Question 1

I don't understand how this connects to my computer.  Last fans I had all used USB connectors.  What is this 3/4 pin?

Accepted Answer

"The last fans ... used USB connectors." Case fans are usually not USB powered. USB may be a good idea compared to the ugly wires below.

Most case fans have 3 or 4 pin connectors. 3 wire fans are normal/non-PWM fans and have a constant rotation speed (= Stealth 80mm fan).

You need to split off some power from your power supply (PSU) to feed that fan. Your PSU has SATA power connectors and maybe a MOLEX (old PATA) connector.

Splitting power with wire connectors/adapter/splitters looks ugly, but that is the solution you need unless you have a mobo 3 pin fan connector. Computers from HP, Dell (mostly) don't have these. Other mobos bought separately "for a build" might.

If you have a MOLEX connector try:

APEVIA CVT43 Power 4 PIN Adapter TO 3 PIN Fan Adapter
(search for above on Newegg)

Rosewill 12" Fan power supply cable Model RCW-308
(search for above on Newegg)

Make sure 12 inches is long enough to reach the end of your fan cable (need 2?). Or maybe the fan cable is enough.

If you have no MOLEX connector then you can split off a MOLEX connector from an existing SATA connection with the cable below.

Athena Power Model CABLE-S15S15M4 5 + 5 inches SATA 15pin Converts to SATA 15pin + Molex 4pin Cable
(search for above on Newegg)

Once you have a MOLEX connector there are many options for splitting off power from that connector to fans, SATA DVD drives, etc. I try not to power HDD/SSDs on the same line as fans. I keep fans by themselves or split their power off from DVD drives.

A word on MOLEX connectors/splitters ... I've experienced some not so good ones where the male MOLEX pins will come out of their plastic housing when you disconnect them. Be advised. YMMV. It can be a crap shoot.

Once installed the Vantec 80mm Stealth fan will:
- provide a reasonable amount of cooling
- be rather quiet
- last just about forever (because of 2 ball bearings)

Question 2

Can this fan unit be plugged into a household outlet using the correct wiring and plug? Thanks!

Accepted Answer

If the correct wiring and plug includes a transformer to bring that 110-220 down to 12 V, then sure, but.. don't try it without.

Plugging a 12 V device into a 110+ volt source directly will be bad. Do not try.

Question 3

electrical specs?

Accepted Answer

Per vantecusa  .  com

Specifications:
 Model:	SF8025L
 Dimension:	80 x 80 x 25 (mm)
 Rated Voltage:	12 V
 Rated Power:	1.20 W
 Rated Current:	0.10 AMP
 Fan Speed:	2050 RPM
 Air Flow:	27 CFM
 Noise Level:	21 dBA
 Bearing System:	Double Ball Bearing

System Requirements:
Package Contents:
Stealth Case Fan/ 3 to 4 Pin Adapter/ Case Fan Screws

Question 4

Does anyone know if I can use this to replace a fan in a TV? I have a Samsung LED/DLP TV? I have to replace the chip for it and noticed the fans are all pretty dirty even after cleaning. Just wondered if ti was worth putting new fans in and if PC fans are pretty much the same.

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. Be sure that this fan is the same voltage as the original and check the connector that it uses to plug into the board. If the connector is different and the voltage is the same, then you can cut the old connector and connect it to the new fan as long as you match up the wires correctly it will work. If this new fan draws more amperage than the original, be sure that the new fan has a equal or lower number. If it is slightly higher then it will work but beware that this puts more of a load on the device powering it so it has the potential to damage more hardware overtime.

Great fan, very quiet and very effective. Love the double ball bearing!

If you can, try to get the original fan replacement! That is always ideal.

Question 5

Anyone know if I can use this to replace a fan in a Samsung LED DLP TV?

Accepted Answer

You need to first remove the panel on the tv to see what fan is in it now... measure it and determine the size.  Then you can cut off the original connector for the fan but make sure the original from the tv is 12v.  Pick up the same size fan at the same 12v voltage.  Use the old wire connector from the original by cutting it off with 3" of room so you can cut the wires on the new fan.  Then solder the wires together meaning Red, Black, Yellow.  Plug it in and your golden.  Just gotta match the same size and voltage and do the wiring manually unless the connector on the tv is a standard 3-pin.  Good Luck.

Question 6

I have an Antec EarthWatts 380 W power supply whose fan started making a lot of noise. Its specs say that it has an 80mm fan in it. Could I use this fan as a replacement to make my power supply silent again?

Accepted Answer

Unfortunately there isn't a simple answer to this. Without knowing how much air the existing fan moves, it is impossible to say for certain whether this fan will be adequate to keep the PSU's components cool. My gut feeling is that as long as the existing fan is 12V (most PSU fans are) it'll probably work, especially if you aren't pushing the PSU close to its 380W rated capacity.

A couple of caveats to be aware of though:

1. The connector may not match. Internal PSU fans often use a connector that is different from the standard motherboard fan connector. You may need to snip off the connectors from the failing and replacement fans, and splice the old connector onto the new fan's wires using a soldering iron, some solder, and some heat shrink tubing to insulate the connections. Obviously, once you've done this you won't be able to RMA the new fan if things don't work out since you will have irreversibly modified it.

2. There are high voltage capacitors inside PC PSUs, which can store a dangerous (potentially lethal!) electrical charge even after the PSU is powered off and unplugged. If you do not have experience working with high voltage equipment, tinkering with the innards of your PSU is not recommended.

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