[i]con

I was going to install a 15" Screen into my Van on friday, by Hard wireing a AC/CD converter to my Batt. and hiding it in a Custom Box im making, now it says i put it ( the converter ) in a open Area so it will keep cool, But i dont want it to look shitty So i have some Old 12V Computer Fans Laying Around 4 to Be Exact ( 3&1/2" // 3&1/2" ) How heres where i need some help, there all different Amps. (* 0.22a , 0.12a , 0.15a , 0.16a *) does that make a big Difference , As for wireing them i was going to Latch it on to the incoming power from the Conveter. but i'll probbably need a fuse i just need to find out witch Fuse to get.

If anyone sees anything wrong with this Just let me Know im'a super noob here so that last thing i want to do is melt some Wires

Thanks, Corey

Cluster

Since your not drawing much current, it's pretty simple to setup. The simplest setup would be to hook them all in series using 16-18 gauge wire with a 2 amp inline AGC fuse (the small glass cylinder style fuses).

M-A3

The fuse is to protect the smallest wire in the circuit. If it shorts, you want the fuse to burn (blow) before the wire burns. Even with 16-18 gauge power wire here, your smallest wire is actually still the lead off the fan. These leads are maybe 22 guage. I'd suggest going for a 1 amp inline - as small as you can get to protect that tiny wire but also still provide the total sum amperage draw that your 4 fans will draw.

Tom.F.1

iTrader: (1)

NO, NO, NO.
Wiring in series is NOT good.

If you put 4 12 v fans in series, you'll have 3 volts on each. Thats not good.

Yes, you can use one 2 amp fuse, but you need to provide 12v to each fan, which would be paralel. You can jumper the 12 v to + on each fan, which is probably what when he said series.

Cluster

This is what i get for sharing advice late at night when I'm not all there.

He's right, parallel the circuit. And a 1 or 2 amp fuse will work. The only reason i suggested 2 was because even 22 gauge wire is not going to melt at 2 amps. The fuse will pop almost instantly at anything over 3 amps, which is still safe. A 1 amp fuse might trip to easy as he's already pushing that limit. 2 will pop well before that wire gets hot enough to melt the insulation.

Fusing something like that in actuality is overkill. It's more of a safety net against your mistakes. If installed properly, meaning the wire is well shielded and no bare wire exposed, and the fans in good working order, there should be no need for a fuse. But, the one time you don't fuse, is the time you make a mistake and melt something.

M-A3

I've heard too many horror stories lately of fuses not being there or being sized too big and still allowing the wire to melt. I will agree though, a 1 amp fuse filament might just break due to vibration. That would suck more than the potential for a wiring issue as you'd lose fan cooling and then end up having other stuff overheat.

I've got 4 * .1 amp * 80 mm computer fans on my amp rack, wired in parallel on 16 ga wire with a 2 amp inline (yeah, I'm one to talk about using 1 amp fuses). The thing was that all I could find was ATC (the small blade fuses) at the local shops and the smallest fuse was 2 amp. I'd have tried 1 amp if I could have found it. Still haven't seen one...

[i]con

Thanks guys, Means alot last thing i want to do i melt anything, i started the Box yesterday shes going along smooth all i need come payday and i'll Be rolling ,i'll Post pictures of install Aswell. Again Thank you guys.

Wish me luck