The Conservative Cave

The Help Desk => Computer Related Discussions & Questions => Topic started by: Eupher on July 12, 2016, 09:17:22 AM

Title: Computer fans
Post by: Eupher on July 12, 2016, 09:17:22 AM
About 4 years ago or so, Thor (RIP) built me a computer that's still going strong. There are three internal fans, including one on the CPU. He also installed two fans on the side of the case. It's these two fans that have quit -- or at least one of them has.

I took the fans off the case and examined them. One of them will only turn with effort, meaning that it's fried. The other fan I'm not sure about. It seems to turn freely with a finger, but not when connected to the machine.

I'm prepared to buy a couple replacement fans (I believe they're 120mm similar to what's at the link), but I'd like to first figure out if I'm going to need to uninstall the connectors from the old fans. The connectors seem to be standard 4-pole connectors but I couldn't tell you what they're called. Secondly, what kind of DC tester will I need to test the fans? And how I would I do that? Red lead on the red wire and Black lead on the black wire? (Duh....)

I'm not much of a techie and I'm even less of an electrician, so a little help here would be appreciated!

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16835103091
Title: Re: Computer fans
Post by: Chris_ on July 12, 2016, 10:15:48 AM
Most auxiliary fans get power from a 12-volt Molex connection to the computer's wiring harness.

(http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff68/kayaktn/molex_zpsmlupeuw7.jpg)



 

Title: Re: Computer fans
Post by: Eupher on July 12, 2016, 11:54:21 AM
Yep, that's the one. It's only a 2-pole (red and black only).

I ordered two of the fans at the NewEgg link. I'll install them where the the other ones were -- on the side of the case. There are plenty of Molex power connectors to choose from.
Title: Re: Computer fans
Post by: obumazombie on July 12, 2016, 12:01:47 PM
You're getting good at making sweet music with that computer as if it was a brass instrument!
Title: Re: Computer fans
Post by: Eupher on July 12, 2016, 02:02:22 PM
You're getting good at making sweet music with that computer as if it was a brass instrument!

Thanks, zombie, but you shoulda seen the dust and crud I vacuumed out of that computer. Well, maybe not. Awful. No wonder the damn thing would shut down -- got overheated.

That reminds me -- time to go practice.