ON/OFF switch on Fans

[solfood]

I have two fans in my cocktail with Blue LEDS that are mounted behind the same vent as the speakers on either side.  They are pretty loud though and I'm thinking off wiring them both to an on/off toggle to be mounted next to the power button...then I can just turn them on if it's really hot or for special occasions when some blue light is needed.
Has anyone every done this?  The cab stays plenty cool without them because there is also a vent and fan in the bottom.
Do I just put the switch in line the power supply wire?   
Has anone used one of those little fans speed boxes to cut down the noise of their fans?

[cholin]

Ive never tried, but about the switch itself, yes you just put a switch in the power wire.  The best way to cut noise from a fan would honestly be to just lower the voltage.  No matter what you do, the fan is still pushing air around really fast, like when a fly or insects darts past you.  If you lower the voltage, it will spin slower.  Maybe add a pot in the line instead.  That will solve all of those problems.

[Sephroth57]

yeah i think adding a pot would be more effective than a switch, so you can at least keep them on low if theyre too loud

[Franco]

Oi!! Have you been stalkin my cab!! ha ha

Ive got some blue LED fans too!!

I hooked mine up to a custom switch panel on my keyboard drawer.

[cholin]

Come to think of it, does anyone live in Canada because I wouldnt mind knowing where yo got the fans, or maybe if you guys have left-over blue LED fans that i could "borrow"

[solfood]

I just ordered a pair of these...I think they'll solve the problem.  I might go ahead and wire in a switch too.

http://apnews.myway.com//article/20050224/D88F1A2G0.html

[SpamMe]

That looks sharp! How did you do the labels?

[danny_galaga]

Come to think of it, does anyone live in Canada because I wouldnt mind knowing where yo got the fans, or maybe if you guys have left-over blue LED fans that i could "borrow"

surely you don't need fans in canada? i would have thought maybe something to WARM UP the machine so it can operate 

[Franco]

Come to think of it, does anyone live in Canada because I wouldnt mind knowing where yo got the fans, or maybe if you guys have left-over blue LED fans that i could "borrow"

There are loads on ebay, thats where I got mine from.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=80146&item=6745147439&rd=1

That looks sharp! How did you do the labels?

I used a Dot Matrix marking machine at work for transfering code numbers onto turbine blades.

[Dexter]

I was looking into doing this myself because the noise from the fan on the back of the cocktail cab I built was too intrusive. In the end I lowered the voltage of the fan by connecting its yellow wire to the red one on the molex connector instead of the yellow. This lowers the voltage to 5v and decreases noise. It also decreases airflow (obviously) but I don't reckon it will matter for your setup.

Guys, would this work with LED fans??

[krick]

All the standard PC silencing rules apply...

1) use larger fans because they are usually quieter

2) lower the voltage so they spin slower

3) use a thermal control module to automatically speed them up and slow them down based on ambient temperature

4) be aware that fan grilles can create noise because of increased turbulence near the fan blades.  Use high quality chrome wire grilles and move them away from the front of the fan with a spacer (duct?) if possible.

[cholin]

Sure its possible with LED fans, theyre just fans with LEDs in em   Also, I did look on eBay and theyre all American, so if something goes for $4.99, thats great, BUT "To Canada is $13.95" look at shipping!  13.95 for a 5 dollar item?  Now the math, 13.95 + 4.99 = 18.94.  Now add border taxes and/or provincial taxes, never know.  Then think of the conversion rate from Canadian to US dollars through Paypal, plus their little charge, this easily comes to like $35-$45 CAD from my account before these things reach my pocket.