Fan help
Printed From: Utah Reefs
Category: Specialized Discussion
Forum Name: Equipment
Forum Description: This is the place to ask question about reef equipment.
URL: http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=51636
Printed Date: July 17 2026 at 2:14am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.03 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Fan help
Posted By: Laird
Subject: Fan help
Date Posted: September 27 2011 at 2:15pm
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I have two computer fans on each of my LED heatsinks. All 4 fans, which are independent of each other are out. Why would this be? I plug them in and nothing happens. Would it be the fans, or the power supply thats broken?
------------- Indefinite hiatus from sw aquariums. Once I have my glorious return I'll set back up the following. 50 Gallon rimless cube. 180 Gallons mixed reef paradise |
Replies:
Posted By: Aquaristnewbie
Date Posted: September 27 2011 at 2:23pm
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Are they all off of one power supply? Or one outlet? ------------- 150 gallon Reef Millcreek Utah |
Posted By: Laird
Date Posted: September 27 2011 at 2:31pm
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two power supplies. Its these
http://reefledlights.com/shop/two-fan-kit-w-powersupply/ So two fans per supply and each supply was in a different outlet. ------------- Indefinite hiatus from sw aquariums. Once I have my glorious return I'll set back up the following. 50 Gallon rimless cube. 180 Gallons mixed reef paradise |
Posted By: CapnMorgan
Date Posted: September 27 2011 at 6:36pm
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I would say try a new power supply before you replace the fans. ------------- Steve http://utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=40637&PID=356246" rel="nofollow - My Old 180G Mixed Reef Currently: 120G Wavefront Mixed 29G Seahorse & Softies Running ReefAngel Plus x2 435-8 |
Posted By: Laird
Date Posted: September 27 2011 at 6:47pm
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Ya it was the power supply. I replaced the power supply with a temporary one and it started working. The fans however don't seem to be nearly as powerful as they used to be. I see a range of prices for 12v power supplies. Is there any difference between them? Is there a reason I shouldnt buy the $7 one instead of the $19 one?
Why do power supplies go out? I don't have very much experience with this stuff. This DIY LED light is the extent of my electoral knowledge. Just learned as I went. ------------- Indefinite hiatus from sw aquariums. Once I have my glorious return I'll set back up the following. 50 Gallon rimless cube. 180 Gallons mixed reef paradise |
Posted By: Rara
Date Posted: September 27 2011 at 7:22pm
| Check the amp rating on the power supply. Your temporary one might have a lower amp rating. Volts*Amps=Watts. |
Posted By: Laird
Date Posted: September 27 2011 at 9:08pm
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The temp one was this adjustable voltage supply I used when I was putting the LEDs together. it goes from 2 to 12v, I have it at 12v. I'm not sure what I should be looking for.
The old ones says .15A, while the new one says 1A. Is that "A" stand for amps? ------------- Indefinite hiatus from sw aquariums. Once I have my glorious return I'll set back up the following. 50 Gallon rimless cube. 180 Gallons mixed reef paradise |
Posted By: Rara
Date Posted: September 27 2011 at 9:34pm
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Yeah. A is for amp.
I assume you wired them up the same. But if you wired them in series by mistake than the voltage would be split between the two fans. |
Posted By: Laird
Date Posted: September 27 2011 at 10:33pm
So are you saying each fan could have a 12V supply? The way I have it is two power supplies with each power supply having two fans. I received hand written instructions from Bill at reefledlights.com explaining what to do. I don't have them anymore tho. The way I have it the two fan wires and the power supply all meet at the same place. So one of the two power supply wires connects with a wire from each of the two fans, and then again with the other 3 wires. Sorry that was too technical, I'll try and dumb it down next time. haha. Sorry i'm horrible at explaining this. ------------- Indefinite hiatus from sw aquariums. Once I have my glorious return I'll set back up the following. 50 Gallon rimless cube. 180 Gallons mixed reef paradise |
Rara wrote:Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: September 28 2011 at 1:20am
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Does it work when connected to only one fan?, then the other fan? Power supplies are made to deliver Volts and Amperes The power supply may be able to put out 12 volts but if it cannot supply enough Amps then it will not power two fans properly. ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member 
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Posted By: Akira
Date Posted: September 28 2011 at 7:12am
| u can get a transformer big enough to supply all ur fans for around $50 and it last yrs . available at any elec supply house. If u need help with em let me know |
Posted By: Laird
Date Posted: September 28 2011 at 4:34pm
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So would this be a good power supply to go with
http://www.amazon.com/VideoSecu-Regulated-Camera-Supply-Adapter/dp/B000VRL632/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top ------------- Indefinite hiatus from sw aquariums. Once I have my glorious return I'll set back up the following. 50 Gallon rimless cube. 180 Gallons mixed reef paradise |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: September 28 2011 at 7:02pm
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Cannot say. It's also necessary to know if the fans are built to run on AC or DC. It usually says on the fan what it's power requirements are. ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member
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Posted By: Laird
Date Posted: September 28 2011 at 8:02pm
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The fans dont have anything on them. But since they originally came with a 12v ac I think that's what they should be replaced with. ------------- Indefinite hiatus from sw aquariums. Once I have my glorious return I'll set back up the following. 50 Gallon rimless cube. 180 Gallons mixed reef paradise |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: September 29 2011 at 12:07pm
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Agreed. Unfortunate that you cannot see what the fans Amperage power requirement is. Do you have the original power supply to see what Amperage it delivers? ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member
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Posted By: Laird
Date Posted: September 29 2011 at 4:46pm
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Here is everything that is on the old power supply. But I question if its what should be on the fans considering they all broke...
AC adaptor input: 120v AC 60Hz .15A Output: 12V DC 500ma ------------- Indefinite hiatus from sw aquariums. Once I have my glorious return I'll set back up the following. 50 Gallon rimless cube. 180 Gallons mixed reef paradise |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: September 29 2011 at 7:55pm
 Now you tell us that the power output is DC. Maybe we need to back up and start from the beginning. Is that info off of the original power supply or is it a replacement that you recently purchased and found that it would not run the fans?------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member
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Posted By: Laird
Date Posted: September 29 2011 at 8:45pm
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"AC adaptor
input: 120v AC 60Hz .15A Output: 12V DC 500ma" Thats what it says on the power supply itself. The "AC Adaptor" line is 5 times the size as the info below it. Thats why I said it was AC. ------------- Indefinite hiatus from sw aquariums. Once I have my glorious return I'll set back up the following. 50 Gallon rimless cube. 180 Gallons mixed reef paradise |
Posted By: Rara
Date Posted: September 29 2011 at 8:57pm
I think as long as you get a similar power supply you should be fine. I can come help you wire it up too if you need. I'm just about positive your fans are DC fans too. 
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Posted By: Laird
Date Posted: September 29 2011 at 9:18pm
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OK, then someone please give me a link to an amazon powersupply that I should get.
Once I get it I can wire it just fine, just don't know what the hell I should buy. haha. ------------- Indefinite hiatus from sw aquariums. Once I have my glorious return I'll set back up the following. 50 Gallon rimless cube. 180 Gallons mixed reef paradise |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: September 30 2011 at 9:10am
------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member
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Posted By: Laird
Date Posted: September 30 2011 at 11:04am
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Original ------------- Indefinite hiatus from sw aquariums. Once I have my glorious return I'll set back up the following. 50 Gallon rimless cube. 180 Gallons mixed reef paradise |
Posted By: Akira
Date Posted: October 09 2011 at 10:06pm
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i know u dont want to hear this but if u ran 120v fans it wouldnt be an issue....but if u insist o running dc add all ur ma together and get a driver like 2ma abover ur total and it will last . if u load it to the max output it fail sooner because of heat and over work .... try looking at grainger.com for replacements and sizing requirments................what would i know im only a journeyman sparky :) |
Posted By: russianrick
Date Posted: October 10 2011 at 9:43am
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If you don't mind saving some money, you can cannibalize some power supply from some other device. You will find that most small electronics use 12v DC and so the only difference between most power supplies is the connector and how many amps and hertz are being put out by the power supply. If you don't have any old power supplies laying about, you can go pick one up at your local Deseret Industries for a few dollars. It is worth experimenting with the wiring, but as I recall from wiring my own fans, it is best to wire them up in parallel. All you really have to do is clip the tip off the power supply, bare the wires, and start connecting things. ------------- In Soviet Russia, Fish collect YOU! 
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Posted By: MIK3B
Date Posted: October 11 2011 at 10:22am
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+1 to Akira and russianricks comments (lol sparky, haven't heard that one in years!) - I had extra power supplies from building PC's laying around that I used for years running cheap RA-Elco, mail and Internet ordered 12V fans, but once the last one finally kicked the bucket (all that humidity and salt spray in a stand, or even behind kills 'em) I just took someone's advice on here and got the $8 clip on Walmart cheapos.
Works great, and although I'll likely have to replace it every year, no power supply box with an octopus of wires to tuck/zip tie up/hide and no wiring, just clip and plug in the new one. pretty much everything else I do on my tank is ghetto-fab, afro engineered DIY though. Wish there were more cheap plug n play options for all the rest of it! |