Connecting a fan

kalipix

I need a bit of techie advice please. I had my original car radio and cigarette lighter removed. I want to connect a 12V fanwhere the radio and ciggy lighter once were. Do I need an adapter/inverter? I have a photo but I don't know if I'm able to attach on here. Thanks

biko

When you make a post you have an option to attach files (like a picture from your desktop)

Are you used to work on car electrics? If not maybe best to get a pro to do it as you might risk causing a short.

kalipix

Thx for reply. Er no, I'm not used to it at all! But does anyone know what parts I need or where to get them? Btw there's no way of attaching a file, only if it's an URL.

wexie

kalipix wrote: »

Thx for reply. Er no, I'm not used to it at all! But does anyone know what parts I need or where to get them? Btw there's no way of attaching a file, only if it's an URL.

If you hit the 'post reply' button and scroll down there's an option to manage attachments.

What you want to do probably isn't overly complicated but there are a number of things you'd need to look out for. Mainly how much power the fan will draw, whether or not the wiring you're using will melt or not with that amount of power and a few other ones.

I have to ask though....why a 12V fan? Does the car not have a heater/blower?

a 12V fan inside the cabin will just throw round the hot air from inside the cabin whereas using the blower might allow some marginally cooler air from outside in.

kalipix

Afaik, 12V is standard voltage in Ireland/UK. It wouldn't be as high as household voltages.
I sometimes use the blower if I'm at a standstill in traffic, for example. Like you said, it's marginally better but better than nothing.

How do people cope without aircon?

Thanks, I finally managed to upload a photo...I think!

kalipix

Oops here it is.

wexie

kalipix wrote: »

Afaik, 12V is standard voltage in Ireland/UK. It wouldn't be as high as household voltages.

That is correct (for cars anyways)...however...it's not just the volts.

Lets say your fan is 12v (we know this) and (for example) 50 Watts

50/12 = 4.1666 Amps

Electrical wiring will have a rating in amps which means how many amps load this particular wire will safely carry over a sustained period.

If you get this wrong there's a really good chance you'll end up with your wire melting and causing a short circuit or just setting fire to your car.

kalipix wrote: »

Thanks, I finally managed to upload a photo...I think!

You may have done but you still also need to link to it in your post (I'm sorry I didn't explain it very well).

Nevermind

Realistically though I think the best option (certainly the easiest and safest) would be to just put the cigarette lighter socket back (or just a 12v socket) and use a car fan?

wexie

Do you already have a fan that you want to use?

kalipix

wexie wrote: »

That is correct (for cars anyways)...however...it's not just the volts.

Lets say your fan is 12v (we know this) and (for example) 50 Watts

50/12 = 4.1666 Amps

Electrical wiring will have a rating in amps which means how many amps load this particular wire will safely carry over a sustained period.

If you get this wrong there's a really good chance you'll end up with your wire melting and causing a short circuit or just setting fire to your car.






You may have done but you still also need to link to it in your post (I'm sorry I didn't explain it very well).

Nevermind

Realistically though I think the best option (certainly the easiest and safest) would be to just put the cigarette lighter socket back (or just a 12v socket) and use a car fan?

Oh crap, now I'm really panicking in case I did something and the car will go on fire. I had left the wires exposed in the sun for at least half an hour.

wexie

kalipix wrote: »

Oh crap, now I'm really panicking in case I did something and the car will go on fire. I had left the wires exposed in the sun for at least half an hour.

The sun won't do anything that connector should be perfectly safe.

Really what I'd recommend is to get someone to stick one of these in and then just use a 12v car fan.

And that's not cause I wouldn't like to help you, it's cause you seem less than comfortable around car electrics and while this is a pretty simple thing to do and it's unlikely you'll set your car on fire it's not really something that can be discounted either.

Also it's not just the whole fire thing, it's just that electrical gremlins are an absolute pain.

smuggler.ie

Plug-in and enjoy.
www.amazon.com/slp/12v-car-fan