Two fans, one connector

Soldato
Joined
8 Jan 2003
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Scotland
In an effort to quieten my HTPC, I bought a new 80mm fan for the PSU. However the existing fan is a 2 point connector type and the fan I have has a 3 point connection.

Now I know the yellow is for speed monitor/control so I tried fitting the 2 pin connector from the old fan to the new fan but because the metal prongs are larger, it doesn't stay on :(

I also though of running the fan cable out of the PSU but unfortunately there are no spare 2 pin connection on the motherboard. The new fan also has a molex connection but the PSU only has SATA power connections.

Is it possible for me to run the PSU fan and the existing case fan (same type of fan) of the same case fan connection on the motherboard?

Anything else I can try?
 
Yes you can get Y adapters for 3 pin fans so you can run more than one fan off one header.

A competitor sells 2 pin psu fan to 3 pin fan connects and visa versa so you can connect the 3 pin to the psu.

Just type in google

"3 Pin to 2 Pin fan connector Adapter Cable" and it is the second link.

I'm unsure the DIY method and which wires do what but they are only £2

Hope this helps.
 
Do you or a friend have a soldering iron? Cut the old fans connector off with about 2/3cm of cable still attached, use some wire strippers to strip some of the cables plastic cover off and do the same with the new fans cable (after cutting the connector off).

Slip some heatshrink over each cable and push it towards the fan so it is out of the way (do this before you start soldering the wires together), then once you have soldered the appropriate wires together - red/red, black/black, slide the heatshrink over the exposed wire (one at a time), then hold something like a lighter or a match quite close to the heatshrink untill it shrinks around the cable.

*edit* with regards to the fan speed cable, cut it very short and use some heatshrink to cap the end.

P.S if you **** this up or injure yourself, dont hold me responsible. Get some one who knows what they are doing to do the job if you are not sure :P
 
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If you already one, soldering is so much quicker and a lot cheaper. Also keeps everything looking tidy. I bought the item in the above link to connect 2 120mm case fans to one 3pin motherboard header to keep cable clutter down (both fan cables were hidden on the underside of the mobo tray and only the adapter popped out the bottom to connect to the fan header).
 
Lol, been an idiot. There was two molex connectors hidden away in the jungle of cables after all :rolleyes: I was looking for white/translucent connectors but they are black. All sorted, even 5v them to keep the noise down even more.

May change that to 7v to get a better balance between noise and airflow. Thanks for all the advice.
 
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