Problems with Zalman ZM-MFC1 Fan controller (help please)

Soldato
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3 Jan 2009
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Bedfordshire
I have installed it today and i cannot get any fans to work that are plugged into it.

I have got 4 pin molex fans, i brought all the adapters for the fans and plugged them in to FC and still nothing.

The molex power socket does work so i know the FC is getting power.

The ONLY thing it does, it flash its LED'S for a split second when you power the pc.

I wanted to know do the fans require power or does the FC supply the power to the fans. I haven't got a 3 pin fan, i am a bit iffy on whether these adapters are causing problem?

Any advice or things to try would be grand :)

As im losing the will to live lol

Thanks
 
I just installed a second hand one today and it works fine. Plugged the main power for the fan controller (which powers each fan) into a 4-pin molex connector (not a 2-pin fan one), and plugged my fans in with their 3-pin connectors into the extensions.

Make sure you've got the right molex adapter to power it, try another if possible, and double check your adapters for the fans are correct.
 
Thats how mine is done, i know the molex works becuase when i plug a fan into it works. But i may try another one i see what happens.

I think its these adapters that are wrong then. I think they may be causing the problems.

Gonna go check now :)

Thanks for the reply
 
Well you can get molex connectors with just 2 pins in them that will power fans only, so i'd check it's a 4-pin, as the controller probably needs that instead.
 
The power for the FC is defiantly plugged into a 4 pin molex tried 3 of em now. Again same problem Leds light for a split second. Gonna try and fin a 3 pin fan if possible :(
 
Way hey

Ive just tried an old CPU fan (3 pin) Works fine speeds up and slows down!

So the problem is the adapters i am using :( I aint got a clue now. All i can think is that the adapter part doesn't match with how the leads are meant to go IE power or negative is in the wrong place. How would i find out in a 3 pin socket which way the pins are meant to be??

**really stupid question**

My fans have got red and black. (Molex connections)

Why does a 3 pin fan have 3 pins. Does it have 3 wires or just two. Do i need to just find the right combo of wires. Or does the FC require 3 wires to power and slow down the fan?>?
 
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