Possible to run PC case fans off mains?

[nufnsus]

How do I tell which is Pos+ and Neg- on the phone charger wires? I have a meter thing I can use but I'm not a pro at it...

 

presuming it's a DC adaptor (i.e. will only work one way);

 

-just cut the wires of the computer fan. ignore the earth wire (usually white/ green/ any other 3rd colour that contrasts the usual combos of +ive and -ive colours the most, you know what I mean...)

 

-cut the plug end of the charger/ adaptor, peel the wires (often, markings will identify +ive and -ive wire on charger, e.g. black strips v. continuous black line etc.)

 

-expose 1-2cm ends of all wires minus the fan's earth wire on both components

 

-connect 1 pair of wires

 

-plug the adaptor into the powerpoint/ board

 

-carefully connect the remaining lose pair of wires. if the fan turns, you've correctly found +ive and -ive wires. otherwise swap wire pairs and re-try.

*if you're careful and use your head, you shouldn't get zapped. and even in the unlikely event you do, it's only flowing at 12V, hence not much more then the shock you get from putting your tounge on a 9V battery (the square ones). either way, avoiding electrocution is always a good idea*

 

-Seal wires with wire cap or insulation tape, tidy it with some cable ties and bob's your uncle!

[jaikai]

Prolly a bit late for the O/Ps interests, but why buy a $20 powerpack and dick around with puter fans when decent 240V fans can be had for an extra $5...?

 

JAIKAI

[The Stoned Jester]

bit late to add now, but if you can find an older power supply from say an oldschool 386/486 computer, some of them have a hard wired power switch at the back of the PS so you dont have to go shorting wires or anything like that and you can run 4+ fans from one comp supply.