3 fans through one plug?

[JackyBoy]

Just put my pc all back together, but i'm short of a couple of molex for my fans, am i able to re-wire 3 xilence 120mm fans together so they all go through one case fan plug to go on the motherboard (so i can control them) on will that not supply enough power? it's not vital that they can as they are pretty quiet anyway.

So failing that would i be able to re-wire them so they all go through one molex instead?

thanks for help

 

[JN]

Really does depend on the power draw of each fan. Generally I wouldn't want to pull more than 1 amp through a motherboard fan header. Check the fan specs and as long as they are below 0.33a each, you should be fine.

 

[JackyBoy]

Well i just checked online and if they are the Pulse Width Modulation (pwm) ones then they are only 0.23a each, so that means it should be ok? So i can just take off the molex wires and just use the 3 yellow wires soldered together then into one plug? my dad knows loads more about elctronics than me but i just needed confirmation that the amps/volts etc would be ok for it.

but thinking about it, would it then read the speed correctly and be ok for me to adjust it? or would 3 fans confuse it?

Edit: I dont know if they are the pwm ones now, i will check when i get home, but if they arent then they are only 0.10a each anyway

 

[Rastalovich]

Having 3 signalling wires go through 1 connection would most probably end up with a bad reading for it. My thought on that would be to let just 1 of the, usually, yellow wires make it`s way back to the header. The theory here being that the 3 should be rotating at the same speed if theyre matched resistance wize. Varying the voltage will have the same effect to all 3.

I don`t know if the mobo has 5 or 6, 3 pin fan headers, then u should be ok connecting 5 or 6 through 1 header and not use the other headers. That would depend on how the mobo distributes power.

 

[JN]

Well i just checked online and if they are the Pulse Width Modulation (pwm) ones then they are only 0.23a each, so that means it should be ok? So i can just take off the molex wires and just use the 3 yellow wires soldered together then into one plug? my dad knows loads more about elctronics than me but i just needed confirmation that the amps/volts etc would be ok for it.

but thinking about it, would it then read the speed correctly and be ok for me to adjust it? or would 3 fans confuse it?

Edit: I dont know if they are the pwm ones now, i will check when i get home, but if they arent then they are only 0.10a each anyway

Yeah either way you've got a fair bit of leeway so it should be fine.

As rasta said tho - only connect one RPM monitor wire (yellow) to the motherboard. Having all three will probably produce some weird results.

I don`t know if the mobo has 5 or 6, 3 pin fan headers, then u should be ok connecting 5 or 6 through 1 header and not use the other headers. That would depend on how the mobo distributes power.

I think the problem is more down to the PCB tracks. I don't think they are designed to more than 1-2amps @ 12v

 

[JackyBoy]

Strange enough ive just found on bit-tech someone who has done EXACTLY what i want to do lol

So unless anyone would be able to help me with a bit of a guide, i might just PM him and ask how he did it

 

[doug2507]

http://www.watercoolinguk.co.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=2582

 

[JackyBoy]

Thank you so much, this is exactly what i wanted. rep

 

[doug2507]

You work at RCM Jackyboy??

 

[JackyBoy]

I wish! No my dad gets his Impreza done there, so i know the guys really well and so they let me use their workshop to cut holes in my case and bend metal and stuff like that, that i need doing.

Far better using proffesional pneumatic tools than a hacksaw! lol

You know of them then?

 

[doug2507]

You know of them then?

Being a scooby owner, of course! http://forum.overclock3d.net/showthread.php?t=22183&page=2

 

[JackyBoy]

nice one! yeah thats a really nice car that is. My dad has the bug eye (sadly ) but he's got an awesome exhaust on it and is learning to tune it himself (i like to refer to it as overclocking it tho lol)

 

[doug2507]

Well he'll get plenty of good advice from the likes of Ollie. Must be handy getting a shot of their workshop, lucky bugger.

 

[JackyBoy]

Yeah they are great lads there so it's really helpful, my dad goes into ask about his car then olly just asks about my pc! And Matt is always more than happy for me to use the machines in the workshop. Did you go watch the Gobstopper at knockhill?

 

[doug2507]

No, i was offshore unfortunately. Would have been god to see it. Never mind, might see it next year down at time attack...