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12V fan on USB?

Q

Quantum

Limp Gawd
Joined
Aug 15, 2004
Messages
215
Could I damage my laptop if I connected a 12V 80mm fan to the USB port? I know USB only carries 5V so the fan would spin slower, if at all but that's not the point.

PS. I read that any unit connected to a USB 2.0 port can draw at most 500mA. The 12V 80mm fan I connected was 280mA. Could this lower amperage prevent damage on the USB port?
 
Quantum said:
Could I damage my laptop if I connected a 12V 80mm fan to the USB port? I know USB only carries 5V so the fan would spin slower, if at all but that's not the point.
Click to expand...

Indeed, if it starts spinning at all, alternatively you can try making a Joule thief to power that fan. :p

Quantum said:
PS. I read that any unit connected to a USB 2.0 port can draw at most 500mA. The 12V 80mm fan I connected was 280mA. Could this lower amperage prevent damage on the USB port?
Click to expand...

Remember that those fan specs are for nominal, remember Ohms law? The impedance of the fan won't change, so if you lower the voltage, guess what will raise?

if you connect a device that "asks" the USB port for 1A, then the USB port will try to give that kind of amperage and it will fry itself while doing so.
 
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