How does a Computer Fan work?

[tapwater02]

I took my fan froma dell out of my computer because I was getting rid of it. So I cut the end tip of the fan which was the tip that connected to the mother board of the computer. They're 3 wires. Red, Black and White. What do the colors mean and how can i connect the fan to some batteries.. which wire is positive and negative.

 

[mayorredbeard]

Black is usually negative, and red is usually positive if I recall correctly from my high school physics class. The white wire i'm not really sure. Try just hooking up the red and black wire.

 

[CompMan]

The white might be a ground.

Doubt it though lol, I'm horrible when it comes to that crap.

 

[hascet]

I think the white is an RPM sensor, but I'm not positive.

 

[THEpiGUY]

I think the white is an RPM sensor, but I'm not positive.

I believe that's correct; something to do with RPM anyways.

 

[Chris762]

Well its 12V so your gonna need a decent size battery to run it (no AA's or AAA's) prolly a rechargable NICD or NIMH pack.

 

[Comp_Pro]

at my house i have a 12V DC plug into the powerpoint at the wall and maybe if you get one of these you can twist the red and black wire around the metal part at the end of the DC connecter, maybe the fan will work.

 

[root]

yes, red is 12v black is 0v white is speed sensor,

 

[ownage]

black is ground, red is 12v, yellow/white is the rpm sensor.

 

[Juice1]

red is positive black negative, white/yellow is controller so only connect the red and black