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Connecting a system fan

PostPosted: Fri Mar 25, 2005 5:04 pm
by ColaBoy
I've just purchased two system fans but they have been supplied with no power connectors. Could someone tell what kind of connectors I need? I've also noticed that there are only two wires on them,black and red, yet there are 3 on all my other fans. Have I purchased the wrong kind?

PostPosted: Fri Mar 25, 2005 5:05 pm
by Tank
Can you post some pics? ALL fans should either have a 3 pin connector, or a 4 pin molex.

PostPosted: Fri Mar 25, 2005 6:25 pm
by ColaBoy
Great,thats not good news. At the moment there is no connectors,just two wires with bare ends. The ones in my system have a blue,black and red wire. This one has only black and red. Sounds like I bought the wrong type. Would I damage my pc if I installed it with only the black and red wires attached?

PostPosted: Tue Apr 05, 2005 6:22 pm
by LbS
Red is power
Black is ground
Blue is signal

The signal is usually sent to shut the fan off... or to have it running at a different speed depending on how both your system and your fan communicate.

You very well could connect the two. But you would probably have to throw a resistor in there to regulate the thing. And maybe a fuse jic the computer pumps more power to the fan then the fan would allow...

But this is all not worth it in the long run. Playing with wires, when you can buy the fans for 3-16$ a pop (depending on your needs), could damage your system.

PostPosted: Tue Apr 05, 2005 7:52 pm
by ColaBoy
Thanks for thje reply LbS.
I've actually stuck the fan in and everything seems ok. Your're right about the risk though and I'm expecting a delivery of a couple of branded, read-to-go fans that I should have no problems with.

:)