Molex pin question

Steven_Spinosa · 02-27-2007, 09:09 PM

Hi. I have a fan that absolutely cannot be reversed physically. It is stuck where it is for life in the case.

Can I pull out the red and black wires/pins, and reinsert them in opposite holes to reverse the fan's rotation?

NoZebra · 02-28-2007, 07:36 AM

standard pc fan? should be reversible, but thats the fun part of molex is that it's one way to connect and thats it. Any particular reason why you want it reversed?

Jaan · 02-28-2007, 01:41 PM

OKay, sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. That's been my experience. I don't think the fan will blow up if you try it though.

By the way, the big 4 pin white plastic power connectors that everyone calls Molex connectors aren't manufactured by Molex. You won't find them in the Molex catalog. I know they're made by someone else but I can't remember who.

DarkStar · 02-28-2007, 01:53 PM

Even if it runs you may not get adequate performance out of the fan. Look at the blades. Are they concave? It's not going to push air very effectively in the opposite direction if they are.

-MR

Steven_Spinosa · 02-28-2007, 01:58 PM

Nuts. I'll check. Thanks for helping!

It is one of these guys. hxxp://www.frozencpu.com/products/3687/slf-07/Motherboard_Cooler_Slot_Fan_ST-900.html

You now see the problem. It can't have the flow reversed by flipping it, like any other fan. It's a weird critter, and I wanted to use it as an intake. That would put more air right in front of the fins of my CPU cooler's heatpipe tower.

As it stands, it is a forward-exuast type. It would just be fighting with my lower 120mm fan (also an intake). The blades do look curved.

-seperate idea-
Meh. I should just use some sheet metal and get creative with some 40mm fans I have. Use two 3.5" bays and put the 40's side-by-side and duct the flow right into my cooler's fins.

Al Ray · 02-28-2007, 09:15 PM

Depends if its impeadence protected or not (IIRC that the correct term) You can get a tool to pull the molex pins in and out.

Jaan · 03-01-2007, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarkStar

Even if it runs you may not get adequate performance out of the fan. Look at the blades. Are they concave? It's not going to push air very effectively in the opposite direction if they are.

In this respect, cheaper fans work better reversed.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Al Ray

You can get a tool to pull the molex pins in and out.

That tool is expensive, relatively speaking. You can get away with just pushing in the tabs on the side of the pins with a small screwdriver, and then pushing them back out before reinsertion.

respiegel · 03-01-2007, 12:06 PM

yeah there's a tool for it, but a small screwdriver tends to work better IMO. sometimes the tabs set really well and its a royal PITA to remove them without destroying them.

02-27-2007, 09:09 PM	#1 (permalink)
Steven_Spinosa MCB Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Floriduh Posts: 521	Molex pin question Hi. I have a fan that absolutely cannot be reversed physically. It is stuck where it is for life in the case. Can I pull out the red and black wires/pins, and reinsert them in opposite holes to reverse the fan's rotation? __________________ Look at your PPS Typhoon. If it has "ARGUS" written on it's ram sleeve, I want it back. I was the first owner, and will start keeping $500 in my paypal account to dispense to you immediately. Chain armor made to order. http://www.StalwartArmor.com Last edited by Steven_Spinosa; 02-27-2007 at 10:50 PM.

02-28-2007, 07:36 AM	#2 (permalink)
NoZebra Active Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Michigan Posts: 193	standard pc fan? should be reversible, but thats the fun part of molex is that it's one way to connect and thats it. Any particular reason why you want it reversed? __________________ If you can't learn to play well, then at least enjoy playing poorly.

02-28-2007, 01:41 PM	#3 (permalink)
Jaan MCB Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: People's Republic of Massachusetts Posts: 1,805	OKay, sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. That's been my experience. I don't think the fan will blow up if you try it though. By the way, the big 4 pin white plastic power connectors that everyone calls Molex connectors aren't manufactured by Molex. You won't find them in the Molex catalog. I know they're made by someone else but I can't remember who. __________________ "If the world had had to depend on the inventive and constructive ability of women, we should still be sleeping on the plains." ~A. B. See It's a brand new day, Yeah the sun is high All the angels sing, BECAUSE YOU'RE GONNA DIE!!! Last edited by Jaan; 02-28-2007 at 01:47 PM. Reason: I remembered something...

02-28-2007, 01:58 PM	#5 (permalink)
Steven_Spinosa MCB Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Floriduh Posts: 521	Nuts. I'll check. Thanks for helping! It is one of these guys. hxxp://www.frozencpu.com/products/3687/slf-07/Motherboard_Cooler_Slot_Fan_ST-900.html You now see the problem. It can't have the flow reversed by flipping it, like any other fan. It's a weird critter, and I wanted to use it as an intake. That would put more air right in front of the fins of my CPU cooler's heatpipe tower. As it stands, it is a forward-exuast type. It would just be fighting with my lower 120mm fan (also an intake). The blades do look curved. -seperate idea- Meh. I should just use some sheet metal and get creative with some 40mm fans I have. Use two 3.5" bays and put the 40's side-by-side and duct the flow right into my cooler's fins. __________________ Look at your PPS Typhoon. If it has "ARGUS" written on it's ram sleeve, I want it back. I was the first owner, and will start keeping $500 in my paypal account to dispense to you immediately. Chain armor made to order. http://www.StalwartArmor.com Last edited by Steven_Spinosa; 02-28-2007 at 02:12 PM.

03-01-2007, 12:06 PM	#8 (permalink)
respiegel Poor Engineering Student Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Huntsville, AL Posts: 550	yeah there's a tool for it, but a small screwdriver tends to work better IMO. sometimes the tabs set really well and its a royal PITA to remove them without destroying them. __________________ My PBN Feedback \|\| My AO Feedback \|\| My MCB Feedback

02-28-2007, 09:15 PM	#6 (permalink)
Al Ray GWC Lifetime Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Grand Junction, Colorado Posts: 2,216	Depends if its impeadence protected or not (IIRC that the correct term) You can get a tool to pull the molex pins in and out.