Making my own Fan Controllers?

[adamfelker]

I have come to a point in the quest for the perfect case that I need to have something to control the various fans in my case. Thing is, I don't want the switches on a faceplate, I want them right next to the fan that they control. Any ideas on how to do this? I have pretty much no electrical experience, so I'd need a lot of help choosing parts and stuff. Can anyone help me?

 

[sohcrates]

I could help you, but i'm not following where you want to mount the switches...inside the case?

 

[davidrees]

Directron has a thing called a fanmate - its like $5 and it will let you adjust the speed of any fan.

Personally, I bought 2 Enermax fans with the built in adjuster ($8 at same place) and I really like tem - you can "tune" them for very low noise - I ordered 5 more today.

 

[adamfelker]

sohcrates: I'd like the switches on the outside of the case, just next to the fan that it controls.

 

[sohcrates]

<< sohcrates: I'd like the switches on the outside of the case, just next to the fan that it controls. >>



won't that look awful?

i mean, having switches sticking out all over the case?

might wanna check out davidrees suggestions

do you want the fans to turn on and off, or actually adjust RPM's with the switches?

 

[adamfelker]

I don't think it'll look bad. Certainly no worse than having a face plate littered with switches. I was thinking something like black rocker switches (my case is a black Addtronics 6896a) that would be unobtrusive. What sort of parts should I get at Radio Shack? I just want to turn the fans on and off. The thing I didn't like about those 'fanmates' was that it used 3-pin connectors, but my fans don't. Also, it would get kind of expensive adding those to each fan I have.

 

[sohcrates]

all you need is a single pole single throw (SPST) switch. wire it inline with the positive wire going to the fan (any non-black wire) and you're set.

You can cut the wire and simply throw the switch inline....soldering is preferred, but wrapping tight and covering with electrical tape might work as well.