2 wire to 3 wire fan conversion

[jcarte01]

Hi I recently (within the last 3 months) built my own pc. i ordered 2 80mm case fans assuming that they would be 3pin(mobo connector) and 4pin(cd power connector) but they were just 4 pin. they are quite 12dba so i would like to keep them as other 3pin fans seem to be 25dba. is it possible to convert the fans from 2 wire to 3 wire, im not too shabby with a soldering iron if thats required. or is the risk of f**king up my mobo not worth it vs having a few extra wire trailing around

Homer: There’s 3 ways to do things, the right way, the wrong way, and the max power way.
Bart: isn’t that the wrong way.
Homer: yea but faster.

 

[ImpPatience]

I don't know about the soldering, I'm sure if you looked on the web some one might have instructions on how to do it. But I know I've seen 3pin to 4pin converters in almost every fan controller I've bought. I would head over to your local computer store and see if they don't have one of those.

<font color=blue><b>virtue is its' own punishment<b></font color=blue>

 

[poindexter]

How many wires are there on these fans with the 4 pin connector? If there are four wires you will need to find out what the fourth is for [I haven't a clue] as well as which is the power supply, ground and rpm signal. A two wire fan uses the same three pin connector as a three wire fan, and it has only a power supply and ground. A two wire fan has no rpm sensor. If your fans have three wires, you will need to determine which is which: power supply, ground and rpm signal. Your mobo manual or the manufacturer's web site can tell you which pins are which-this is a standard arrangement. Don't screw this up or you'll be using the drive power supply to run your fans. Most mobos have a very light duty voltage regulator powering up the case and system fans; some have one regulator for all three. My Asus k7 lost these two when I connected a fan it couldn't handle. The cpu fan still works fine, and if I tap 12v from a drive connector for the other two fans the mobo still picks up the rpm signals.

 

[jammydodger]

I did it by just taking off the connector at the end, removing some of the plastic shielding and sticking the 2wires into at 12molex connector. Granted this isnt the safest way of doing it, but hey it works.

Other wise you buy molex to 3pin fan adaptor cut the 2 wires to the 3pin connector, twist them together with your fan wires and then stick some tape round the exposed wires.

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