Adapting HSF control to case fan use

imported_Kiwi

Golden Member
Jul 17, 2004
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I have had a couple of different Thermaltake CPU HSFs that came with speed controls, each uses two wires only (with the plug that looks like a two-pin version of a Floppy plug), and my case fans use standard 4-wire Molex jacks. I have a 120 mm, normal 12v fan that isn't terribly noisy on its own, but it does seem to add to the overall harmonics of total noise to a relatively unreasonable extent.

Would there be a truly simple modification I can make to put either one of my Tt controls to work to adjust that particular case fan?
 

imported_Kiwi

Golden Member
Jul 17, 2004
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Admittedly, $6.00 plus shipping isn't a great deal, but I do have the pair of switches already, and I could have the thing sorted out over the weekend if it wasn't too much of a big deal, while your suggestion would probably take another week before I could have it.

 

WoodButcher

Platinum Member
Mar 10, 2001
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Your as bad as I am. Love to tinker. Sorry I don't know the specifics but what I would do is jump an old psu and try it on the workbench. google for the wiring diagrams. switch and fan, maybe you can work it out.
 

Nickel020

Senior member
Jun 26, 2002
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You can change the pins on the molex connector. The two middle ones are ground IIRC, the outer one that's connected to the fan should be 12V, the other outer one should be 5V. You can move the 12V pin to the 5V connector to get 5V, or you can connect the ground to the 5V to get 7V (12V-5V =7V) but that's supposed to not be good for you PSU, but I've never actually heard of someone's PSU dying because of this and it's only like 2W anyway.
If the fan has a loop through connector just make sure though that you don't connect anything to the other side after changing the pins!
 

imported_Kiwi

Golden Member
Jul 17, 2004
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I suppose I need to put a meter across the matching pins on the plug attached to the Thermaltake HSF. The very least complicated (for me) would be if the control worked to interrupt the hot side of the 12V circuit, but there has to be more, since the fan on the HSF works whether or not the control is plugged in.
 

Nickel020

Senior member
Jun 26, 2002
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I'm talking about not using the HSF fan controller at all and and just changing the pin assignment on the 4-pin molex connector on the fan
 

imported_Kiwi

Golden Member
Jul 17, 2004
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Well, shoot! I was thinking a lot more involved thoughts than that, and just flat didn't get your drift at all. But your way certainly would be a helluva lot simpler! Thanks, I'll have to give it a try.