fan tailing

[Lord Evermore]

Where can I find the metal pins/crimps that go onto the ends of fan wires and then fit into the 3 pin connectors for a motherboard header? Radio Shack has various types of crimps but not this particular type, being that it's really small. Getting them off an existing wire is near impossible, and I don't want to have to splice wires with crimps of electrical tape (I'm doing that now with one but I'd prefer to clean that up). The main reason I might need to do this multiple times is because I'm trying to get a good quiet fan into my power supply, which uses a 2 pin connector. Soldering isn't an option for me, I can't just rewire the fan or anything.

 

[FlowerMan]

Make soldering an option for you, since you'd have to solder the pin connectors to the wires anyways if you're going to use a 3-pin molex connector. The machines can crimp them well, but I doubt you can. I just cut off the 3-pin connectors of my crappy or dead fans, like ones from Thermaltake products Just splice new fan wires, solder, and heatshrink. Done deal Even www.caseetc.com does not cary the plain 3-pin molex connector and pins.

I say cut the old fan out and splice the new one in. Simple as that.

 

[DS1MCSE]

I agree wholeheartedly. If you don't make soldering an option, you are going to be missing out on a ton of really cool options (like making a fanbus or wiring a rheostat). It's really not that difficult, and is very inexpensive to get started.

Good luck!

 

[Lord Evermore]

I don't see why soldering is a must-do for this. The pin connectors don't need to be soldered to the wire, they're just crimped onto the existing wires (the pins are flat and then wrap around the end of the wire and pressed flat against it; I got part of one unhooked but the other part is wicked small and hard to work with).

All I want to do is tail the wires from the fan with the same type of crimps used in the existing connector, then they just slip into the connector and have a latch sort of way to hold it.

Right now I have removed the old fan, cut the wires and just spliced the wires with the connector to the fan's wires, using electrical tape. It works, I just want to clean it up.

This is also not a 3 pin connector, it's a 2 pin, I know I won't find the actual connector anywhere, I just want the crimp pins.

I'm not interested in any "cool" options. This is fitting inside my PSU, I don't need anything like a fanbus or rheostat. I'm not a cooling freak, I just want to quiet this thing down.

 

[DS1MCSE]

Originally posted by: Lord Evermore
I don't see why soldering is a must-do for this. The pin connectors don't need to be soldered to the wire, they're just crimped onto the existing wires (the pins are flat and then wrap around the end of the wire and pressed flat against it; I got part of one unhooked but the other part is wicked small and hard to work with).

Soldering is not a must do for this particular task, but your original post, "Soldering isn't an option for me..." made it sound like you are loath to learn how to solder. We were simply commenting that it would be a great thing to learn and makes for a cleaner, more solid, and more reliable connection when wiring. Combine a solder splice with a bit of shrink tube and you've got a nice, clean job.

All I want to do is tail the wires from the fan with the same type of crimps used in the existing connector, then they just slip into the connector and have a latch sort of way to hold it.

I searched high and low for these two-pin connectors (even posted here) and was unable to find them. Fortunately, I found Panaflo tails at PCMods and was able to swap these for the two-pin connectors that came with my L1As from BGMicro. I needed three-wire connectors for my case fans, and two-pin connectors for my PSU & 3Com Switch.

Right now I have removed the old fan, cut the wires and just spliced the wires with the connector to the fan's wires, using electrical tape. It works, I just want to clean it up.

I'm not interested in any "cool" options. This is fitting inside my PSU, I don't need anything like a fanbus or rheostat. I'm not a cooling freak, I just want to quiet this thing down.

These last two comments seem a bit contradictory. If they're not going to be seen (as they're inside the PSU), who cares about "cleaning it up"?

Good luck!

 

[Lord Evermore]

Just don't want electrical taped connections sitting inside the case is all.

The connector itself isn't actually what I need. I need the metal pin that fits inside 2 or 3 pin connectors. The Panaflo tail might work for me, as long as I get fans that I can just plug the tail into rather than having to do any wiring (since in that case I'd just be back at the same point I am now). It looks like I was going to want to try a panaflo anyway since even this fan is still louder than I want.

So, while it's not exactly what I was looking for, I think this will work. Probably be easier even.

 

[Neuroanatomist]

I think you are looking for something like this


Although these pins are for Molex powersupply assemblies (not for connecting to motherboard)
pins @ jameco

 

[Lord Evermore]

Well, yes, that's the type of thing I'm looking for, but I need it for the type of molex pins on a motherboard, not a 4-pin molex type.

 

[DS1MCSE]

Lord Evermore,

You might want to check out this. It's a 3-pin connector, but the pins should work in your two pin plug. It also seems a tad expensive but if you need it, you need it.

 

[drx9175l]

For a lower price and a better picture, try here. You'll need to get the proper tool if you want the ultra-clean crimp. I agree that solder and heatshrink is still probably the best choice, but at least now you have two sources for the parts you want.

 

[DS1MCSE]

Much better! Man, I can't believe these things are so difficult to find!

 

[mandrake88]

if you live in the san francisco bay, san mateo electronics carry them and at a very fair price.
www.smelectronics.com