How to Power a Stand-Alone Case Fan

[careysub]

Hi:

I want to use a computer case fan for ventilation in an animal cage
and am looking for advice on what I should use for the power supply.

It's a 12 V, 100 milliamp fan and I am looking for a solution that
doesn't cost a lot more than the fan itself, preferably the cheapest
practical solution. Most everything I can find on-line assumes you
have a computer power supply to plug your fan into.

 

[Ed Cregger]

Hi:

I want to use a computer case fan for ventilation in an animal cage
and am looking for advice on what I should use for the power supply.

It's a 12 V, 100 milliamp fan and I am looking for a solution that
doesn't cost a lot more than the fan itself, preferably the cheapest
practical solution. Most everything I can find on-line assumes you
have a computer power supply to plug your fan into.

------------


Go to Radio Shack and look at their wall transformer power supplies. They
should have something that will work properly with your fan.


Ed Cregger

 

[JAD]

12.00$ multi output transformer/wallwart

 

[Terry]

Hi:

I want to use a computer case fan for ventilation in an animal cage
and am looking for advice on what I should use for the power supply.

It's a 12 V, 100 milliamp fan and I am looking for a solution that
doesn't cost a lot more than the fan itself, preferably the cheapest
practical solution. Most everything I can find on-line assumes you
have a computer power supply to plug your fan into.

Have you considered mounting a generator on the axle of the hamster
wheel?

Or maybe a battery?

 

[careysub]

Have you considered mounting a generator on the axle of the hamster
wheel?

No good. Animal is too lazy.

Or maybe a battery?

That would work, but they have this nasty habit of running down and
needing to be replaced.

Lets see, 8 alkaline D-batteries ($1 each at discount outlets) provide
12 V for 16500 mAh, which last about a week. But then I would be going
through 52 sets a year, for a toatl of $416 or so. Hmm... not the best
option. Maybe the animal won't live long, which will reduce the cost.

The suggestion of getting a Radio Shack plug-in transformer power
supply may be the only reasonable option, but I've already priced that
at $19, more than twice what the fan cost. I wondered if there might
be some cheaper component that would do the job.

Maybe I could get an equivalent power supply at Fry's for
substantially less.

 

[DaveW]

You are not going to find an 120 VAC power supply that puts out 12 V for the
same or less than the fan.

 

[Terry]

No good. Animal is too lazy.


That would work, but they have this nasty habit of running down and
needing to be replaced.

That is true, but you asked for a power supply that cost less than the
fan.

 

[Unknown]

,;> On Mon, 10 Dec 2007 13:28:43 -0800 (PST), "(e-mail address removed)"
,;>
,;> >Hi:
,;>
,;> >I want to use a computer case fan for ventilation in an animal cage
,;> >and am looking for advice on what I should use for the power supply.
,;>
,;> >It's a 12 V, 100 milliamp fan and I am looking for a solution that
,;> >doesn't cost a lot more than the fan itself, preferably the cheapest
,;> >practical solution. Most everything I can find on-line assumes you
,;> >have a computer power supply to plug your fan into.
,;>
,;> Have you considered mounting a generator on the axle of the hamster
,;> wheel?
,;
,;No good. Animal is too lazy.
,;
,;> Or maybe a battery?
,;
,;That would work, but they have this nasty habit of running down and
,;needing to be replaced.
,;
,;Lets see, 8 alkaline D-batteries ($1 each at discount outlets) provide
,;12 V for 16500 mAh, which last about a week. But then I would be going
,;through 52 sets a year, for a toatl of $416 or so. Hmm... not the best
,;option. Maybe the animal won't live long, which will reduce the cost.
,;
,;The suggestion of getting a Radio Shack plug-in transformer power
,;supply may be the only reasonable option, but I've already priced that
,;at $19, more than twice what the fan cost. I wondered if there might
,;be some cheaper component that would do the job.
,;
,;Maybe I could get an equivalent power supply at Fry's for
,;substantially less.

If you want to pay the postage from Minnesota I will send you a
computer power supply.

I can get 3-4 per day at the local recycling center.

 

[sdlomi2]

No good. Animal is too lazy.


That would work, but they have this nasty habit of running down and
needing to be replaced.

Lets see, 8 alkaline D-batteries ($1 each at discount outlets) provide
12 V for 16500 mAh, which last about a week. But then I would be going
through 52 sets a year, for a toatl of $416 or so. Hmm... not the best
option. Maybe the animal won't live long, which will reduce the cost.

The suggestion of getting a Radio Shack plug-in transformer power
supply may be the only reasonable option, but I've already priced that
at $19, more than twice what the fan cost. I wondered if there might
be some cheaper component that would do the job.

Maybe I could get an equivalent power supply at Fry's for
substantially less.

Ebay??? Since it's Christmas, if you prove you are that hard-up, I will
send you a used 120v, wall-mount, step-down "transformer power supply" for
postage-only. (This may or may not be the same as "unknown" speaks of.)
Don't wish the hassle of shipping outside US, however. Luck, sdlomi2

 

[Eric]

No good. Animal is too lazy.


That would work, but they have this nasty habit of running down and
needing to be replaced.

Lets see, 8 alkaline D-batteries ($1 each at discount outlets) provide
12 V for 16500 mAh, which last about a week. But then I would be going
through 52 sets a year, for a toatl of $416 or so. Hmm... not the best
option. Maybe the animal won't live long, which will reduce the cost.

The suggestion of getting a Radio Shack plug-in transformer power
supply may be the only reasonable option, but I've already priced that
at $19, more than twice what the fan cost. I wondered if there might
be some cheaper component that would do the job.

Maybe I could get an equivalent power supply at Fry's for
substantially less.

I'm surprised the OP doesn't have any unused wall warts around. I have
a box full of them.. many of them are 12 vdc.. stuff goes bad, I keep
the wall warts.

Eric

 

[RIAA]

Hi:

I want to use a computer case fan for ventilation in an animal cage
and am looking for advice on what I should use for the power supply.

It's a 12 V, 100 milliamp fan and I am looking for a solution that
doesn't cost a lot more than the fan itself, preferably the cheapest
practical solution. Most everything I can find on-line assumes you
have a computer power supply to plug your fan into.

Put a small generator on the hamster wheel and couple it to a set of
rechargeable batteries to run your fan.
Other option is to just mechanically couple the fan to the hamster wheel. No
need for electricity and will not cause pollution on any level.

 

[Kiwi1971]

option. Maybe the animal won't live long, which will reduce the cost.

The suggestion of getting a Radio Shack plug-in transformer power
supply may be the only reasonable option, but I've already priced that
at $19, more than twice what the fan cost. I wondered if there might
be some cheaper component that would do the job.

Maybe I could get an equivalent power supply at Fry's for
substantially less.

For the sake of the animal, i hope it is a silent fan or at least run
it at reduced voltage using an adjustable DC adapter at about 9v and
has a suitable grill to avoid...accidents.

DLS