This is a simple how to that will explain how to use a computer power supply to power canopy fans, eliminating the need for multiple plugs and transformers. Someone who is relatively competent with electronics or just hand tools should be able to replicate this procedure.
This also allows you to use cheap case fans (for computers) to cool your canopy, which will compare or outperform more expensive fans specifically designed for aquarium use. I purchased my 80mm fans from newegg.com (10 for $10), and they each required 12 VDC at .15 amps.
First you want to wire all the fans in parallel, (sorry no pics) but basically all you do is connect all the positive leads together, then connect all the negative leads together. This allows all fans to run at the same speed and voltage.
The next thing you will need is a power supply. THese are readily available from broken computers, or computer repair stores. Mine was $10.<u>
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</u>The next thing you need to do is look up the pinout for the power supply. Just use a google search and input the power supply type (should be located on the id sticker) and you should be able to find one. Mine was an ATX type.
Then you will snip off all unwanted wires. This will probably be the majority of them. For me, I needed 12VDC, which included the yellow wires for +, and the black wires for -. There were multiples of each (yelows and black) so I kept them all, since they were a small gauge, and I wanted to run severa fans. You can strip them and twist them together to reduce teh amount of electriceity flowing through each wire, preventing it from burning up. The rest were clipped and taped up.
Power supplies usually have a circuit which must be shorted to power it on. This makes sense because your computer turns off without having to unplug it, right? All you have to do is short the wire that turns the supply on to ground, in my case the green wire. Tape it up, solder it, or use a wire nut.
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</u>Inside of the supply you can see where all the output wires come from. On my supply, they were conveniently labeled, so verifying the 12vdc source and ground was easily.
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Next, just verify the output is good. Since we didnt do any crazy wiring, we shouldnt have to carefully pin out everything to look for shorts.
<u>
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Done. Now just tie it into your fans.
<u>
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This also allows you to use cheap case fans (for computers) to cool your canopy, which will compare or outperform more expensive fans specifically designed for aquarium use. I purchased my 80mm fans from newegg.com (10 for $10), and they each required 12 VDC at .15 amps.
First you want to wire all the fans in parallel, (sorry no pics) but basically all you do is connect all the positive leads together, then connect all the negative leads together. This allows all fans to run at the same speed and voltage.
The next thing you will need is a power supply. THese are readily available from broken computers, or computer repair stores. Mine was $10.<u>
</u>The next thing you need to do is look up the pinout for the power supply. Just use a google search and input the power supply type (should be located on the id sticker) and you should be able to find one. Mine was an ATX type.
Then you will snip off all unwanted wires. This will probably be the majority of them. For me, I needed 12VDC, which included the yellow wires for +, and the black wires for -. There were multiples of each (yelows and black) so I kept them all, since they were a small gauge, and I wanted to run severa fans. You can strip them and twist them together to reduce teh amount of electriceity flowing through each wire, preventing it from burning up. The rest were clipped and taped up.
Power supplies usually have a circuit which must be shorted to power it on. This makes sense because your computer turns off without having to unplug it, right? All you have to do is short the wire that turns the supply on to ground, in my case the green wire. Tape it up, solder it, or use a wire nut.
<u>
</u>Inside of the supply you can see where all the output wires come from. On my supply, they were conveniently labeled, so verifying the 12vdc source and ground was easily.
<u>
Next, just verify the output is good. Since we didnt do any crazy wiring, we shouldnt have to carefully pin out everything to look for shorts.
<u>
Done. Now just tie it into your fans.
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