Linking Radiator Fans Together [Wiring Questions/Suggestions]

[Rincewind]

I'm doing some rewiring and sleeving in my case in preparation for a WC set-up. I have a couple of Zalman control panels that will be controlling my case fan speeds.

I picked up 11 yate loon 120SL's when I bought my case . These fans come with both a large, white 4pin male & female connector and the smaller 3pin connector variety unfortunately all wired together (see link). I'll be removing the franken-connectors while I sleeve the fans.

What I would like to do is get my three radiator fans on one 3-pin connector so that I can control their speed from 1 dial. I'd probably also do the same for my back panel radiator fans. Is this feasible from a power standpoint?

Any tips or suggestions on fan linking is appreciated

[Gunlance]

As long as the fans don't exceed the maximum current output of your fan controller, you will be fine.

[Fujimitsu]

You can "piggy back" as many as you want onto one molex connector. It's pretty straightforward.

[Giuliano]

Yeah, piggy-backing the molex connectors works well, as long as you don't exceed the current capacity of the fan header.

Just hook one of the 3-pin connectors up to your motherboard or fan driver, and they'll drive all three.


Just don't hook those molex connectors up to anything else.. just the fans.


I took three YL's and hooked them up that way, and connected the three molex sets together in a ring.

There's no harm in doing that, just make sure only one of the 3-pin fan headers is used.

[InfamousChu]

is there a write up at all on this? would love to learn to do this for my setup.. keep the cables nice and clean..
pictures of the process and such as im not very good with electrical.. havent really tried it

[CrazyJoe]

Try out one of these - Sunbeam Rheobus Extreme

I just got one to control 16 fans ... and I still have 2 controllers available !

30 watts per channel ... scads of room. I'm running 4 fans per channel with it myself.

[peeps]

I'd also be interested in this as i have to do it for 2 sets of 3 Y'loons.

[Canadmos]

Try out one of these - Sunbeam Rheobus Extreme

I just got one to control 16 fans ... and I still have 2 controllers available !

30 watts per channel ... scads of room. I'm running 4 fans per channel with it myself.

Wow, thanks for the link to that Sunbeam Extreme, I did not know about that model.

Out of curiousity, do you think it would be a faily easy/simple job to replace the face plate on it to better match my case?

[del_fuego]

Here is a great idiot-proof post that helped me alot.

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...10&postcount=8

Dan.

[kevinbo03]

Here is a great idiot-proof post that helped me alot.

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...10&postcount=8

Dan.

Thats what i did, Works fine and looks good

[del_fuego]

Yep, its easy-peasy and works a treat.

Dan.

[InfamousChu]

Here is a great idiot-proof post that helped me alot.

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...10&postcount=8

Dan.

lmao.. ok so i looked at the picture... i dont get it haha jk

[Nate P.]

lmao.. ok so i looked at the picture... i dont get it haha jk

Splice only the back and red wires (power and ground), not the yellow wire (RPM monitoring).

[InfamousChu]

Splice only the back and red wires (power and ground), not the yellow wire (RPM monitoring).

lol thanks Nate i was only joking haha ..

[Rincewind]

Thanks gang. This has given me a few ideas to consider

Now all I have to do is snip and test.

The Zalman panel has a max of 7 Watts per channel. The Yate loon's drawing on .3 Amps at 12V means each fan is drawing about 3.6 Watts max. So... I don't know how well they would daisy on the Zalman front panel. (which I really like the look of). Any thoughts?