Okay, I've read almost all i could to research indoor microgrowing... the only thing i'm having a hard time with is setting up a ventilation system.. specifically using a PC fan. Can someone point me in the right direction... maybe a link or two to something explaining how to splice a computer fan's wires I remember reading someone's post saying to "get a 12 volt AC power supply and splice it into the computer fan"... i'm computer-stupid.. can anyone tell me what that means or how to go about it.
Supplies: 1 80-90mm pc case fan 1 12v (or 9v for less sound/less air) AC adapter 2 small wire nuts (available at radio shack or any hardware store, pack of 10 for less than $2) 1. chop the end off of the AC adapter. 2. Strip the ends of the 2 wires coming from the adapter, and the 2 wires coming from the PC fan. A half-an-inch of exposed copper wire will suffice. 3. Twist together one wire from the fan with 1 wire from the adapter in a counter-clockwise motion. Twist the other 2 wires together, and plug the thing in. If the fan spins, success. If it doesnt - switch the wires. If you twisted the wires together straight and counter-clockwise, the wire nuts will screw right onto them. Dont do it too tight, just firm enough where it holds. DO NOT SKIP THIS PART, and do not half-ass it by covering the bare wire in electrical tape. It would be a serious hazard, whether to yourself or your home. use electrical tape to secure the wire nut over the wires, nothing more!!! it really doesnt take any computer knowledge. you just need to grasp the fact that the fan needs power, and the adapter can provide that power through its wires. simple enough concept, im surpised so many have trouble.
zalzal you are a life saver.. i had no idea it could be so easy.. sounds simple enough, i'm going to get right on it. THANK YOU!
Does this look like a good fan to use? http://cgi.ebay.com/80mm-Fan-32-37cfm-computer-case-fans-buy-1-to-10-NEW_W0QQitemZ6843933214QQcategoryZ42003QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
I got one at radio shack for like 17 bucks I would first suggest rounding up all the unused ones in your own home. Surely you've got a 12v adapter for an old phone that doesnt get used, or some remote controlled toy from your youth that you no longer have any interest in. and yeah that fan is fine. but seriously - why the trouble of ebay, shipping, etc. go to any local computer store - even CompUSA if you must but they are generally more expensive - and pick up a few for like $4. OR even jack some from an old computer sitting around in your garage. Maybe we're just a nerd family, but there are at least 5 scrap systems in our garage, salvage fodder for screws, fans, and the like. and hey man, go ahead and throw some rep my way if you like the advice. Click the little image of the judicial scale thing in the top right of any of my posts
dont slice the computer wires....dont do it....just go to bestbuy and buy 4 pin extension wires or go to newegg.com and buy a fan they're and 4 pin extension wires the fans at newegg.com are so much cheaper and better value...
pretzels, dont use a 4 pin connector, unless your going to use a Power Supply for a computer (your better off AC Adaptor). Just do as zalzal says and get a spare ac adaptor and use that. If you know how to soulder, maybe you can soulder the wires, or just use wire nuts, which are just as good, do use just UL Tape its a bitch. Also check out this fan, I just bought 3 of them. There cheap, big and QUIET. Also I ordered 3 day shipping and it was there literally the next day. Newegg rocks. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16835200008