help wiring up computer fan with wall outlet plug

marstang50 · 12-28-2009, 07:51 PM

Hello, need a little advice on a project Im working on.
Without the details, I need to be able to plug a computer's cooling fan directly into a wall socket. I got the computer fan which has its own motor and lead wires. Here are the specs for it: Rated voltage=12VDC, Voltage range=10.2-13.8VDC, Rated current=.32Amp max, Rated power=3.84watts max.
Is there a way I can wire it up so I can plug it into a wall socket? What size wire should be used? Any help on this is great. Thanks!

gregzoll · 12-28-2009, 08:21 PM

You will need a DC transformer, which you can get from RadioShack. They have the parts avail to soldier & Heat Shrink the connection.

jerryh3 · 12-28-2009, 08:26 PM

Why don't you just use a 120V fan?

marstang50 · 12-28-2009, 08:54 PM

I need a fan that has a low airflow and when looking around on the net, the only thing that seemed like it would work was a CPU cooling fan. What Im trying to do is run a 4" duct with an inline fan from a room in my house that has a fireplace, to another part of the house because the heat does not move from the room easily. A strong fan would offset the draft for the fireplace. It just seemed that the cpu fan would fit well with the duct work (with some rigging) and wouldnt be too powerful. Just need to be able to move the air a little. Ive seen the inline booster fans for ducts but too much boost.

joed · 12-28-2009, 09:21 PM

A small 12 volt wall wart will work.
An old PC power supply although bulky will also work.

gregzoll · 12-28-2009, 09:27 PM

Instead of doing this, I would call in a HVAC engineer and see if they have a solution that will work. Sometimes the cheapest route is not the best route.

joed · 12-28-2009, 10:08 PM

A fan would not offset the draft unless it blowing the air out of the structure. Blowing air around inside the same structure should not cause a back draft.

Scuba_Dave · 12-28-2009, 10:19 PM

A PC fan won't push that much air, you need more cfm's
I sometimes use a big fan to push air around the house
It has no effect on the fireplace draft

hayewe farm · 12-28-2009, 11:28 PM

I would sugest you get an inline duct fan. It's made for this purpose.

marstang50 · 12-29-2009, 06:07 AM

thanks for the input. I think I will try the inline duct fan. Seems a bit much to try to rig up this cpu fan. I will post back how things go.