how do i hook these damn things up?

so i am building a new cab and i have 4 12volt dc axial fans but none have a cord that i can plug in just a red wire and a black wire, seeing as i want to put them on a timer that is an issue.

anyone know how to set these things up?

i really need help i'm clueless

get a 12 volt power supply such as a phone charger or somthing and twist the wires on the right wires

is that safe?

Jbrowngreen said:

is that safe?

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yes, use wire nuts

Connect all reds together to your 12v source positive (+)
Connect all blacks together to your 12v source negative (-)

will it be more powerful if i hook them up to separate 12 volt power supplies or will they run just as strong from one

It wont matter as long as the source can handle the total load

Jbrowngreen said:

is that safe?

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No its not safe. Your fans will draw more current than a small phone charger can cope with.
Thats just my opinion.
If I HAD to use 12v fans I would use at least a 5amp battery charger wired using PROPER crimp terminals (utilux crimps), then plug the charger into the timer.
I personally wouldnt do it though.

As long as the combined current drawn by the fans does not exceed the current that the transformer was designed to use, and you properly connect the wires (don't just twist em together, ffs) then there isn't a problem.
The fans and the charger should have their ratings on them somewhere, it's usually a sticker. If there aren't, don't just guess and assume it'll be ok, you need to know exactly what you're dealing with when it comes to electricity.

Its safe! I currently have 2 fans hook'd up to an old Sega Genesis adapter. Or to one of those video games. lol

ok so i have 3 ac to dc 12 volt adapters from old hard drives ect, and a bag of male and female wire connectors, i think i'm going to do one per fan, thanks for the help.

rep all around!

You still need to look at the amp out put of each of the adapters and compare that to the amp draw of the fan connected to it.
Just so you know;
1000 miliamps = 1 amp
500 miliamps = .5 amps
200 miliamps = .2 amps
Just be real careful when working with electricity. Loads, heat, cord sizes and splices especially.

i think i might just bring one into radioshack and see what they have to help me out.

Jbrowngreen said:

i think i might just bring one into radioshack and see what they have to help me out.

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get a power converter from radio shack. All you need is a small one.

why do people keep buying the 12 volt fans when they can as easily get the 120 VAC versions also?

flamdrags420 said:

why do people keep buying the 12 volt fans when they can as easily get the 120 VAC versions also?

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I think a lot of ppl just scavenge the fans out of old pcs, then post on here saying that's what they use/asking how to wire 'em up, then newbies see that and assume that's the type of fan they need.
The only reason I know of to use a pc fan is if it's free.

this is a 4.72" axial fan i am using it because they are quiet and stealth. i got a great deal on 4 of them, they work great for my cab, as i only run a 400 and i use them for intake and outtake and have a tower fan running inside.

i had a 6" can fan but it was too loud and too much power for what i have right now. it was overkill

oh and they are 24 volt 18 amp each, i read it wrong somehow or just assumed it was 12

will this work


120v ac t0 dc adapter
specs:

voltage:
24
Amps:
1000mA
Regulated:
No
plug:
Striped Leads
Tip:
n/a

In a word, no. The transformer is rated at 1000 milliamps, or 1 amp, and the fans are 18 amps. Best case the fan will run at very low speed, worst case it'll burn the transformer out.
Would it not have been simpler to get a fan speed controller and run the big fan at half speed? Even running at 90% power the fan will be a lot quieter, and be more use than little axials.
You don't need an intake fan, passive intake slightly smaller than the exhaust works just as well and creates slight negative pressure inside the growspace, preventing odour leaks.