Fan Modding - Adding LEDs?

Silenced · 29 Dec 2009 at 19:59

Hey OcUK, I have no clue if this is the right place to post this but I thought you lot would know the answer as you all mod.

I was just wondering, how would I got about adding in LEDs to my fan like this -

I'm guessing either having to drill holes into the case to fit the LEDs (Although I think my fan has holes ready)

Another thing is how would I go about powering 4 LEDs into a fan, what components would I need and how would I go about wiring it all, I have some knowledge of electrical wiring, and my dad is an electrician.

Most importantly which LEDs should I have, I'm wanting to be able to change the colour through the entire spectrum, would some RGB LED's be able to do this for me which some sort of variable resistor?

And one last thing, would colour show up on my black fan blades very well or would white be the best colour for it?

Thanks in advance,

Matt

Silenced · 29 Dec 2009 at 20:27

Superewza said:
Just buy LED fans? It wouldn't work anyway since the blades aren't transparent.

Must the blades be transparent to show the colour over the fan blades?

Silenced · 29 Dec 2009 at 20:49

UnworthyBean said:
Antec tricool fans (the stock ones with the 900/902/1200) are all black blades with blue leds and they work quite well. Transparent give a more equal consistent glow though I say.

Okay, thats reassuring

As for modding them, IT can be done but is probably cheaper and easier to just buy fans with leds in them.

Well I was looking at the fact of trying to find some LEDs that will do the entire spectrum, so I can change the colour of the LEDs with a turn of a knob

Silenced · 29 Dec 2009 at 21:08

Superewza said:
How would that work? LEDs have different colours because their 'casing' is tinted as such.

You can get ones with tri-colour, and ones that change through the spectrum on a timer

zlib said:
Cut quote to save space

You was the exact person I hoped might reply

Okay, so I just put Wire to resistor to LED and solder that to centre fan wires or would I go wire, resistor, led, resistor, led and so on to centre fan wires?

I'm thinking the resistors would be 330 but I can find that myself.

Silenced · 29 Dec 2009 at 21:43

Okay that sounds good to me, just need to find some LEDs that I want now xD

Silenced · 30 Dec 2009 at 13:00

SlugForAButt said:
You've got more patience than me, I just bought 7 * Yate Loon 120mm blue LED's for under £20.
Cheap as chips.

Yeah but the thing is, this way I can change the colour to whatever I want, and it'll be a bit of fun doing it all.

Silenced · 30 Dec 2009 at 15:46

jeckulz said:
Actually, thats not strictly true.
Check out the ModBros forums, some guys on there painted the cases and blades on their LED fans to rather fine looking finished results.
You dont get a glow, but the way it looks is far more menacing to look at.
Esp if using red LEDs on black fans

Hm, would be nice to see these, hard to find them though, that forum is like really bad xD

I'm having issues trying to find the potentiometers and resistors I need, so I've ordered some I should need and will test it all, hopefully it works :O

Silenced · 30 Dec 2009 at 16:01

I just thought I'd ask if anyone else could help me find the best way to wire all of this.

I need to have a Potentiometer to adjust the brightness of the LED, max voltage is 2.4V with 50mA, which potentiometer should I get and should I put a resistor infront of it. I want to have 4 LEDs in the fan but I would like it so I can control all the fans brightness from one potentiometer, any help on how to wire it all?

Silenced · 30 Dec 2009 at 16:35

PhillyDee said:
Knock the LED down to the 2.4V and then use a pot. Otherwise you will burn them out.

And:

2.4 source voltage down to 0.5v led voltage 50mA would mean a 39 Ohm POT. Get a 50 Ohm pot and this will give you the full range. Wire them in parrallel.

Okay thanks for your help. May I just ask what pot would I use for 3.6V and 30mA as that is for the other colours of the LED.

Silenced · 30 Dec 2009 at 17:48

PhillyDee said:
If you google LED calculator then it will work out the lot for you.
I would set source to 3.6V and set led voltage to 0.5. You must use a resistor so the maximum voltage it can give you is 3.6V.

It works out at 120 Ohms

So with this one which Pot can I put onto it? Would a 100 Ohm one be fine?

Silenced · 30 Dec 2009 at 18:31

Hm it seems a problem has occurred, if the forward voltage drop is 3.6 V to power the Blue and the Green sections of light for 4 sets of LEDs. Thats 14.4V to power one set of Blue or Green lights in parallel? Which means it's 28.8V for the Blue and the Green and it's 38.4V when the red is added in. Or is this wrong?

Silenced · 30 Dec 2009 at 19:49

D D Danneh said:
No, in a parallel circuit you get equal voltage across each branch, its the current that divides between branches.

So I assume if you wanted to run 4 LED's in parallel with 3.6V and 50mA each, the source would have to be 3.6V and 200mA. Don't take my word for it though, I'm crap with electronics.

That sounds good for me, could someone just make sure thats right if you're crap at electronics

(No offence)

Also, I've found some lower power LEDs, I have found I will need a 100Ohm resistor for the red light and 82Ohm resistor for the Blue and Green, I cannot buy 82Ohm resistors from the places I see, would a 100Ohm resistor be fine?

And after I put the 100Ohm resistor in would I put a 100Ohm pot to adjust from full brightness to 0?