12V USB powered T5 Cooling fans

I recently built my t5 lighting fixture:

http://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/showthread.php?6453-DIY-54W-T5x4-Lights

I needed a way to cool the T5’s down. There are a number of reasons you’d want to do this (T5’s last longer when cool, The lighting structure is less prone to warping etc)
I’m no electrician and I hate working with electrics that I don’t understand (fear of getting electrocuted) so when doing research on the internet I found a way to cool my lighting system.

My first requirement was that since it was on the roof of my lighting system, it had to be detachable so I could do easy maintenance of changing tubes etc and second it had to be relatively cheap and easy to make and understand.

What you need:
1.) 3.5mm female audio jack
2.) USB extension with male and female connector
3.) PC fans
4.) Ventilation grills so there won’t be any chopped off fingers
5.) 12v adapter with 3.5mm male audio type jack (don’t know the technical term)

First off, cut the required ventilation holes and fan holes on your light fixture and make sure that everything fits:






Secondly, cut the USB extension cord to the required length. you will notice that there is a red and a black wire. These are your power cables for your fans.


Connect the wires to the fans according to the colours. Then test it out on the 12V adaptor. Don’t worry, if connected incorrectly, the fans just wont spin (and it wont blow up in your face)

also, rem that the fans only spin in one direction. If the wires are connected incorrectly to the 12v adaptor, they simply won’t spin. All you have to do is just reverse the poles.


Tape up the connection from the usb to the fans


This is how it looks with the 3.5mm jacks and USB connection connected. Pls ignore the volume controller (I wanted to build something to control the speed of the fans - this didn’t work. It ended up being an on/off switch that threw out sparks occasionally – fire hazard )


Drill a hole at the back of your lighting fixture and fit the female 3.5mm jack


Fit the fans and grill:


Wire up the USB to the jack etc:


Plug in the 12v adaptor and *Ta Da*! Cooler lights – pun intended

 

I have an arb question... Why did you go with the USB cable?? Couldn't you just use normal ripcord?

 

umm.. i dont even know what that is..(i did try google) this was the easyest way for me at the time since i had an extra usb cord lying around.. its also easily attach/detachable.. you'll also never plug it the wrong way..

 

oh..i thought ripcord was a electrical thing that you caould detach / attach wires.. the roof of the cannopy has to come off when i change tubes etc..thats why i used a usb

 

Ah, OK. Understand now