How to Connect PC Fans in a Series
There's a lot of reason to want to have several fans in your computer: a well-cooled computer is less likely to be damaged in use and will last substantially longer. Connecting PC fans in a series can be clean and easy if you have the right adapters and plan it out ahead of time. Many fans have a two-sided Molex adapter built-in to the power connection, and those that don't can have one added. The adapters make it a breeze to chain fans.
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Molex Adapters
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Computer fans typically use a three-pin or Molex connection, while the computer's power supply features either all Molex connections or a mixture of Molex and SATA cable connections. The three-pin connections can be connected to a Molex adapter to get all the fans using the same standard. The Molex connection may feature both a male side and a female side that can be used to daisy-chain as many fans as necessary to a single out-going Molex connection from the power supply. As long as there is enough cable to connect the fans power connections together you can chain them in a series throughout the entire computer and still have enough power.
In a Line
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The drawback to chaining the fans in a series is you may end up with a lot of wire running throughout your computer. The extra wire creates clutter and obstructs airflow, which is contrary to the purpose of adding the fan. You can try installing all the fans in the computer and lining up the connections to create a semi-circle power line across the length of the computer, starting at the power supply and connecting to each fan along the way. Start with a female end from the power supply to a male from the first fan, then a female end from the fan to the male end for the next fan and so forth.
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The Second Series
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Some computer cases feature additional spots for fans on the top of the case or on both sides. Because of the layout, it may not be possible to complete all the fans in a single series by wrapping around the side of the computer. In these instances you can set up a second series of fans.
Power Issues
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The computer's power supply should have adequate power for several fans through the case. However, you can make sure the fans are optimally powered by not chaining them alongside the computer's graphics card or any of the drives. Additionally, the Molex adapters may drop down from the four-pin setup to the three-pin setup, making the end of the chain incompatible with other computer components.
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References
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