Question about the built in cooling fans on 12 gallon nano's

jimandjen · 05/18/2010, 05:58 PM

I guess I should probably be asking this question on a nano site of some sort but here it goes.

I have a 12 gallon aquapd with one built in fan. I have yet to see it turn on, even with all the switches (lights etc) in the "ON" position. Is the fan regulated by a transformer of some sort that turns the fan on when the ballasts get hot?
I also have a 12 gallon JBJ nanocube, the basic version. It came with 2 built in fans. I took one of these fans and put it in the aquapod on the off chance that the aquapod fan was defective. Still no fan movement with the jbj fan installed in the aquapod.
What am I missing? Why aren't the cooling fans kicking in?
And on the same subject, where do I purchase these 2 pin 60mmx15mm fans from? The LFS doesn't really carry these and computer fans are all 3 or 4 pins.
What can i do to test whether the fans I have are defective and I need new ones or that the doo hickey that regulates the fan turning on is defective?
Fans say "12V DC". I don't know the first thing about these nanos.
TIA

mike_cmu04 · 05/18/2010, 06:38 PM

THe fans should be on when the lights are on there is some problem if the tank is new i would exxhange it. If it is old then you will have to replace the fans

Felix T Cat · 05/19/2010, 04:43 AM

The fans only come on with one of the lights (at least my 12g aquapod works that way) so make sure when you test you turn on both sets of lights to double check. I replaced the stock fan with 2 slienx (not right but don't remember the exact spelling) quiet fans and it made a big difference. Oh and the replacement fans came with a 3-2pin adapter.

mr.maroonsalty · 05/19/2010, 06:27 AM

you should be able to check the fan with a 9v battery and a couple jumper wires. it could very well be a bad connection in its wiring that you'll have to try and figure out or bypass

jimandjen · 05/19/2010, 11:46 AM

Found an aftermarket sunon brand replacement fan and will try those out when they arrive. It's just hard 2 believe that out of 2 cubes and 3 fans, I can't get a single fan to actually work. I will try the 9v battery idea. I tried it with a D battery and nothing but the 9v sounds like enought voltage 2 tell me which if any of the 3 old fans work. 2 pin fans are hard to find and people seem to charge additional monies for supplying 3pin to 2 pin adaptors.

fowlclay-boaeef? · 05/19/2010, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr.maroonsalty

you should be able to check the fan with a 9v battery and a couple jumper wires. it could very well be a bad connection in its wiring that you'll have to try and figure out or bypass

good recommendation. if you feel comfortable with electronics you can also try using a multimeter to test the circuit as well. but like the prior poster said if its new have whoever you bought it from test it. not everyone is comfortable testing equipment. if not new. then you may know someone local to you that would be happy to test it for you. if you lived nextdoor to me i'd be happy too......

fowlclay-boaeef? · 05/19/2010, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimandjen

Found an aftermarket sunon brand replacement fan and will try those out when they arrive. It's just hard 2 believe that out of 2 cubes and 3 fans, I can't get a single fan to actually work. I will try the 9v battery idea. I tried it with a D battery and nothing but the 9v sounds like enought voltage 2 tell me which if any of the 3 old fans work. 2 pin fans are hard to find and people seem to charge additional monies for supplying 3pin to 2 pin adaptors.

if you live close to a dump...... people throw out computers everyday. free fans are more my style. i like free. i am really quite partial to it.

fowlclay-boaeef? · 05/19/2010, 12:00 PM

additional monies i like that.

05/18/2010, 05:58 PM	#1
jimandjen Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: St. Louis, MO USA Posts: 98	Question about the built in cooling fans on 12 gallon nano's I guess I should probably be asking this question on a nano site of some sort but here it goes. I have a 12 gallon aquapd with one built in fan. I have yet to see it turn on, even with all the switches (lights etc) in the "ON" position. Is the fan regulated by a transformer of some sort that turns the fan on when the ballasts get hot? I also have a 12 gallon JBJ nanocube, the basic version. It came with 2 built in fans. I took one of these fans and put it in the aquapod on the off chance that the aquapod fan was defective. Still no fan movement with the jbj fan installed in the aquapod. What am I missing? Why aren't the cooling fans kicking in? And on the same subject, where do I purchase these 2 pin 60mmx15mm fans from? The LFS doesn't really carry these and computer fans are all 3 or 4 pins. What can i do to test whether the fans I have are defective and I need new ones or that the doo hickey that regulates the fan turning on is defective? Fans say "12V DC". I don't know the first thing about these nanos. TIA

05/19/2010, 06:27 AM	#4
mr.maroonsalty Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: upstateny Posts: 2,504	you should be able to check the fan with a 9v battery and a couple jumper wires. it could very well be a bad connection in its wiring that you'll have to try and figure out or bypass __________________ Back from the dead! Current Tank Info: 140 dt reef

05/19/2010, 12:00 PM	#8
fowlclay-boaeef? Registered Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: winchester, tn Posts: 142	additional monies i like that. __________________ Reality is an illusion created by an alcohol deficiency. No sherrif that there aint no still. It's one o' them new fangled fish tank filters. Quote from early cuyler "allow me to explain the contamination process... pine cones go in here... party liquors come out here.. and proceed too here. fights is fought. fingerprints is took. bail is made. court dates is ignored. cycle is repeated." funny show on adult swim. called the squidbillies. is about a family of land dwelling cephilopods "squids" that live in the north georgia mountains. check it out. very funny2me. Current Tank Info: 80 gallon fowlr with sump, antiquated lighting

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05/18/2010, 06:38 PM	#2
mike_cmu04 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Shepherd, Mi Posts: 2,348	THe fans should be on when the lights are on there is some problem if the tank is new i would exxhange it. If it is old then you will have to replace the fans

05/19/2010, 04:43 AM	#3
Felix T Cat Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Honey Brook, PA Posts: 557	The fans only come on with one of the lights (at least my 12g aquapod works that way) so make sure when you test you turn on both sets of lights to double check. I replaced the stock fan with 2 slienx (not right but don't remember the exact spelling) quiet fans and it made a big difference. Oh and the replacement fans came with a 3-2pin adapter.

05/19/2010, 11:46 AM	#5
jimandjen Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: St. Louis, MO USA Posts: 98	Found an aftermarket sunon brand replacement fan and will try those out when they arrive. It's just hard 2 believe that out of 2 cubes and 3 fans, I can't get a single fan to actually work. I will try the 9v battery idea. I tried it with a D battery and nothing but the 9v sounds like enought voltage 2 tell me which if any of the 3 old fans work. 2 pin fans are hard to find and people seem to charge additional monies for supplying 3pin to 2 pin adaptors.