Can you hook up 2 case fans to 1 mb connection?

[BBC454]

I had my case fans hooked up to the fan controller on my Antec 430W PS, but my case temps were varying between 32-39C depending on what I was running. I hooked up the fans in my P160 case to the system fan connections on my K8N Neo Plat. and the case temps dropped to 22-27C, but now they run at 12V and can't be varied. I have a connection for a northbridge fan that will vary the speed, but I only have one connection and 2 fans. If I connect the two case fans together, will I be able to run both 120mm fans from the one northbridge connection? I am afraid they might try to pull too much power.

 

[akira34]

One fan connection, one fan should be connected to it. As you already pointed out, they won't be able to draw enough power from a single connection (to two fans) to function properly. You could even damage your mobo by trying to feed two fans off of the single connection. You're better off getting even a cheap fan controller and using that. I picked up one the other week for under $10 that has enough cable to place the controller outside your case. That way you can control the fan without either opening the case or reaching down to knobs on a bay item.

 

[hondAS2ooo170]

u can mod the cables to run both fans but the fan will get half juice if u mod it in a straight assembly but i think ur able buy a connector that have an plug like the one on ur mobo to the 4 pin connector.

 

[Zepper]

Yes, you can run more than one fan from a mobo connection but you want to keep the total Amps to less than 0.4A! Y cables can be gotten at places like http://www.svc.com . Also only one fan can use the speed sensor connection if there is one.
.bh.

 

[ToeJam13]

You really need to find the maximum power output of your fan headers.

My ABit AN7 specifies that no more than 6W (0.5A @ 12VDC) may be drawn from the northbridge fan header. I am using three low-speed Panaflos rated at 0.82W (0.068A @ 12VDC) each in my case with all of them running in parallel, drawing 2.5W (0.21A @ 12VDC) total. That number is still only at 40% of my header's rated power capacity.

Several forum members have said that I am nuts for doing this, but as long as you stay under the rated power output of your header, you're okay. I would give myself at least a 20% buffer between what you draw and what the header is rated for just in case you have some substandard capacitors or transistors on your board.