Fan "hub"?

[dgevert]

All I want is something to plug 4 case fans into a centralized location with centralized power, but I don't specifically want a fan controller. I just want to be able to centralize all my fans' power inputs into one location. I would like something that uses the 3-pin plug, instead of 4-pin molexes. (Of course, the hub itself can and probably would take a 4-pin molex for power.)

I'd get a fan controller, but my case has a door and a controller would never fit without being recessed into a drive bay. 🙁

 

[Gothgar]

if you just need power to them, you can easily just get spliters for the molex connectors.

 

[dgevert]

Oh, my fans already have splitters and regular molex connectors, but that part is just an adapter. I'd rather use the 3-pin power connector directly, for a cleaner look.

 

[Leper Messiah]

nexus fan controller, like $20ish at newegg. plug in 4 fans, and it has a rheobus for controlling them.

 

[dgevert]

Fan controllers like those would prevent me from closing my case door; I can't use them. 🙁

 

[dgevert]

D'oh! I'm an idiot...just realized I could install the fan bus behind a drive cover...wouldn't have access to the knobs but I don't really need a fan *controller*...

 

[lastig21]

You could also use something like the Digital Doc . . its a digital fan controller. You would not have the knobs preventing the door from closing and the display is pretty smooth.

 

[dgevert]

Well, I found something that will work and do exactly what I want without unnecessary features. I don't want to pay much for something that is just for hooking up fans. Plus, my fans are LED fans, and the LEDs don't really work well with fan controllers according to reviews I've read.

I found this:

http://www.frozencpu.com/cgi-bin/frozencpu/bus-44.html

Only difficulty I forsee is figuring out exactly how I want to mount the thing.

 

[kornphlake]

If you're a true do-it-yourself-er you'll go down to your local radio shack, buy a small package of heat shrink tube. I assume you already have wire strippers, a soldering iron and some solder but you may need to buy that too, now cut the wires from each fan near the harness but leave an inch or two of wire sticking out of one harness, now strip back the ends of the leads leading from each fan and twist the ends of all the wires with the same color together, slide a piece of heat shrink over the bundle of wires and then twist on the appropriately colored wire from the harness. Solder over the twisted wires (flux might help get a good solder joint,) slide the heat shrink over the solder and shrink it. Continue in the same fashion until you've spliced all the wires from multiple fans into one harness.

Or were you trying to accomplish something differant?

 

[Rike]

Originally posted by: dgevert
Fan controllers like those would prevent me from closing my case door; I can't use them. 🙁

What kind of case do you have? Is the door really so flush with the face of the case that a knob can't stick out half an inch?

 

[dgevert]

Originally posted by: kornphlake
If you're a true do-it-yourself-er you'll go down to your local radio shack, buy a small package of heat shrink tube. I assume you already have wire strippers, a soldering iron and some solder but you may need to buy that too, now cut the wires from each fan near the harness but leave an inch or two of wire sticking out of one harness, now strip back the ends of the leads leading from each fan and twist the ends of all the wires with the same color together, slide a piece of heat shrink over the bundle of wires and then twist on the appropriately colored wire from the harness. Solder over the twisted wires (flux might help get a good solder joint,) slide the heat shrink over the solder and shrink it. Continue in the same fashion until you've spliced all the wires from multiple fans into one harness.

Or were you trying to accomplish something differant?

#1, they don't have radio shacks here in Italy, and #2, I'm not a "true do-it-yourselfer." #3, I have no experience with soldering and #2 I don't have a soldering iron.

 

[dgevert]

Originally posted by: Rike

Originally posted by: dgevert
Fan controllers like those would prevent me from closing my case door; I can't use them. 🙁

What kind of case do you have? Is the door really so flush with the face of the case that a knob can't stick out half an inch?

The top 5.25" bay has maybe a 0.25" of clearance. A folded piece of paper inserted between the rest of my drive bays and the door kept it from closing. Yes, it's flush.

 

[Rike]

Originally posted by: dgevert

Originally posted by: Rike

Originally posted by: dgevert
Fan controllers like those would prevent me from closing my case door; I can't use them. 🙁

What kind of case do you have? Is the door really so flush with the face of the case that a knob can't stick out half an inch?

The top 5.25" bay has maybe a 0.25" of clearance. A folded piece of paper inserted between the rest of my drive bays and the door kept it from closing. Yes, it's flush.

You could just take the door off.😀