I will post the name of the specific brand later when I get out the fans again, but im having trouble connecting the wiring for these computer fans. There is one small connection to the fan from the ballast and a power cord from the ballast to the wall. I plug in the cords and flip the switch on the ballast and the thing wont run. I assume it has something to do with the extra cord (about twice the size of the fan connection-one of those computer multi wire strip plugs) from the ballast. It must need an on/off switch. Has anyone used something similar or know a way to bypass the on/off switch? Probably need to go to microcenter and ask someone. Thanks, John :huh:
Computer Cooling Fans
- Thread starter jballa15
- Start date
<span style="color: black;">Computer fan and ballast, hmm…. These two don’t go together… computer fans run on 12 VAC. You need a 12 VAC wall plug to power them. There should be 3 wires on the fan: black, red and yellow. You only need to use the black and red as in red for + (positive) and black for – (negative). You need to figure out the + - coming from the wall plug (they are sometimes marked).</span>
Im pretty sure ive got the fan connection fine, its the extra plug to nowhere from the "power box" (or 12 VAC or whatever its called that powers the fan). Maybe it will make more sense when I list the true name of the system. It is truelly a computer system. I was told by a tech guy that the system requires a remote to connect to the open plug to work (as in a computer or special switch with like 20 wires of all colors)
<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;">OK, it's called a computer power supply. It normally would not work if not connected to a motherboard. There is a way though and it involves shortening a couple of wires. </span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Check out this link: http://www.gideontech.com/content/articles/196/1"><span style="color: #800080;">http://www.gideontech.com/content/articles/196/1</span></a> it will show you how to do it.</span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Check out this link: http://www.gideontech.com/content/articles/196/1"><span style="color: #800080;">http://www.gideontech.com/content/articles/196/1</span></a> it will show you how to do it.</span>
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I swapped out the fan in a light fixture one time by taking a plug that had a similar wattage and voltage, then ran power from the ballest to the plug blades, so the ballast would power the source then cut about 90% of the cord of then striped the war and connected the wire from the fan to the spliced plug wire and worked like charm..
If you are using a computer power supply to power fans, that is WAY overkill. I would suggest just buying a 12v wall transformer from Frys or Radioshack and wiring it to your fans. A 1.5amp unit would likley run all your fans. You could also just pick one of these up:
http://www.coolerguys.com/840556029977.html">http://www.coolerguys.com/840556029977.html</a>
Plug and play with no funky jumpering of the ON switch on the PC Power Supply,
http://www.coolerguys.com/840556029977.html">http://www.coolerguys.com/840556029977.html</a>
Plug and play with no funky jumpering of the ON switch on the PC Power Supply,
thanks Haninja, that looks REALLY SIMPLE. I was thinking of trying the connection with just a wire but didnt know which colors were responsible for the switch. Im in class now, but when I get a chance this week, I will try this idea. Looks exactly like my setup. I guess it will be too much power, but you can never get too much on a 29 gallon 
