80mm fan connection for cooling

[MameMe]

I am planning my first cab and I think I want to attach 2 80mm fans to the back of the cab.  One to "suck" air in, the other to "push" air out.  I've been searching eBay for some fans, I actually like to colored blue ones with the LED..hehe

Some of the fans come with 3 wires and some come with 4 wires.  I think I might be able to get away with splicing a power adapter 12V and attaching both fans to the power adapter, then pluggin the adapter into a standard outlet.

1) How do I splice the actual fans?

2) Which wires mean what on the fan?

3) Can I fry a fan if I cross the wires?

[Sasquatch!]

Those fans with three or four wires are "smart" fans with an RPM sensor on them.

This page says that pin 3 is the sensor, but I can't vouch for that myself.  Honestly, I'd get a standard two-pin (12v and ground) molex style fan.

[MameMe]

I guess I'll have to search for some 2 wire fans but I haven't found much out there.  If I find any info out about the wires I'll post it here.

[brained]

Hey if you own broken ATX PSU's, you can use those cooling fans, they the same one's and that are 12V. So u'll save a few bucks. These work fine  

[Lilwolf]

Also, placing fans is kinda important.

Push in air in the bottom...

Pull out air on top.


Also, if you REALLY want to cool down your computer.  Take some tubes from cloth dryers (to take the air outside) and place it around the fan... then take that and push it right on top of your processor / computer / worry spot.  It really did a great job on my last OC'd computer.

[Gideon]

Also, if you REALLY want to cool down your computer.  Take some tubes from cloth dryers (to take the air outside) and place it around the fan... then take that and push it right on top of your processor / computer / worry spot.  It really did a great job on my last OC'd computer.

Are you sure that's a good idea?  I ask because I also planned on directing airflow to the CPU.  But, someone recommended not to interfere with the airflow--instead, placing the CPU according to the current.  In fact, the original source suggests against using cooling fans altogether.  However, the author admits that it's his "opinion," so maybe it doesn't even matter.

Can anyone back this up?

For me, it's not a matter of choice.  By design, I can't mount the CPU in the JAMMA board area.  So, I'm going the cooling fan route.