Remove manual fan speed control?

[malcore]

I have a couple of Enermax case fans with an extra wire with a manual speed control at the end that is adjusted using a screw driver.

My question (electrical ignorance): If I remove this wire will the fan spin at its highest rate and I can then hook it up to my fan control unit in my drive bay?

tia

[Whyzman]

malcore...please! :( It's Sunday morning and early at that! Late night yesterday and I'm still half baked...

No hangover, but running your query through my processors is definitely causing some serious consternation...feels like a hangover! :p

Do you have access to a voltmeter to be able to check continuity? That's where I would begin. However, circuits are not like they used to be with the advent of microprocessors. Used to be that if you put a potentiometer in a circuit the result was continuity, but modified output on the other side.

Now-a-days, a microprocessor could be "sensing" a voltage drop through the "pot" without the necessity for line continuity.

Am I making any sense?? I didn't think so.....:confused:

Need coffee!

When you mention a single wire leading to the pot, that bothers me...it would be easy enough if there was line continutity through it to just clip and wirenut two leads...

Perhaps you might just want to leave the pot in a wide open position and then go ahead and incorporate your fan control...

Hmmmmm....need coffee....hehe!

[malcore]

hehe...Whyzman , you just took what I thought to be an ignorant question with a simple answer and made it much more complicated than I had hoped....;)

These are the fans (http://www.mikhailtech.com/articles/other/enermaxfans/) in question. They have the 3 wire power connection plus an extra (ahem..excuse me...) 2 wire connection with a potentiometer attached to the end. These (ahem)2 wires are soldered to the circuit board of the fan.

I was thinking I could just remove the (ahem) 2 wire connection at the solder point, thereby eliminating the potentiometer and leaving the fan to run full steam.

It's just a pain to have to adjust it with a screw driver, not to mention finding a way to have it accessible from the outside of the case.


Anyone have an "easy" yes or no answer until Whyzman is fully awake?:D

[Budfred]

No, I don't have an easy answer, truth be told, I don't have a clue...:confused:

I just wanted to observe that almost every time someone posts a "ignorant question with a simple answer" it ends up being one of the most difficult questions around....:D :rolleyes: :D

[Whyzman]

Coffee is brewing...seems like it's bean taking awhile...:p

Are there aesthetic reasons you don't want the pot attached? If not, why not just open 'er up all the way and let the fan control work its magic?

I would think the pot would be inconsequential if the circuit was wide open.

I be tinkin' that there could be necessary continuity through the circuit...in which case removing the leads from the board could result in an awesome looking fan that just sits there hoping for a nice breeze! :D

Oh, were there 2 (ahem) wires attached to the pot? ;)

[computer mutt]

I would think the pot would be inconsequential if the circuit was wide open.

Whyzman is correct, the speed control is a rheostat, an adjustable resistor so to speak. It varies the fan voltage to control speed.

To bypass you need to connect the two leads together, or the fan will not run.

[malcore]

OK, I'm going to get a "simple" answer for myself.



why not just open 'er up all the way and let the fan control work its magic?

...too simple ;)



Are there aesthetic reasons you don't want the pot attached?

...just another dang wire to put somewhere out of the way.


almost every time someone posts a "ignorant question with a simple answer" it ends up being one of the most difficult questions around

...guess I like being difficult, but also like easy answers... have my cake and eat it to, so to speak


I just bought 2 new Enermax 550 watt PSUs (Whyzman , you'll be happy to know that these things put out 40 amps on each of the 3 rails, 3.3,5 and 12). I received 4 of these case fans free with the PSUs.

Sooo, I don't need all 4 and they were free. I'm going to experiment and remove the potentiometer from one and see what happens.

As it is now 1:30 Monday morning, I must be responsible and get some sleep. Will give the "simple" answer later today. ( Unless FTT pops by and shares his thoughts before then).


Coffee ready yet Whyzman ?

Just saw computer mutt's reply. hmm, simple...me like...

[Fruss Tray Ted]

Been moving last night's musical equipment back to 'Home Plate' and discussing the state of the economy at large. Taxes, insurance, you know, stuff that makes you want to hit something/someone (tax collectors beware :eek: )...

Oh, that reminds me... Computer Mutt hit the nail right on the (insurance guy's) head. The potentiometer will have a base resistance when full on and if you short the 2 leads the resulting fan speed will be slightly faster than if you put an equivalent resistor to represent the lowest reading on the pot. It should be plenty safe to do though. I've done similar things before just not on a pc/case fan.

If it doesn't work one way (shorted) try the other because it could be set up to drain current away from the fan but is most unlikely to be set up that way. It would be too inefficient power consumption-wise.

PS don't throw those pots. away, someone (me :rolleyes: ) might want one or 2. How big are they?