So Many Fans!

**Razer** · #1 9th May 2009, 11:28

In my recent purchase of a computer case (Not the one I'm typing this on) I have noticed that the fans are connected through a molex power adapter. There happen to be half a million fans on the case and want to know if I actually have to connect the other end of the molex to something? I have nowhere near the amount of molex devices that I'd need to power all the fans (1 molex device if I think about it..) and I dont want to have several fans sitting there doing bugger all..

**mctw** · #2 9th May 2009, 13:16

if ive understood you correctly, cant you just 'daisy chain' the molex connectors into each other?

**Razer** · #3 9th May 2009, 14:11

Yeah but I don't know how good or safe it is having like 7 fans in a daisy chain, sounds like a fire waiting to happen..

**mctw** · #4 9th May 2009, 14:15

i used to have 4 or 5 chained together, and never had any problems.
i dont see why it would be a hazard, the draw on them is that low, and thinking about it, your psu works in a similar way, as a 1 cable (well 4 cables) runs 2 or 3 or more plugs!

ive now changed to a fan controller, makes everything much easier, and you can compromise cooling vs noise better if your fans are like mine and scream when on full 12v!

thinking about, my controller runs 6 fans, and that runs of a single molex, so there isnt a issue about it being a hazard, fans are that lower draw after all.

**Razer** · #5 9th May 2009, 15:09

I'll dig up some info on that, thanks =)

**Razer** · #6 9th May 2009, 15:41

Had a look and people are saying 4 is the max in a row.

I kinda need like 7 fans running (Yeah, it's the Antec 1200 *Hides from Carbon*) and with only a single Molex powered device I'm a tad stuck.

I have my current HDD which is molex but my mobo only has 1 IDE port and I don't think I can run a HDD and a DVD on the same IDE cable.. If I could then all is well but I'm not sure..

**serverguy** · #7 10th May 2009, 11:53

You're making a mountain out of a molehill.

First, theres bugger all reason why you can't daisy chain 15 fans together. Just take a molex from the PSU, and plugs all the fans in to it one after the other.

Or if its easier, which it will be, the PSU will probably have 8 or so molexes on it, just plug a fan into each of them, or two on some or whatever.

There doesnt have to be anything else plugged into the molex other than the fan.

Or do it properly, chop all the molexes off, wire them all into one, parallel style, and then wack that into one molex on the PSU.

**Razer** · #8 10th May 2009, 11:57

You are, infact, a life saver. Saves me buying 7 hard drives for more space I'll never use.

Thanks mate +1

**4D(Fordy(Ford) Ollie** · #9 10th May 2009, 12:14

Don't know which you were planning on doing, but running them parrallel as ServerGuy said would be better than a series circuit, as mentioned throughout the rest of the thread if you're worried about it.

EDIT*
Actually, aren't the double ended molex's parallel'd anyway?

Not too sure but I think if you chain them up you have a parrallel rather than series circuit anywho.

If you do run them series it's not a problem, but you will notice decreased performance, simple electronics, you probably did it in like Year 6, I'm not trying to lecture you. But if you join up several bulbs in a row from one battery, the furtherest one from the battery will be weaker than the first in line - and a gradual change accordingly imbetween.

It's Watts = Volts ..... Coming into affect.
..................Amps

**Razer** · #10 10th May 2009, 12:35

I get you, I did get a GCSE grade in electronics and stuff (A cos I'm a smart arse) and you're right, I just didnt want to overload the cable and blow the PSU. Not sure how the different cabling would have effected it.

I'll do it in parrallel, easier to do that way and if it benefits performance then all the better, it is after all, free!