Can aFan Run on Less Power than Designed?

[ObsidianObelisk17]

Hello, I tried looking this up, but couldn't find an answer. Hypothetically, if I were to run a fan on less power than it was designed for, maybe several volts less, would it still function, albeit slower? Would it affect the fan in any way other than slowing it? I know fans work by having power provided to them, and they spin as fast as the amount of power provided equates, and as fast as the hardware allows, but could a fan stop or break if it were trying to draw more power than was available, such as on a fan hub or Molex fan splitter? Thanks

 

[JackNaylorPE]

Volts is not power (power = volts x amps) ... in the ole days we could control fan speeds w/ 3 position switches which supplied the fan w/ 12, 7 or 5 volts ... later came adjustable voltage which could take fan speeds down to 25% or so. Below that they may continue to spin but below a certain point, they may not have enough voltage. So you may need say 5 volts to get a fan started but it might, once running be able to maintain its speed down to a lower voltage

This applies to 3 pin DCV fans. PWM fans require 12 volts.

You can buy rheosatats to control fan speeds from a molex connector

https://www.coolerguys.com/products/zalman-fan-mate-2-fan-rpm-controller?utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=googlepla&variant=17666483781&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIspqNqbrz1QIVHrnACh3pTAYnEAYYASABEgJwMPD_BwE

Fan Controllers basically function the same way.

Some fan controllers (Phanteks) can even provide 3 pin fan speed control via a PWM signal.

But those days are like so "last millenium". Today fan speeds are controlled by plugging the fans ino MoBo headers which provide far more flexible control and do so automatically in response to CPU or other temps.

 

[ObsidianObelisk17]

Volts is not power (power = volts x amps) ... in the ole days we could control fan speeds w/ 3 position switches which supplied the fan w/ 12, 7 or 5 volts ... later came adjustable voltage which could take fan speeds down to 25% or so. Below that they may continue to spin but below a certain point, they may not have enough voltage. So you may need say 5 volts to get a fan started but it might, once running be able to maintain its speed down to a lower voltage

This applies to 3 pin DCV fans. PWM fans require 12 volts.

You can buy rheosatats to control fan speeds from a molex connector

https://www.coolerguys.com/products/zalman-fan-mate-2-fan-rpm-controller?utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=googlepla&variant=17666483781&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIspqNqbrz1QIVHrnACh3pTAYnEAYYASABEgJwMPD_BwE

Fan Controllers basically function the same way.

Some fan controllers (Phanteks) can even provide 3 pin fan speed control via a PWM signal.

But those days are like so "last millenium". Today fan speeds are controlled by plugging the fans ino MoBo headers which provide far more flexible control and do so automatically in response to CPU or other temps.

I know power, volts, watts, amps, etc are all different things, like pounds and gallons, I was just talking to the extent my knowledge on electricity permits, which isn't much. I was asking about this cause I have a 2 pin Molex to three 4 pin fan header adapter, as well as a 4 port 4 pin fan hub, powered only by connecting to a 4 pin fan header, and I wanted to see if I could mix and match them on one of my computers to run a closed loop liquid cooling pump, intake fan, radiator fan, and exhaust fan off of one header. I would have tried it without asking, but I would be risking breaking a pump and some semi expensive fans, or blowing something up. I mean, worst comes to worst, I have to cough up $10 for a new fan splitter, adapter, or controller to get everything hooked up safely.