40mm DIY Fan with clip

[juanBeegas]

Just wanted to show you guys my mini fan... I made it for a 1 gallon nano planted that I'm starting up.
I wanted something small that wouldn't take up too much space to make tank maintainence easier for me. The fan is a 40mm DC computer fan that I bought from Sim Lim Tower. The clip is the standard tank divider clip that you can find in most of our LFSs. Don't know if it can be seen, but I'm also using a cheap plastic ruler that I"ve cut to extend the fan out a little. I drilled a 2 holes into the clip and ruler. The holes in the clip are so I can use cable ties to attach the ruler to the clip. The holes in the ruler are for me to cable tie the fan to it. I also have an adjustable DC adaptor hooked up to the fan. This gives me the ability to adjust the speed of the fan. Full blast in the day(when it's warmer) and lowered in the night(the fan's hum is quite loud... cannot sleep(I'm a very light sleeper)).

Cost-
40mm DC fan: $3
Clip: $0.50
Cable tie: Free(had on hand) - 1 bag of 100 will cost about $1.50
Plastic ruler: Free(had on hand) - Probably cost you $0.50 - $0.80
Adjustable DC adaptor: $12 - Can get cheaper, but non-adjustable, I think.
Total(for me):$15.50
Total(if don't have cable ties and others on hand):$17++

I don't know if there are small fans available on the market but if, like me, you couldn't find something small enough... :D

[silane]

A cute small fan. :)

What the difference it make in the temperature?

[juanBeegas]

Same as a normal fan... 2° to 3°, depending on ambient temperature.

[shrimp]

Is it possible to document the process of making the fan with clip?

Btw what clip is that? Where can I get it?

[dom]

If you guys can get the Jebo in Singapore. I believe Jebo came out the mini fan which with clip and ac adapter. It cost around RM20 in KL. Should be lower to get in Singapore.

[betta_zoid87]

i don't see any jebo fan in my lfs fan before...

[Jenova]

Just wanted to show you guys my mini fan... I made it for a 1 gallon nano planted that I'm starting up.
I wanted something small that wouldn't take up too much space to make tank maintainence easier for me. The fan is a 40mm DC computer fan that I bought from Sim Lim Tower. The clip is the standard tank divider clip that you can find in most of our LFSs. Don't know if it can be seen, but I'm also using a cheap plastic ruler that I"ve cut to extend the fan out a little. I drilled a 2 holes into the clip and ruler. The holes in the clip are so I can use cable ties to attach the ruler to the clip. The holes in the ruler are for me to cable tie the fan to it. I also have an adjustable DC adaptor hooked up to the fan. This gives me the ability to adjust the speed of the fan. Full blast in the day(when it's warmer) and lowered in the night(the fan's hum is quite loud... cannot sleep(I'm a very light sleeper)).

Cost-
40mm DC fan: $3
Clip: $0.50
Cable tie: Free(had on hand) - 1 bag of 100 will cost about $1.50
Plastic ruler: Free(had on hand) - Probably cost you $0.50 - $0.80
Adjustable DC adaptor: $12 - Can get cheaper, but non-adjustable, I think.
Total(for me):$15.50
Total(if don't have cable ties and others on hand):$17++

I don't know if there are small fans available on the market but if, like me, you couldn't find something small enough... :D


Actually can buy AC/DC fan (and other electronics stuffs) from Singapore Sim Lim Tower. They sell a lot of fans of different shapes, sizes, amps.

Regards,
John

[ikuzo]

Try to make it at an angle about 45 degrees so it can blow to more water surface, it will help lower the temperature significantly.

[juanBeegas]

John, where do you think I got the 40mm fan for my DIY project from? It's right there in my post that I got it from Sim Lim Tower. When I said I don't know if you could find small fans available on the market, I was talking about ready-made fans. Plus, this post was made in 2005. There are small, ready-made fans available on the market now.

ikuzo, that doesn't really help. I can tell you the same thing too, but without giving you an idea of how to angle it, it would just be me saying something for the sake of saying something. Isn't it?

[Shadow]

Very good idea. Just make one my self. It cost me about S$0.40 for the tank divider clip. The rest (60mm fan, glue and adaptor) are free from my office scrap yard. Still cheaper than Jebao fan :), saw that in lfs for S$10

[Shadow]

Photo of my DIY fan :D

[Shrimper06]

Thanks for sharing:)

[ikuzo]

a sketch of angled fan
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y97/ikuzo/angled.jpg
hope it helps

[Shadow]

Any idea what is the most optimum angle? I put mine at 50 degree and cannot be change since all glued together :(

[knokie]

I think 50 degree is alright. I feel that 45 degree is better.

[retardo]

I don't think the angle matters much. Air hits the water all the same... at 50 degrees, a little more water surface may be exposed to the air current, but it achieves the same result... lowering water temp.

[newb4ev3r]

I kind of recall something that I read back in my schoolday :joking: . It said that the best angle to cool a hot noodle soup :D is to blow an air across the bowl (so approximately in 90 degree angle). To blow directly into the bowl is not as efficient (forget the reasoning). The purpose is to move as much air above the hot noodle as possible, so the heat trapped in the noodle soup can be released faster. So the best way is to place the fan in 90 degree, so it will blow across the length of the aquarium, don't you think?