Quote:
Originally Posted by growmad
someone told me to use a computer fan for my exhuast i was wondering if anyone knows how i can power it its 12v any ideas cheers.  |
Well, you could get a small transformer (AC-DC) and wire it up. There are lots of "Universal" ones out there on the cheap that cost under $10 that you could connect to the computer fan with the correct voltage selection. Just make sure you get the poles right (Red is +, Black is -).
Alternatively you could use the power supply from an older computer (with or without the case) to power it. This is much easier with an AT supply as they have a switch that will turn on the power supply and don't require the loopback from the motherboard that ATX needs. However, this is probably overkill and uses far more electricity than you actually need. Plus, if you don't have one on hand and you don't have a place nearby with REALLY old computers that they are tossing out, you're probably SOL.
Alternatively you could do what I did today. For $20 I got a small (50CFM) bathroom exhaust fan. Since it draws under an amp, I lopped the end off an extension cord from the dollar store and wired that to it and then ran a section of dryer hose from it away from my little greenhouse for a nearly-instant exhaust fan. However, you should not do this unless you have at least some experience wiring, since improper connections could energize the case of the fan and shorten your growing career substantially the first time you touch it. A drawback is that some of those bathroom fans, especially the cheap ones, can be noisy.
I've been puzzled by the repeat suggestions of using computer fans, I really don't think that all the farting around you have to do to hook up a 12V DC fan to 110V AC circuit is worth it when you can usually buy a cheap fan that runs on 110V AC for under $20. A computer fan seems like a good idea if you are doing what no-idea-what-his-name-is-now-guy did and growing inside an old computer case, but otherwise I think you lose more than you gain in the process both power-efficiency and effort-efficiency wise.
Jul-21-2008, 15:01
help with exhaust fan!
and wife
now its time to 
and stay 
and be a 
Linear Mode
