Tom's Hardware > Forum > CPU & Components > Other Components > [Solved] Can multiple molexes be connected to one 3-pin adapater?

[Solved] Can multiple molexes be connected to one 3-pin adapater?

Forum CPU & Components : Other Components - [Solved] Can multiple molexes be connected to one 3-pin adapater?

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Best answer from JackNaylorPE.

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I have an Antec 1200 case. I'm looking for a fan controller. The one that I like has connectors for 4 3-pin connectors.

Question is, can I daisy chain the fan molex connectors into one 3-pin connector?

The bigger question is, will your fan controller do anything ? The Antec 1200 case fans are designed to work with the provided switches and variable speed knobs. Two wires go to the Molex meaning that there will be no rpm indication back at the controller.

I chose to sleeve all the fan wires so I removed all the Molex connectors and changed them to 3 pins. Fairly easy task with the proper tools and components from FrozenCPU.com However, either way, you will still not have fan speed control whether you use the MoBo headers or a fan controller. Right now I have the two "optional" Antec 1200 case fans (the ones you buy separately and that come with 3 pin connectors). Although these also have the 3 speed switch, they do work with my fan controller (Asus OC Station). The rear case fans do not, and the bigboy top fan does not. I saw no reason to connect the front case fans as the variable speed knobs are just fine for fan control as they are easily accessible.

Antec, in providing speed control with the case, effectively precludes the option of using fan controllers with the black case fans. Again, for whatever reason, their clear plastic fans work just fine.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835209011

As for whether you can power them as you suggest will depend on your fan controller's abilities. If it's soemthing like the NZXT LX, I'd say be careful. If it's the NZXT Sentry 2, it should no problem. To make this determination, if you check the Antec site, you'll see:

http://www.antec.com/pdf/flyers/BIgBoy_sellsheet.pdf
Big Boy 200mm 0.30 amps

http://www.antec.com/pdf/Fan_Comparison_table.pdf
120mm 0.24 amps

So if you want to combine the 3 front fans at 0.72 amps and your fan controller can handle 0.50 amps, you gonna toast it.

I also wouldn't mix non identical fans.....combining the two rear 120mm for example should be fine. That's what I did but I useda sleeved version of this:

http://www.frozencpu.com/products/ [...] itter.html

Again, I can do that as my fans no longer have Molex ends, the cables are sleeved with 3 pin connectors.

You can also use these:

http://www.frozencpu.com/products/ [...] g2c251s634
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Best answer

The bigger question is, will your fan controller do anything ? The Antec 1200 case fans are designed to work with the provided switches and variable speed knobs. Two wires go to the Molex meaning that there will be no rpm indication back at the controller.

I chose to sleeve all the fan wires so I removed all the Molex connectors and changed them to 3 pins. Fairly easy task with the proper tools and components from FrozenCPU.com However, either way, you will still not have fan speed control whether you use the MoBo headers or a fan controller. Right now I have the two "optional" Antec 1200 case fans (the ones you buy separately and that come with 3 pin connectors). Although these also have the 3 speed switch, they do work with my fan controller (Asus OC Station). The rear case fans do not, and the bigboy top fan does not. I saw no reason to connect the front case fans as the variable speed knobs are just fine for fan control as they are easily accessible.

Antec, in providing speed control with the case, effectively precludes the option of using fan controllers with the black case fans. Again, for whatever reason, their clear plastic fans work just fine.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835209011

As for whether you can power them as you suggest will depend on your fan controller's abilities. If it's soemthing like the NZXT LX, I'd say be careful. If it's the NZXT Sentry 2, it should no problem. To make this determination, if you check the Antec site, you'll see:

http://www.antec.com/pdf/flyers/BIgBoy_sellsheet.pdf
Big Boy 200mm 0.30 amps

http://www.antec.com/pdf/Fan_Comparison_table.pdf
120mm 0.24 amps

So if you want to combine the 3 front fans at 0.72 amps and your fan controller can handle 0.50 amps, you gonna toast it.

I also wouldn't mix non identical fans.....combining the two rear 120mm for example should be fine. That's what I did but I useda sleeved version of this:

http://www.frozencpu.com/products/ [...] itter.html

Again, I can do that as my fans no longer have Molex ends, the cables are sleeved with 3 pin connectors.

You can also use these:

http://www.frozencpu.com/products/ [...] g2c251s634

------------------------------ If a man speaks in the forest and no woman hears him, is he still wrong ?
Marriage is a wonderful institution and all but when committed to an institution, they usually let you out after a while.
Reply to JackNaylorPE

Thanks JackNaylorPE for the great info!

I had hoped to be able to control all the fans at one single location.

When I'm not encoding or gaming I don't need my room to sound like a server room.

And the controllers for the exhaust and big boy fans are way in the back, which makes it inconvenient to get to.

But anyways, your post was very informative. Thanks again!

Reply to naisanza

Glad to share the experience.

------------------------------ If a man speaks in the forest and no woman hears him, is he still wrong ?
Marriage is a wonderful institution and all but when committed to an institution, they usually let you out after a while.
Reply to JackNaylorPE
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