How to test fans pre-build?

axlrose

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Jun 11, 2008
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Wondering if I can get some basic information on how to test my fans. I am replacing all of them while I create a water cooling loop for my new build. Mostly, I just want to power them all to make sure they work and that they are facing the right directions to get the air flow going right before I have a loop in and can't change any of them without draining the loop.

Thanks.
 
Solution
Yeah that's the correct adapter. Unplug the PSU from everything else and use either a jumper or the paperclip method to start it with the fan connected.

As previously said though, the airflow direction can easily be identified as fans blow air out of the side with the beams holding up the fan's hub.
Connect them to a 9V battery. The fan connectors have a positive and negative terminal that you can just put a wire in to power the fan (don't get the polarity wrong lol). Recommend 9V battery as fans take max 12V.

For airflow direction, fans generally blow air OUT of the side with the beams holding the hub.
 

axlrose

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I have heard there is something called a jumper that I'm going to have to use to leak test my water cooling loop when I finish it that powers the loop without powering the rest of the components. Anything there that will let me power the fans? 9v scares me a bit.
 
I have heard there is something called a jumper that I'm going to have to use to leak test my water cooling loop when I finish it that powers the loop without powering the rest of the components.

A power supply jumper allows you to turn on the power supply without having to connect it to any component except the pump. This is because 2 of the pins in the 24pin connector control PSU startup, so by connecting them with a jumper (or just a paperclip really, just have to get the pins right) the PSU turns on. Then, once you're done, you just turn off the PSU from the switch it has on its back. While doing this everything except the pump has to be disconnected from the power supply. The motherboard connectors and the connectors going to graphics cards or SATA drives have to be disconnected. You can use this to test the fans as well by using a 3pin fan to molex adapter to connect the fans directly to the power supply (this runs them at their max speed so don't be alarmed by the noise if you do this).

9v scares me a bit.

Why? Just have to connect positive to positive and negative to negative, although you would need a couple wires to do the battery method.
 

axlrose

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I'll check if I have an adapter in the oodles of cables that came with my motherboard and PSU. Is there a chance i'd have one in there to test the fans? That would really be what I'd like. Just to check they are all running without any rubbing or anything, and to verify air flow direction.
 

axlrose

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If I plug my psu into the wall,

And attach this,
JrboL6G.jpg


and then attach this
QR6Pp13.jpg


can I attach the fan to this and see if I have power???
 
Yeah that's the correct adapter. Unplug the PSU from everything else and use either a jumper or the paperclip method to start it with the fan connected.

As previously said though, the airflow direction can easily be identified as fans blow air out of the side with the beams holding up the fan's hub.
 
Solution