Electric fan help

Wayne · #1 09-24-2010, 11:36 PM

Hey I am building a canopy for my tank which is going to have 2 electric fans. The fans are 12V, 50/60mhz, 0.24mA. I am wondering what kind of transformer I need to find so I can plug these bad boys in. Perferably wired in parallel with one tansformer. Thanks

Bloodasp · #2 09-24-2010, 11:51 PM

Are you sure about the amount of current drawn? It just seems too small for most fans I've seen. Are those ac fans by the way or dc?

Wayne · #3 09-25-2010, 12:01 AM

Thats what is on the lable. I believe they are DC. They are about a 5" computer fan.

ongquang21 · #4 09-25-2010, 01:21 AM

There is something wrong in the label.

At a Frequency of 60 mega hz/second, only IC or... can see the pulse. For the fan? It looks as if as dc.
Again, at a currency of .24 mA (1/1000 Amp) a fan can not even make a turn ( a LED consumes a lot more than that.)

So, i think this label belongs to an IC chip or ...

Suppose it is 12v .24A. then each fan is about 3w. For parallel connection, you need a minimum 2x3w=6w transformer.

Therefore, a 10w 12v DC Transformer is good enough.

Go to the Value Village or Thrift Store buy two AC to DC transformers; one with 12v-10w and the other with 9v-10w.
Try the 12v first. If it is too noisy, try the 9v then.
They are cheap, under $5 each.

wolf_bluejay · #5 09-25-2010, 01:34 AM

For a DC fan about htat size, .24A (not mA) sound about right. Computer speaker power supplies are usually 12V and big enough.

It's too bad your not closer -- I have a box of 12VDC 1A transformers that I use for fans and LED drivers that I give away to anyone that needs them

Wayne · #6 09-25-2010, 02:13 AM

Hum I very well might be wrong about the mA. I will have a look at the few transformers I have (from various phones, motors...) if not now I know what to look for. Can I try Radio Shack?

ongquang21 · #7 09-25-2010, 02:26 AM

You can try anywhere you feel convenient. I told you those stores because they're cheap. You can look at the Pawn shops and Flee market on 118 Ave .

Wayne · #8 09-25-2010, 02:34 AM

Ooo theres a pawn shop on 23rd ave that I get vids from. If they come up empty theres a Value Village a few blocks from there

Which areas of the store are they located?

ongquang21 · #9 09-25-2010, 02:53 AM

Sorry, I left Edmonton for Vancouver 10 years ago. Allthing has been changing

Wayne · #10 09-25-2010, 03:15 AM

LOL yeah theres still pawn shops on 118th ave! I live on the south side of Edmonton thou, unfortunatly not a whole lot of pawn shops in the 15km radius of my house except the aftermentioned places

Thanks for the help, now I have some treasure hunting this weekend