Help hooking up fan to temperature controller

[GLWIII]

Hi all, I was just given a temperature controller and thought I would use it, if possible, on a fermentation chamber I just built. The controller is this: http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?partnumber=320-518

What I can't figure out is how to attach the fan that I plan on using, which is a standard computer fan.

Below is what it looks like on the back of the controller. The three small pins on the right are for the temp probe. The larger port on the left has two slots on the right for power. The other two (out1 and out2) are for relays.

I hooked up the power and it works fine. But, I have no clue how to hook this up to a fan or what part(s) is needed to connect the fan to the out1 and/or out2. The manual is of little help to me. I'm not sure I have even given you enough information, but still hoping someone can point me in the right direction on how to wire it; what parts I need to get; etc.

As always, thanks in advance.

 

[day_trippr]

I read through the manual: what you have is a pair of relay points across pins OUT1 & OUT2. Which means you need to provide a current source as well as the load.

So...if you had a 12VDC fan, you'd also need a 12VDC power supply (eg: a cheap "wall wart" would work fine). You'd wire the positive lead from the power supply to OUT1, wire the positive lead from the fan to OUT2, and wire the negative lead from the fan to the negative lead from the power supply, closing the loop from the wall wart and back.

If you had a 110VAC fan, replace the wall wart with a two prong plug, and forget any need to respect polarity ('cuz there ain't none ) but otherwise you're building a loop from the wall outlet and back...

Cheers!

 

[GLWIII]

I 'think' i got it. So, am I understanding this to mean I need two power sources - one for the temp controller itself and another for the fan?

Thanks for the assist. I really appreciate the help.

 

[krazydave]

Assuming you're using a 12VDC power supply for the controller and also using a 12VDC fan, you can probably get by using that same power source for the fan as well as long as it's output amperage is sufficient enough to power both.
Fans pull very little though, so you'll likely be okay.

Just split the positive side of your current power supply, one going to power the controller, the other to OUT1.

 

[porcupine73]

Hm that is a pretty neat temperature controller at a nice price. Being able to adjust your kegerator temperature via the remote while you're lying on the couch? Priceless.

 

[GLWIII]

It works. Thanks again everyone.