High Trying to build my new PC grow box. I have case and the power supply for it, I figured it would be easier (and more stealthy) to run the fans right off of the molex connectors that are already built into the power supply. But when I plug the fans in to the power supply and then plug the power supply into the wall, they don't turn on (der). I'm guessing the mobo usually tells the fans to kick on when the box is on. Is there a way I can make the fans always run while connected like this? Thanks!
I'm not looking for a way to power the fans using A/C -> DC adapters. I want to run them all of the power supply from the computer.
on the plug that goes on the mobo, there should be a green wire, just get a small piece of wire and bridge that with a black wire in the plug.. wire a switch inline too. i didnt do that in my pc grow box, i took the power supply out for more room, but i used to use an old power supply to run some extra hdds i had attatched via ide->usb adaptors
I wouldnt use the power supply in the PC case, it will create more heat and less space. I have read somewhere that you can wire the fans up to cell phone chargers and just plug them in.
so funny you're asking the same question i am for the completely wrong reason. Real need for turning on a power supply without a motherboard: during vegetative, you may keep your light cycle on 24/0 - undetectable by power companies. then you switch to 12/12 and are fucked because that is an outstandingly obvious consistency power cycle. what needs to be done, is when your 600 watt hps turns off after 12 hours, you want a 600 watt pc power supply to turn on. fuck saving money. the crime is getting caught.
NO ONE, i mean no one cares about a shitty PC grow... except for maybe the guy who gets one hot bowl off it.. Im not trying to start a fight with anyone... but seriously... if your asking about powering a fan off a power supply.... your grow is so small... cops would just kick it over... if your this paranoid, don't grow and the previous poster is 100% correct.. the power supply is only going to make the grow hotter... which is nice in the winter, but in the summer, forget it spend the 20 bucks... or like the other guy said, cut up a cell phone charger
Dude, your theory is a bit flawed. PC power supplies, much like automobile engines, are rated for MAXIMUM power. Your car engine isn't pumping 100% of the rated horsepower just by "turning it on". You would need to LOAD that power supply with 600W of demand draw in order to have it actually consuming 600W to emulate a HPS light. On top of that, I agree with others. I think you're being VERY paranoid when it comes to the power company detecting anything with your grow. Unless you're causing a $100 swing in your electric bill, don't worry about it.
It's extremely easy to wire a pc fan up to an old phone charger. Me and a mate did it with just a screwdriver, I think, in under 5 mins. edit, in fact, no, I don't think we even used a screwdriver, I think it was just scissors and a bit of tape.
Look for the big bundle of wires, the one with a green one in (it should have two black wires either side of it). Remove these 3 wires from the terminal and connect the green wire to either black, voila!