Fan switch mod, need some help

[cyberey66]

After installing a 7000rmp fan I decided I want to put in a switch to go from normal to a slower quite speed. I originally was going to get a rheostat, but when at radio shack I figured switches would be a better mod, and better yet I picked up a single digit led display. So I figured I would hook up my cpu fan to a switch, one position normal and the other has a resistor on it. The switch is a slide switch with 2 channels. On one is the fan line the other is the line to the led display. The led will display 1 for quite mode and 2 for normal mode.

Well 2 things I need help with. What value resistor should I use for the fan, and what rating should I have for the switches? I didn't check my switchs before I bought them, they are rated at .3A at 125 VAC. If this works I would love to to 2 switches, one for case fans and one for CPU fan. Possible find a way to hook up the led display to have 3 selections.

Well for the LED, I see the "C" line is constant for 1 and 2 so I made that always on, and filled in the rest according to their selection on the switch.

and the diagram;

[Diggrr]

Well, I have no idea how to help with the display part, but selecting a resistor is fairly easy with the following math...

Device voltage - Desired voltage / Device Amperage = Ohms.

To illustrate- 12v fan-7volts/.2 amps=25 ohms. (5 watter recommended)

Hope that gets you started.

[Strangelove]

Well here is what I intend to do. Use the same type of switch, but connect it so that in one position I get 12 V and the other 7 V that way I don't need any resistors. Instead of the LED display I'm just geting a multi colored LED which then changes color with the speed. This should be a piece of cake to make, if you want I'll make a drawing when I get home.

[cyberey66]

I'm gonna go to radio shack and pick up a board to put everything on. As long as I get the right resistors I should be fine.

[Strangelove]

Here is a drawing of my fan controler (I F***ing hate paint ;)) Basically this will enable me to run fans at 12 V or 7 V :D

[Strangelove]

wanna make it fancy add two colored LED :D

Edit: BTW if you really what to use the LED display above let me know it can be done

[cyberey66]

Ok, I just got back from radio shack. I have 2 slide switches, 2 led displays, one blank board, one "Y" adapter to butcher for connectors, 2x 10ohm 1w resitors for case fan, and some 1k ohm resistors for the LED. I have to go back and pick up some more resistors. I figured that once I wire the leds to switch from "1" to "2", it'll be fairly easy to wire. I drew my new plan out. I'll post pics when I'm finished. I'll probally finish thursday night or friday. Well, I hope it works, I just don't know where to attach it, I have a translucent blue faceplate on my computer. Well it'll have 2 connectors, one lesser for the case fans and one greater for my 7000rpm screamer. I might have to up the resistors.

[natopotato]

so could u tell me how much the single led display was.... is it red... thx

sounds realy kool

[S_Wilson]

Here is a good resource for information and schematics. Cliffs Fanbus Page (http://www.fanbus.com) and he has schematics here (http://www.fanbus.com/thelab/Schematics/baybus_schematics.htm). I have built several different styles of fan controllers with switches, led's and rheostats over the last several years based on his information.

[cyberey66]

Yes:D My wiring for the led works. I just did one of them today, and ran it on my psu. It's pretty cool, it switches from "1" to "2", and it's just under $2 so basically the same price as the 2 color led. I'll have the unit finished soon. To bad I can't find my spool of bus wire I had, it would finish quicky if I could just have ran that across the board. If anyone wants a diagram for the radio shack led display I'll make one.

[shauns]

uhmm this 7k rpm fan is this push more air than the EHE Delta?

[cyberey66]

Originally posted by shauns
uhmm this 7k rpm fan is this push more air than the EHE Delta?

It's 60mm and pushes 38 cfm. It's not a delta, it's the fan that came with my ocz glacier2.

Well, it works!!:D :D :D
I finished on of the switches, it's really cool. It displays "L" for low quite mode, and "H" for high noisy mode. It makes my 7000rpm fan quite and still pushing some air, but I need to replace one of my case fans. It pushes to little air. I'll post pics soon when it's finished, and if anyone wants the detailed steps I'll make them. It's pretty easy and only cost me about $10.

[cyberey66]

Well, heres the pic of it as it is now. I basically finished it a few weeks ago, but I still didn't decide what to do for it to finally finish it for good. So far it's the first switch is all wired up execpt the "low" mode it missing the resistance, and in the 2nd switch it is wired to 20 Ohms reistance. I'm still debating whether or not to go for 2 rheostats and put it on a 5in something in a 5in bay, or just try to make it a small box with just resistors on each line, sort of as it is now. Well it all works, the leds switch from "H" to "L" when the switch is flipped.

[cyberey66]

I'm going to the electronics store tomorrow and see what they have, here is what I am looking to actually do. To bad I don't have a dremel, that's my next upgrade.

[Diggrr]

Now that's looking cool! Nice work!

[VotTak]

It is so nice... I'm making a copy of this thread... wow!!

[drunkmonkey]

nice setup, hey, I made this for my switches and controls: www.drunkmonkey.barrysworld.net/mod
I've got blue lights behind it to make it look nice

[cyberey66]

Originally posted by drunkmonkey
nice setup, hey, I made this for my switches and controls: www.drunkmonkey.barrysworld.net/mod
I've got blue lights behind it to make it look nice


Arg...... I'm an idiot, right in front of me I have a few dead cd-roms. I'm gonna steal your idea and build it in one of those. Damn, now I need to buy a dremel, some internal USB cables, some internal sound cables, 2 rheostats, and some plexi-glass.

Thanks for that link, building on an old 5in drive will be so much easier.

[drunkmonkey]

Originally posted by satan



Arg...... I'm an idiot, right in front of me I have a few dead cd-roms. I'm gonna steal your idea and build it in one of those. Damn, now I need to buy a dremel, some internal USB cables, some internal sound cables, 2 rheostats, and some plexi-glass.

Thanks for that link, building on an old 5in drive will be so much easier.

Yeah thats what I did. I used the frame from a 5 1/2 floppy drive, and got a 3 1/2 to 5 1/2 converter for the face, the I superglued a piece of smoked plexi to the back of it. After that I just drilled holes for all the components.
I just finished riging it so it takes a molex connector in the back and controlls all my lights through a screw panel inside the comp. Here's some new pics of it now.
http://www.drunkmonkey.barrysworld.net/mod/3-9-02_0009.jpg
http://www.drunkmonkey.barrysworld.net/mod/3-9-02_0010.jpg
http://www.drunkmonkey.barrysworld.net/mod/3-9-02_0011.jpg

edit: btw, it was preatty easy, I'm only 14 and I got her workin right first time, though the paint job stinks. It was my first mod every, that's sick huh?

[drunkmonkey]

Oh yeah, I used Radioshack intercom cable 4 all da wiring. Instead of being a buncha copper wires, it's just one big copper strand so its easy to stip and it's very shapeable.

[cyberey66]

My wiring is filthy. I used the wire I ripped from the "Y" adapter I butchered to make the connectors, and some covered bus wire I had for the connections. I should just buy some good wire.