PC Case Mod fan help

[Grenge]

My nephew is making himself a custom case for a PC. On one end he has a 12V
car radiator fan to use for cooling. We are looking for a power supply to
run it off 240Vac, but the packaging says that the fan uses about 11A max.
What is the best way to power this fan? It will be using a separate power
supply to the PC parts. Would it be best to somehow drop the amps used by
slowing the fan? Would another fan be better for this purpose? We are
basicly looking for a cheap way out.

Thanks

 

[Rheilly Phoull]

My nephew is making himself a custom case for a PC. On one end he has
a 12V car radiator fan to use for cooling. We are looking for a power
supply to run it off 240Vac, but the packaging says that the fan uses
about 11A max. What is the best way to power this fan? It will be
using a separate power supply to the PC parts. Would it be best to
somehow drop the amps used by slowing the fan? Would another fan be
better for this purpose? We are basicly looking for a cheap way out.

Thanks

Dont forget the earplugs !!
Use a lower voltage supply to reduce current and noise, try 9v for a start
but it should run with less than that.
If it will get away on 5v you could use an old PC psu.

 

[rob]

My nephew is making himself a custom case for a PC. On one end he has a
12V car radiator fan to use for cooling. We are looking for a power supply
to run it off 240Vac, but the packaging says that the fan uses about 11A
max.
What is the best way to power this fan? It will be using a separate power
supply to the PC parts. Would it be best to somehow drop the amps used by
slowing the fan? Would another fan be better for this purpose? We are
basicly looking for a cheap way out.

Thanks

If he really really really wants to do it a dunny exhaust fan might be
better - quieter & probably cheaper too. The bearings in them don't last too
long if ceiling mounted ones are run on their sides. I think they start at
around $15.

 

[phatty mo]

Get a switched-mode powersupply designed to operate CB radios etc...
the warehouse has some for fairly cheap. (also cheap inverters)
ISTR the warehouse PSUs were rated 8A (so a smaller fan might be good)
and 13.8V (but thats normal in a "12V" automobile)

be aware that cars do about 200000km before things really start failing.
that's equivalent to about 3-6 months continuous running time
and also cars don't run the fan continuously.

OTOH a second compuuter powersupply could probably be convinced provide 12V
for your fan.

with a fan that size you could drill holes in the bottom and have a
hovercraft

Bye.
Jasen

What about using the 12V rail on an old PC supply?
You might have to pick through a few,in order to get a high enough
current rating on the 12V rail..most are under 10A on the 12V rail,some
are more... Cheap and easy,if you can find one that's suitable in the
scrap heap
You can also run the fan on the 7V output (between teh +5 and +12V
rails) to get it to run slower,and thus quieter. (a common "trick" for
the internal case fans,to make them a bit more quiet.)

 

[The Real Andy]

My nephew is making himself a custom case for a PC. On one end he has a 12V
car radiator fan to use for cooling. We are looking for a power supply to
run it off 240Vac, but the packaging says that the fan uses about 11A max.
What is the best way to power this fan? It will be using a separate power
supply to the PC parts. Would it be best to somehow drop the amps used by
slowing the fan? Would another fan be better for this purpose? We are
basicly looking for a cheap way out.

Thanks

Excuse my ignorance, but why would one want a car radiator fan that
draws 11A to cool a PC?? Last I checked a PC did not generate anywhere
near the heat of a car.

 

[Grenge]

Excuse my ignorance, but why would one want a car radiator fan that
draws 11A to cool a PC?? Last I checked a PC did not generate anywhere
near the heat of a car.

He is building a custom case, basicly a long octagon tube, and the fan fits
perfectly on the base of it. The fan is not so much there for the cooling
purpose, it is more for looks. That's why I asked about slowing it down and
making it quieter.

Thanks for the other suggestions, I will probably have to try some and see
how it all works out.

Grenge

 

[Grenge]

He is building a custom case, basicly a long octagon tube, and the fan
fits perfectly on the base of it. The fan is not so much there for the
cooling purpose, it is more for looks. That's why I asked about slowing it
down and making it quieter.

Thanks for the other suggestions, I will probably have to try some and see
how it all works out.

Grenge

Just thinking out loud, but would it be possible to wire a knob in with the
fan, like a variable resistor, that would control the speed of the fan?
Mainly just to slow it down or speed it up? Would this just be a variable
resistor or something else a bit more complex?

Thanks
Grenge