) were up visiting from FL and my dad really got a kick out of it.
Later Tater!
Mike
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Due to political correctness run amuck,
this ol' hillbilly is now referred to as an:
Appalachian American
Although I do not know where to place the fans, my advice is to use 12VDC or 24VDC fans rather than 110VAC fans. Make sure the fan draws less current than the power supply can deliver. Those wall-plug power adapters at Radio Shack work well. Again, make sure the adapter delivers more current than the fan uses.
Example: 12 adapter may say 12V at 1A. The fan must draw less than 1A, and I shoot for at most 750mA. Otherwise you need a bigger power supply.
Two fans on the same power supply means twice the current. Example, two 12V fans each rated at .5A (500mA) and wired to the same power supply means that together they draw 1A.
With 12V or 24V fans, you don't have to worry about enclosed wiring or dangerous shocks.
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Mark
while I haven't been into a Radioshack in years, to concept sounds good to me, just wanted to ask or clear something up...
Once I get the adapter, I would then splice the adapter cord into the fans and hard wire the fans in series ( one for intake, and one for exhaust ) with each other right? Been a long time since I've done any electrical work...
I could then wire a dimmer switch in between the adapter and the fans to control the speed theoretically right??
>>Once I get the adapter, I would then splice the adapter cord into the fans and hard wire the fans in series ( one for intake, and one for exhaust ) with each other right?
>>
You would wire them in parallel, not series. Make sure the power supply has enough current for both, or else, use two power supplies, one for each fan. That just may be the easiest way - one power source for each fan.
>>I could then wire a dimmer switch in between the adapter and the fans to control the speed theoretically right??
>>
A standard lamp dimmer is for 110V AC, not for 12VDC. You can make a fan speed control using the 555 timer, but I digress. Actually, Radio Shack, as lame as they are, does sell a cheap fan speed controller that may be 12V. Check it out.
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Mark
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