*Step by Step* Light Proof Mounting of an Axial/Box/PC Fan

[roshiee]

How did you hook up that fan? I have a computer fan but no idea how to hook it up

[Jim Dunlop]

Go to radio shack and bring the fan in with you and ask the guy there to find you an A/C adapter for it.

[Rumpleforeskin]

Yeah, like Jim said.

[alkkamai]

If you want to get wicked DIY on the fans, you could adapt a power supply from a computer to run them. It helps to use a PS with a switch or to wire it into a switch because the fan will be hard wired.

To rig up a power supply so that it can be on without a motherboard you need only to find the green wire in the 20/24 set of wires that usually plugs into the motherboard and connect it with any of the black wires. Then connect the red and one of the black wires of any of the 4 pin molex connectors and you're good to go.

If you want to get fancy you can open up the PS and cut all the wires apart from the ones in use real short and then close it back up. Makes for a cleaner look.

[Rumpleforeskin]

Yeah, you could use a 300Watt PC power supply to run the 12volt fan that only requires .5 amps. Or just use your cell phone charger. I know what one I would use.

Good try MacGyver

[overgrowray]

nice guide. Yeah i been saving all my old cell phone chargers for my next setup.

[nugsNbeer]

very nice diy

I did one similar to this but on a larger scale.

I needed an inline fan at around 250cfm, so i ordered a surplus one. for 15 dollars

Once it came in i got two duct reducers from home depot,

6 inch to 8 inch
and 8 inch to 5 inch reducers.

I put the fan in the between the two reducers (the 8inch side) then sandwiched them together. I secured the fan in-place with expandable insulation. then wired it up to my thermostat.

I wish i had a picture of it... i cant find my camera to save my life...

but basically it is my intake into one "reducer" which is turned around so that it expands from 6 inch to 8 inch. Inside that is the fan, then it goes into another reducer from 8 inch to 5 inch.

From there it goes through several bends and into my grow chamber i hope you guys can visualize it...

overall i spent about 30 bucks for a 250cfm fan and it works wonders

[thelynx]

hey quick question i got a 6 inch axial fan comin and i was gonna mount it to my box then run a little duct on the outside of it, the opposite that you have here, will that hinder my airflow too much? should i just try out somethin like you've got here or will it intake just fine

[Rumpleforeskin]

Axial fans can't overcome any static pressure made by ducting. What I would do is hook it up and see how much air is still moving.

[thelynx]

im not sure exactly what static pressure intails

[sonofabishh]

Hey sweet set up...got any ideas how I could somehow prevent odors from seeping out through that exhaust fan/pipe combo?

[Rumpleforeskin]

Hook your fan to about three feet of ducting and you will notice that very little air will come out. You fan might be rated at say 100CFM, but that is without being restricted by ducting. Duct fans (real ones) work more like air pumps then they do a fan.

Smell getting out your vents is going to be a problem as long as it's not treated.

[ricard0]

Hot damn. I've referred so many folks to this thread, i finally have to post here just so i can find it next time i'm linking it.
Thanx for the guide Rumpleforeskin. This is a slight variation of what i used to do and it worked great.

[AYDENS_DAD]

Originally Posted by chicken

you should go into more detail of '' WHY YOU PAINT THE INSIDE OF THOSE ELBOWS'' a newbie, may overlook a most important aspect, because it wasnt truly highlighted..

hed be wondering why light travels down his pipe, because he forgot to paint the inside elbow!!!

do you paint it black im geussing obviously but just maken sure and good point cause i did over look that?

[Rumpleforeskin]

Originally Posted by AYDENS_DAD

do you paint it black im geussing obviously but just maken sure and good point cause i did over look that?

I just shot some spray paint right down the pipe. I think black pipe would be better because you would not have to paint it.