Need Help With a Computer Fan

Tasher80 · 06-23-2008, 10:10 PM

I have a window in my fish room. I was thinking of putting a piece of plexiglass in the window with hold cut into it. I was going to attach a computer fan to the plexi. On the outside I was going to put one of those dryer vent covers. At first I wanted to put a bath fan in to ventilate my room but I am trying to keep the cost low (I know they can be cheap). I am thinking this could be a very cheap alternative. Anyone know of a powerful computer fan? I have seen 80 CFM's. I might even put two fans in.

aquawolf · 06-23-2008, 10:18 PM

Check out www.newegg.com as they should have a great selection of fans with all of the specs listed. They also have great prices and customer service as well.

You can also check out kwdelre (sp?) 180 in-wall build thread as he just made a vent exactly like what you are talking about. It may give you some better ideas on how to go about it.

Best of luck.

wharyat · 06-23-2008, 10:28 PM

Sunon brand is a nice heavy duty fan, they are a little louder, yet great quality with excellent flow. Panaflo and Scythe also have pretty good high flow fans.

For quiet with reasonably high flow look at the thermaltake smart fans and enermax fans.

ckusnierek · 06-23-2008, 10:30 PM

by the time you pay shipping... just go to radio shack.

BTW (I think) all the PC fans are 12vdc...
If you want a larger 120vac go to mcmaster.com

OneDummHikk · 06-23-2008, 11:32 PM

Cost of the fan, the power supply to run it, and then the power to run it, you are cheaper and better off in the long run to get a true ventilation fan like the one in your bathroom to deal with the humidity. Just my 2 cents worth

Tasher80 · 06-23-2008, 11:56 PM

an 80 CFM fan is only about $10. It takes about 3.8 watts to run. The fan I would have gotten was a panasonic for $100 and it took 30 watts to run. I am just checking out my options. I would also have to run some ductwork and cut a hole in the side of my house for the ventilation fan. I wanted to try and avoid that if possible.

OneDummHikk · 06-24-2008, 12:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tasher80

an 80 CFM fan is only about $10. It takes about 3.8 watts to run. The fan I would have gotten was a panasonic for $100 and it took 30 watts to run. I am just checking out my options. I would also have to run some ductwork and cut a hole in the side of my house for the ventilation fan. I wanted to try and avoid that if possible.

If you can wire up and run the fan without a power supply from a computer, then you are definitely better off with the PC fan. But, if you have to run it on a power supply, then the power supply will pull a constant wattage no matter how much the fan itself pulls.

I was thinking about my canopy setup though. It has like 9 fans in it.

Tasher80 · 06-24-2008, 12:33 AM

I didn't catch what you were saying about a power supply. I though you were just talking about getting one of those DC power plugs that you get from radio shack. The big plugs called wall warts. I would get one that could handle the one or two fans I get.

OneDummHikk · 06-24-2008, 03:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tasher80

I didn't catch what you were saying about a power supply. I though you were just talking about getting one of those DC power plugs that you get from radio shack. The big plugs called wall warts. I would get one that could handle the one or two fans I get.

I would say try it then. What do you have to lose? If the two fans do what you want it to do, then you saved some money. If they don't ventilate like you want, then you can always install them right over the tank, and add a ventilation fan to the window.

Loverotties · 06-24-2008, 07:24 AM

Why not a bathroom fan into a piece of wood that fits into your window trackswith the vent cover threw the wood.

wharyat · 06-24-2008, 10:36 AM

Any 12VDC power supply (including the wall plugs) will work.

Quote:

Originally Posted by OneDummHikk

If you can wire up and run the fan without a power supply from a computer, then you are definitely better off with the PC fan. But, if you have to run it on a power supply, then the power supply will pull a constant wattage no matter how much the fan itself pulls.

Computer power supplies will only pull about 1 watt without any load on them.

But yes, you don't need a PC power supply to run the fans.

Boozeman · 06-24-2008, 11:00 AM

you can get a window box fan for $12-$15 at dollar type stores

Tasher80 · 06-24-2008, 11:23 PM

The reason I didn't want to just put a fan in the window is because I don't want to run the fan all the time. I will probably have it on a humidity sensor or a timer. When it shuts off I need something to keep the air from coming back in. I found a Duct booster fan today. It is 250 CFM's. It pretty quiet and is 6". I have a round fan I am going to put in the window and kind of seal it. I am going to run it 24 hrs. a day for a few days and see if it keeps my room cool enough. Then if it does I will install the more permanent fan. Thanks for the help so far.

ckusnierek · 06-25-2008, 08:42 AM

Make sure you check the amperage of the converter and the fans. I was looking at those to run a 12vdc solenoid and pump for ATO but the pump pulled 3 amps and the converter could only supply 1.5.... But I cannot imagine a pc fan would pull hardly any amps

Tasher80 · 06-26-2008, 10:45 PM

I have the fan currently running in the room. It worked well with the door cracked. It needs fresh air obviously. So I now installed the 6" Duct fan that pushed 250 CFM. I put it in the utility room next to my fish room and I put an air diffuser in the ceiling of the fish room. This way cooler air comes from my utility room and the hot air exits the window on the other side of the room. I am going to run this all weekend and see if it works well.