Switch to turn on two fans…

Hi,
First of all please note I am a COMPLETE noobie who is trying to basically get a little experience with some DIY stuff :)

So far I have been able to connect my switch to start _one_ LED fan, can someone please draw a diagram on how to start _two_ fans using the same switch?

Attached is the diagram I used to connect my Switch to my fan.

Thanks!
R

Are you suggesting you have no ideas, ZERO? Haven't tried anything, no clues. You did do something correct you knew enough to provide a schematic.

Well what if you connected the loads in parallel, kinda like adding another lamp in the room, wonder if that would work? Well it might but then it might blow the fuse, so that would be a problem or the switch may not be rated for the current.

What is the load current rating? What is the fuse rating? Switch rating? Advise so as to consider parallel connection.

It is hard to believe you didn't consider parallel connection.

Ryan,

To start a second fan with the same switch you have, essentially, two options:

You could wire the second fan between power and ground, as you did the first fan. You would then have two wires coming off of the "acc" side of the switch on your diagram, and two goung to the "ground" side of the switch. This is referred to as wiring them in a "parallel" configuration.

Alternatively, you could wire the second fan after the first fan. The second fan's "power" wire would be connected to the first fan's "ground" wire, and the second fan's "ground" wire would be connected to battery ground. This is referred to as wiring them in a "series" configuration.

As a side note, you may need to increase the size of your fuse if you wire the fans in parallel. A word of advice: In all things electrical, check your ratings at least twice. Make sure the switch and the wires can handle MORE current than the fuse you put in

I would encourage you to try both configurations and see what the difference is between the two for yourself.

Some performance factors that will be different depending on how you wish to wire the fans:

-Current draw
-Power used
-Fan speed
-Battery life

Well, he _did_ say that he's a "COMPLETE noobie" -- do you really need to come down so hard on the guy?

But, as Earl suggested, we need a little more information - see Earl's list (just avoid the flames

Here is the diagram you are looking for. This will connect both fans to turn on with one switch.
This gives both fans the same voltage by wiring them in parallel.

Not sure is connecting in series is good advise. If these "fans" are rated at 12V then connecting them in series will have then running at around 6 volts each, in which case, it's likely that neither will light up.

Parallel would seem the only option. But, as Earl pointed out, the fuse might need to be upped and the switch current carrying capacity needs to be considered.

BTW: what's an "LED fan"? In your diagram, it looks like an LED light strip.

Ahhh... should have done this first...I Googled "LED fan" -- it's one of those fans with LEDs on the blades that spell out things as the blades spin, right?

Are your LED fans rated to run at 12V? And what current or power are they rated for? Also, because of the motors, they will have an initial surge current -- any idea what that might be?

Thanks guys!

Basically I have 8AA batteries in a holder and a switch and two fans... and a electronics for dummies book ;)

This was my very first "electronics self project", when I didnt get a reply here I googled a bit more and came to this:
http://www.retro-otaku.com/wp-content/gallery...stro-city-overhaul-2010/12v_switch_wiring.png

something lit up in my head (hehe!) and I used that to wire my 2nd fan... it works!!
But thanks for the above diagram as well!

Thanks again to everyone who replied!
Cheers and have a fantastic day!

They dont need to spell out anything, just light up a computer case if need be:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SS2plPaQ1I

Thanks Steve!

Hi see attached below

PS this will only work with two wire fans meaning no pwm monitor to control fan fan speed i.e 3 wire fans

Thats an entirely different concept and will require external circuitry plus cpu controller

Oh boy!
I think I'll save it for later, that looks a little too advanced for me right now!

Thanks for replying though!

This is advanced :- see below the above was simple very simple possibly too simple the circuit below is how you do this properly with far more enthusisam

You might find the theory and how he managed to work this out interesting

Thats if you like expanding your knowledge to greater depths of understanding so that you become that much more interesting yourself

Something that i hoped you might want to attain to become a little more challenging in your approach standing out from the rest of the crowd instead of just " that will do !"

A major difference in recieving a second class education as opposed to haveing a fisrt class education from people who want you to do better Only thats also possibly to simple for you to understand but in years to come puts you at the forefront rather than at the rear end " I dont know why I bother !"

One mans poison... :D

But perhaps you can help me, here is my current setup (see attached pic with the battery)
and I want to now disconnect the battery and attach a molex female so I can get power from the PSU...which I want to then connect to my fan/s via the molex male (see 2nd picture)

but I am not sure which wires to connect to the female... I find the 3rd wire confusing

Tell me if I got it right... from the PSU I connect to the Yellow and Black (ground) female molex then in the male molex I give out the ground which I got from the PSU and the yellow from the "side".

Yes?

I'm just scared I might short out something or burn something up

I know, I just hoped that as a budding DIYer he might learn a bit more by exploring that himself

You have to power up the power supply I take it your using a PC power supply if so you need follow the follow instructions on this page below This gives you all the details you need in order to connect a fan to the + 12volt lines

Should be easy enough to follow

http://www.gideontech.com/content/articles/196/1

Thanks! That looks cool and in baby steps so I shouldnt have a problem

I was not sure if you were going to reply so I had actually started another thread:
http://www.eeweb.com/electronics-forum/connect-switch-to-computer-psu/

Here some other articles for you as well or how too's on atx power supplies using them as testbench supplies plus power supply testers In case you need these

I think you might find the ATX power supply tester interesting as well

And if you go this page here you will find more information that shows you how to perform simple repairs to power supplies

http://www.harrington.force9.co.uk/ATXPowersupply/PCATXPowerSupply.htm

Any further questions ?

Thats what happens if you work hard with a desire to learn You reach this level It also means that as a firm who possibly imports fans for example, you can at least check to find out wether your supplier is quoting the correct specifications i.e correct rpm of fan so that you can then avoid future difficulties with imports and exports , goods being returned faulty or not within specification thus avoiding even more rows and wasting money

Got to be an advantage in the end hasn't it for everyone thats also the difference between knowing and not knowing more importantley having people try to to take the micky out of you when they see you don know what your talking about , which is exactly what they do In otherwords they ripp you off by which stage its too late because youve lost your company and cost everyone thier jobs plus the poor public who rely on you to deliver a proffesional service and give them correct advise

So its not that funny anymore is it ?

See below

Also far better than wasting your lives

Goodnight

Thanks... and goodnight!

No worries Ryan hope you learnt something