Who thinks installing a cooling fan is child's play?

  • Thread starter Thread starter George Hester
  • Start date Start date
G

George Hester

So here I am trying to install a cooling fan because the old one is making
too much noise. After I figured out how the measurements are arrived at for
fans it turns out no I cannot use a 80mm fan I need a 92mm fan. Which I
have but now for the second part of this project. I also need where the fan
attaches to the Motherboard a 4-Pin connector and it looks like this:

x x | x

Where | is a hole in the connector but is not connected. The ouside x's are
red and the inside x is black. The outer x's are connected by a external
red jumper. The 92mm fan I had that I was going to use to replace the bad
one attaches to the Motherboard in this fasshion:

x x x

A 3-Pin connector where the middle x is red. The outer to your right x is
black and the remaining x is unknown for there is no wire attached to that
externally.

It also looks like ALL fans on earth now use the 3-Pin connector. What can
I do so that I can connect a cooling fan to the Motherboard where that
connection is as I described above ie. the 4-Pin connector?

I believe it is all 12V=DC .56A
 
George Hester said:
So here I am trying to install a cooling fan because the old one is making
too much noise. After I figured out how the measurements are arrived at
for
fans it turns out no I cannot use a 80mm fan I need a 92mm fan. Which I
have but now for the second part of this project. I also need where the
fan
attaches to the Motherboard a 4-Pin connector and it looks like this:

x x | x

Where | is a hole in the connector but is not connected. The ouside x's
are
red and the inside x is black. The outer x's are connected by a external
red jumper. The 92mm fan I had that I was going to use to replace the bad
one attaches to the Motherboard in this fasshion:

x x x

A 3-Pin connector where the middle x is red. The outer to your right x is
black and the remaining x is unknown for there is no wire attached to that
externally.

It also looks like ALL fans on earth now use the 3-Pin connector. What
can
I do so that I can connect a cooling fan to the Motherboard where that
connection is as I described above ie. the 4-Pin connector?

I believe it is all 12V=DC .56A
Click to expand...

Cut the plug off the old fan, cut the plug off the new fan, put old plug on
new fan.

SteveH
 
And just match up the colored wires? Yes thought of that but was hoping for
a less Cob Job way. This is amazing. I have to make sure the amps are
right but it is looking like that is my only alternative. I found the exact
model:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7543436662&fromMakeTrack=
true

But if you look closely at the connector to the Motherboard you will see it
is 3-Pin. Mine is similar looking but 4-pin. Compaq does this on purpose
don't they? They are probably the only ones on Earth that carried such a
fan and connection.
 
So here I am trying to install a cooling fan because the old one is making
too much noise. After I figured out how the measurements are arrived at for
fans it turns out no I cannot use a 80mm fan I need a 92mm fan. Which I
have but now for the second part of this project. I also need where the fan
attaches to the Motherboard a 4-Pin connector and it looks like this:

x x | x

Where | is a hole in the connector but is not connected. The ouside x's are
red and the inside x is black. The outer x's are connected by a external
red jumper. The 92mm fan I had that I was going to use to replace the bad
one attaches to the Motherboard in this fasshion:

x x x

A 3-Pin connector where the middle x is red. The outer to your right x is
black and the remaining x is unknown for there is no wire attached to that
externally.

It also looks like ALL fans on earth now use the 3-Pin connector. What can
I do so that I can connect a cooling fan to the Motherboard where that
connection is as I described above ie. the 4-Pin connector?

I believe it is all 12V=DC .56A
Click to expand...


I see now you didn't mean that the fan itself was
proprietary, just the connector on it.

Does the original fan use the same type of plug, with wires
that go directly into the end of the plastic piece into
metal contacts that are crimped around the wire, or does the
original fan have an insulation displacement type of metal
contact, where the end of the contact has a metal "V" shape
that cuts into the wire insulation as the wire is pushed
into it?

If it's the insulation displacement type, you can cut off
the new fan's plug and push the wires into the original
connector... you could solder it together instead to the
original wires, but that's harder and no gain unless the new
fan's wires are simply too short for the application.

If it's the more common crimped-contact type, take a needle
and push in on the contact's small spring catch on the side
of the connector. That will free it up so it slides out the
back of the connector. Do the same for both connectors then
put the old fan connector onto the new fan's contacts.
Black goes in the old fan's black position and IIRC, red is
the one right next to it, not opposite the missing hole. If
it doesn't work that way, just move the red wire to the
position opposite the hole. If you had a multimeter you
could also measure the voltage on the motherboard
connector, the pin next to the black one should be the first
attempt.

"Some" contacts have a slightly different spring-tab
implementation but they are far less common so I'll leave
out that information untill it seems necessary.
 
And just match up the colored wires? Yes thought of that but was hoping for
a less Cob Job way. This is amazing. I have to make sure the amps are
right but it is looking like that is my only alternative. I found the exact
model:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7543436662&fromMakeTrack=
true

But if you look closely at the connector to the Motherboard you will see it
is 3-Pin. Mine is similar looking but 4-pin. Compaq does this on purpose
don't they? They are probably the only ones on Earth that carried such a
fan and connection.
Click to expand...

Actually there is a specification for 4 pin fans that also
allows for PWM throttling. Compaq may not have implemented
it, but it does exist.
 
George said:
So here I am trying to install a cooling fan because the old one is
making too much noise. After I figured out how the measurements are
arrived at for fans it turns out no I cannot use a 80mm fan I need a
92mm fan. Which I have but now for the second part of this project.
I also need where the fan attaches to the Motherboard a 4-Pin
connector and it looks like this:

x x | x

Where | is a hole in the connector but is not connected. The ouside
x's are red and the inside x is black. The outer x's are connected
by a external red jumper. The 92mm fan I had that I was going to use
to replace the bad one attaches to the Motherboard in this fasshion:

x x x

A 3-Pin connector where the middle x is red. The outer to your right
x is black and the remaining x is unknown for there is no wire
attached to that externally.

It also looks like ALL fans on earth now use the 3-Pin connector.
What can I do so that I can connect a cooling fan to the Motherboard
where that connection is as I described above ie. the 4-Pin connector?
Click to expand...

Turn the connector on the fan 180° and put the two right-side connectors on
the new fan on the two left side connectors on the mobo.

x x I x
x x x

That should align red to red and black to black? Unless it's keyed, then you
need a multimeter (to be sure), a soldering iron and some shrink-wrap
insulator tubing.
 
~misfit~ said:
Turn the connector on the fan 180° and put the two right-side connectors on
the new fan on the two left side connectors on the mobo.

x x I x
x x x

That should align red to red and black to black? Unless it's keyed, then you
need a multimeter (to be sure), a soldering iron and some shrink-wrap
insulator tubing.
Click to expand...

Yes it is keyed. That was my first attempt. I gave up. But in any case
although Kony gave some good advice you did too the fan I have is not right.
The amps are off. So I'm going to have to buy the right one. I'll still
have to do what kony said or what you described at the end because the exact
model is now 3-pin. Child's Play. Thanks.
 
George Hester said:
Yes it is keyed. That was my first attempt. I gave up. But in any case
although Kony gave some good advice you did too the fan I have is not
right.
The amps are off. So I'm going to have to buy the right one. I'll still
have to do what kony said or what you described at the end because the
exact
model is now 3-pin. Child's Play. Thanks.
Click to expand...
Unless the fan you bought is some industrial strength wind machine type, you
don't have to worry about the amps, its just a fan!
The easiest answer is if you have a spare 4 pin molex power connector coming
off your power supply is to buy a fan with one of those connectors and
forget about plugging it into the motherboard altogether, it doesn't HAVE
to, you know.

SteveH
 
SteveH said:
Unless the fan you bought is some industrial strength wind machine type, you
don't have to worry about the amps, its just a fan!
The easiest answer is if you have a spare 4 pin molex power connector coming
off your power supply is to buy a fan with one of those connectors and
forget about plugging it into the motherboard altogether, it doesn't HAVE
to, you know.

SteveH
Click to expand...

That would mean the fan is slways on right? Hmm that's OK I suppose but I
see now why the sound I was experiencing was not always happening. It's
because the Motherboard had not sent the fan a message that the CPU needed
some fan work. Don't have any more 4-Pin molux off the Power Supply. They
are all being used. I keep hitting a brick wall. I think I'll just get the
right thing and do the eletrical work on the connectors as you described.
At least I'll know it's put together the way it's supposed to be. Till then
my Network will just have to take a breather.
 
George said:
So here I am trying to install a cooling fan because the old one is making
too much noise. After I figured out how the measurements are arrived at for
fans it turns out no I cannot use a 80mm fan I need a 92mm fan. Which I
have but now for the second part of this project. I also need where the fan
attaches to the Motherboard a 4-Pin connector and it looks like this:

x x | x

Where | is a hole in the connector but is not connected. The ouside x's are
red and the inside x is black. The outer x's are connected by a external
red jumper. The 92mm fan I had that I was going to use to replace the bad
one attaches to the Motherboard in this fasshion:
Click to expand...


Is it possible that that weird connector x x | x, is actually meant to
plug into a power supply connector. You know the power supply has the
floppy drive connector.

It's a 12V fan. So check if the pins of the fan connector lien up with
the yellow and black wires of the little psu floppy connector.

For wires coming out of the PSU , the color coding gives voltage.
yellow=12V, red=5V black=GND.

SEe if the weird 4 pin connector with a pin missing, goes into that
hitting the yellow and black but not the red.




I can't remember the connector with a thing broken off very clearly.
would this help you
http://www.ocmodshop.com/3-4pin/adapter.jpg
http://www.directron.com/3to4adapter.html
http://www.pccasegear.com/category73_1.htm

I'm sure some of these adaptors may help explain the puzzle you have.
 
Is it possible that that weird connector x x | x, is actually meant to
plug into a power supply connector. You know the power supply has the
floppy drive connector.
Click to expand...


DO NOT PLUG IT INTO A FLOPPY CONNECTOR.
That will dead-short a power rail, potentially damaging
parts.
It's a 12V fan. So check if the pins of the fan connector lien up with
the yellow and black wires of the little psu floppy connector.
Click to expand...

Doesn't matter if the red and black fan wires match the
yellow and black on a floppy connector, the red fan wire
loops around to a 2nd contact.

If it weren't for that, you're right that it would probably
be possible to mod the connector somehow (depending on
keying) to get it plugged into a floppy connector. However,
no OEMs use a floppy connector to power fans.
 
kony said:
DO NOT PLUG IT INTO A FLOPPY CONNECTOR.
That will dead-short a power rail, potentially damaging
parts.


Doesn't matter if the red and black fan wires match the
yellow and black on a floppy connector, the red fan wire
loops around to a 2nd contact.

If it weren't for that, you're right that it would probably
be possible to mod the connector somehow (depending on
keying) to get it plugged into a floppy connector. However,
no OEMs use a floppy connector to power fans.
Click to expand...

That's alright. James was trying to help and I appreciate it. James no it
attches to the Motherboard. That's the way the fan I removed was connected
and that's the way I am going to put the new one back in. I do have another
floppy connection off the PSU but that is waiting on a 5 1/4 that is
comming. Believe it or not I must know how to take care of these old
floppies. They come from 1985 when I was in schrool. And they still have
my love letters on them.
 
George said:
at for


the fan


x's are



That's alright. James was trying to help and I appreciate it. James no it
attches to the Motherboard. That's the way the fan I removed was connected
and that's the way I am going to put the new one back in. I do have another
floppy connection off the PSU but that is waiting on a 5 1/4 that is
comming. Believe it or not I must know how to take care of these old
floppies. They come from 1985 when I was in schrool. And they still have
my love letters on them.
Click to expand...

George,

If I weren't a curmudgeon, I would definitely give you my vote for Mr/Ms
Congenialty. You're constantly upbeat, and yet, I don't want to hit you.
 
Grinder said:
George,

If I weren't a curmudgeon, I would definitely give you my vote for Mr/Ms
Congenialty. You're constantly upbeat, and yet, I don't want to hit you.
Click to expand...

Well I hope not. So you are a curmudgeon and I don't have your vote?
 
Back
Top