Where to get a multimeter?

Forums › Desktop computing › Where to get a multimeter?

pstar008

362 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 6

#78561 4-Mar-2011 09:09

Just to find out why after I rewire my new case fan and it is not working anymore :D

I only know DSE has it, how about Bunnings Warehouse, it is close enough for me to use lunch break to have a look?

UncleArk

110 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 28

#445401 4-Mar-2011 09:18

If it's just an occasional or one off job then Dick Smith certainly carry a range of own brand digital multi-meters that are priced quite reasonably. Never looked for this sort of thing from Bunnings mysef.

A case fan is a very simple circuit - are you sure you require a meter? Are you simply trying to determine if power is getting to it?

You could consider making yourself a simple test circuit using say, a 12V bulb (such as a spare automotive one) or another fan you know to be working, and a couple of wires to check if power is getting thru.

hope it all works out.

Ark

pstar008

362 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 6

#445431 4-Mar-2011 10:11

UncleArk: If it's just an occasional or one off job then Dick Smith certainly carry a range of own brand digital multi-meters that are priced quite reasonably. Never looked for this sort of thing from Bunnings mysef.

A case fan is a very simple circuit - are you sure you require a meter? Are you simply trying to determine if power is getting to it?

You could consider making yourself a simple test circuit using say, a 12V bulb (such as a spare automotive one) or another fan you know to be working, and a couple of wires to check if power is getting thru.

hope it all works out.

Ark

I know the power is getting to the fan, as the fan will spinning when power on and the pin from the mother board is working. But for some reasons, after I cut off 4-wire molex and re-wire them to 3-wire molex, the brand new fan not working any more. I don't know, looks like there is not enough current or voltage go from the 3-pin connector to my new case fan?

An easier way would be a multimeter to check/confirm that, or I could rewire the 3-pin connector to an old case fan to see how it works, but if it doesn't working, I still don't know either it is the connector's fault or my rewiring make a worse conductor, or the old case fan never works.

Gordy7

gordy7
2010 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 505

ID Verified

Lifetime subscriber

#445434 4-Mar-2011 10:15

Have you done a search on

3 or 4 pin fan wiring

Might give you an idea of the different fan wiring

Cheers

Gordy

My first ever AM radio network connection was with a 1MHz AM crystal(OA91) radio receiver.

pstar008

362 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 6

#445438 4-Mar-2011 10:20

Sorry, it is not really a re-wiring. The fan comes with a fake 4-pin molex but with only 3 wires together. I just remove the 4-pin molex and put a 3-pin one come from old fan, and it doesn't work.

Gordy7

gordy7
2010 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 505

ID Verified

Lifetime subscriber

#445473 4-Mar-2011 12:29

From what I briefly read the 3 pin and 4 pin fans are compatible and you could plug the 4 pin Molex on to a 3 pin header.

The 4th pin on recent fans provides some sort of PWM (maybe for speed control?) and your new fan had a 4 pin Molex with only 3 wires.

However, I have not read about the issue thoroughly and stand corrected about options and what the market has available.

Cheers

Gordy

My first ever AM radio network connection was with a 1MHz AM crystal(OA91) radio receiver.

pstar008

362 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 6

#445505 4-Mar-2011 14:16

Well, looks like I didn't provided enough information for people trying to help, my apology.

What I had is this one:

fan image

http://www.vantecusa.com/gl/product/show_pro_image/116/1

So instead provide a 3-pin kk connector for my motherboard, they provide a 4-pin molex with only two wires connected to draw power from the PSU plus a separate 3-pin connector with only a wire (the yellow one) to provide reading for RPM reading I believe.

Faced with this situation I am thinking of using old fan's 3-pin connector to replace 4-pins so the RPM will
be controlled by BIOS rather than constant by drawing power from PSU. But saying that, it is not clear
for me whether or not the sensor on the fan will provide an smart way to control RPM by fan itself event by drawing power from PSU without any software to control it?

Samsung

Shop now on Samsung phones, tablets, TVs and more (affiliate link).

pstar008

362 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 6

#446179 7-Mar-2011 08:53

Used the multimeter on the fan with wrong range, think I made some wire shorted as I saw flash and smoke, but after that , to my amaze, the fan works. Still not sure what happened :D