I'm looking to cool my 3D printer by installing a quiet 120mm Noctua fan in its cabinet. The problem is that standard computer fans are designed to be powered through a computer, but I need a solution to run it directly from a regular 230V outlet. What components do I need to make this happen and how can I set it up? Additionally, I'd love to have the fan controlled by the temperature inside the cabinet if possible!
3 Answers
You can find mains-powered 120mm fans available for your setup. I've seen some used in computing systems, and retailers like Farnell sell them. Using a fan designed for mains power might be the easiest route. However, if you go for a standard fan, consider using a fan controller to give you speed control too!
Using a 12V or 24V power supply is important based on your fan's specs. If you want to add temperature control, it might get a bit complex because that would typically require programming a microcontroller. And just a heads up, placing a printer in a cabinet that needs cooling isn't ideal due to heat buildup!
You could look for an old charger, splice the wires to your fan's 12V and ground, and it should work fine! Just make sure the charger puts out a voltage between 5 and 12V since it will determine how fast your fan runs; the fan's voltage rating should be on its label.
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