Powering PC fans etc with batteries?

Communities Science, Engineering, & Security
1

Hello all!

I am a final year product design student. I am re-designing the PC and am making a representative model of the final form/aesthetic. I want the model to light up , and potentially have the fans spin too. I have got round the lighting issue with a battery powered EL wire kit, but had no luck figuring out a way to power the fans. Searching google for 12v inverters etc doesn't produce much of use either. I only need them to run for 1 or 2 mins at the most during a presentation etc, but don't really want to have to plug it into a wall.

If anyone has any ideas I would very much appreciate it!

Thanks!

EDIT: all fans are 3 or 4 pin motherboard connectors, I have plenty of converters to molex / fan controllers etc if they are needed.

2

One 9v battery should do the trick, they will spin slightly slower than usual though. If you want them to run at full speed I would suggest buying an 8 AA battery caddy and using that (12v).

http://compare.ebay.com.au/like/150572595702?ltyp=AllFixedPriceItemTypes Something like that would do the trick. 

3

On a 3 pin fan all you need to connect is the ground and +12v to a 12 volt battery (or two 6 volt) the ground is black and the yellow is the +12 volts. You can plug it into the wall outlet if you make a circut by following this: http://www.ehow.com/how_7665450_cheaply-12-volt-power-converter.html    NOTE: This is if you live in North America, if you live some place else find out how many volts comes out the outlet. 

From personal experience I know a 12 volt battery will work, at least mine did. 

4

Thanks guys, can't believe I didn't think of getting a 12v battery lol.


EDIT: hmm, no way a 12v will fit, so looks like a caddy is indeed the better option. only potential problem is turning it on and off. So as it stands I will be removing the connectors from the fans and splicing the cables with the appropriate battery wire. I just don't have a way of turning it on. Any ideas?

5

buy a switch, Home Depot, Wal-Mart, electrical/auto store would have one. Home depot for sure

EDIT: Doesn't matter what type of switch it is, like it could be a light switch

6

Just take a PSU with you :)

7

just get some AA's and run them in series until you hit around 12v

Or you can go buy a pretty big 12v battery.

Im actually working on a project right now where im using an old router AC-DC converter to make a tabletop fan with a 140mm silent series R2 casefan.

8

Buy a cheap switch from radioshack and pop it into the charged battery wire.  That way you can switch it on or off.

9

a car battery would work, in theory

10

You could try those AA batteries designed for airsoft or nerf guns. believe it's called trustfire, but they're supposed to be high power. They're also rechargable, so you won't have to burn through pack after pack. Here's a link

http://dx.com/p/trustfire-14500-3-7v-900mah-rechargeable-lithium-batteries-2-pack-19771?Utm_rid=30088751&Utm_sid=1&Utm_source=affiliate&Utm_medium=dealextreme

They're each 3.75 volts, but if you add up maybe 6 or 8 of them you can get a heavy power output. also, they should take up less space than car batteries