Help installing fans

jenajet · 11-01-2007, 09:47 AM

So Damien brought home three fans from work. So anyone got any how to tips to install them? Including a pic so you see what I got. I am assuming I can hook them up to ac plugs. I have a few 120v ones, does each fan need a seperate power supply? Are these good fans? I know they are metal and heavy but I have a solid wood canopy so they won't go anywhere. I am thinking of putting them in the top to pull air out. There are two small fans on the back that blow air in but they are alot smaller. Thanks guys and gals.

jenajet · 11-01-2007, 10:32 AM

SPECS ON FANS
http://www.nmbtc.com/products/fans/ac3610ps.html

Phishnoob · 11-01-2007, 11:09 AM

Jena make sure that the fans say 120V AC on them. You want to wire these in parallel. This means that taking an old indoor extension cord the gold wire goes to one side and the silver to the other when you strip it. Have someone that is handy solder these or if you have some sort of electronics or other nerd supply place you can get terminals.

If there are wires coming out just connect them all up in parallel.

PM me if you have any questions...this is a piece of cake. I can email you a diagram if you need it.

Dagrape · 11-01-2007, 11:10 AM

You could probably connect them all in series and run them off of 1 cord. Being that they are 115V AC you can just use a regular cord.(no adapters needed)

I originally had my fans set up to pull air out....but I found that when I set them up to pull air in and blow it across the water I had much better cooling. BUT I did start evaping more water. Now that winter months are setting in and I don't need to cool as much I may try to switch them back to pulling air out.

With 2 small fans pushing air in you should be fine with having the bigger fans pulling air out!

Dagrape · 11-01-2007, 11:12 AM

OOOOPS my bad...PARALLEL not Series.

Wiskey · 11-01-2007, 11:18 AM

Ya,... There normal 110V fans,.. so you can just solder the wires going into the fans to a power cord and plug them into the wall. You will want to connect the two wires on each one, to the two wires on the cord (wired in Parallel like the above states)

I would have all the fans blowing air in and vent holes to allow air to leave. In my 180 build thread I have pictures of how I set up my fans,. the mounting is very simaler, but mine are 12V fans so I had to use power supplies for them.

Whiskey

jenajet · 11-01-2007, 01:02 PM

so any powercord or the extention power cord? My husband cuts the power cord off of everything he throws away, might come in handy!

Dagrape · 11-01-2007, 01:10 PM

Yes on of those would work.

(and I bet you bug him about collecting junk, I know my wife does HEHEHE)

Wiskey · 11-01-2007, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jenajet

so any powercord or the extention power cord? My husband cuts the power cord off of everything he throws away, might come in handy!

I do the same thing,.. and it does!

I would prefer to use a grounded power cord and ground the metal case (the green one is ground, Don't mix that up

). This way if salt creap gets on the fans and makes a short between the metal case and the coils of the fan motor it will pop your GFI rather than electrocute you. The same goes for if it falls in the drink.

Whiskey

Loverotties · 11-01-2007, 01:15 PM

Yes like they said with wiring in parallel. and you want these to blow out since you already have two blowing in.Either the side or the top of the canopy,since the two in fans are on the back.

jenajet · 11-01-2007, 01:26 PM

Well I really don't like the one's in the back because the are noisy. I am thinking of just replacing them, as a matter of fact one quit working all together. I may replace the two on back, have the new ones blow in and then put one on top blowing out to pull air out. Or I may just put all three on back and vent the top like whiskey said. I have been using clip on fans for a while because the origional fans just did nothing to cool the tank. I also have a clip on fan in the sump. I am hoping I can do away with the clip ons all together but probably will have to keep one in the sump.

DarthOcellaris · 11-01-2007, 04:08 PM

In case you're wondering Jena, you want to wire them up in parallel because that allows them to work individually. Meaning if one stops working electrically, that one won't affect the others. Series wiring means the device at the back depends on the device at the front.

Your house is wired in parallel. Thats how a light socket can short out but your others still work

DarthOcellaris · 11-01-2007, 04:09 PM

Where in GA are you? I'd be happy to come handle the wiring and junk for you if you're close enough.