Homemade Stirplate Problem

[Thirsty Mallard]

This weekend I made a stir plate... but it doesn't seem to work properly. I was hoping that some of you electrical guys out there might give me some advice (since this is the only electrical thing I have ever made).

I am using the directions from Jan/Feb 07 Zymurgy. I connected everything just as I should have, then flipped the switch. Nothing. A quick check with a tester showed I was getting 6V to the fan from the 6V plug... so everything should be working fine...

I figured that since the fan is 12V I needed a 12V plug (even though Zymurgy says to use a 6V or 9V). So I changed out the plug, and now the unit hums with power, but the fan just shakes and doesn't spin. After I manually spin it a few times it catches and spins along nicely. I kill the power and turn it on again, same deal with the shaking but not kicking in.

What gives?

[keggermeister]

what type of fan is it? What is the power supply?

Depending on the components; a capacitor might help you out

[Thirsty Mallard]

It is a cooling fan from an old computer. The power supply is a 12V plug. Any thoughts?

[awalker]

Thirsty is your power supply 12 V DC as thats what the PC fan will need

You might have a 12 V AC power supply?

[ahuntertx]

When you hooked up the 12V supply did you connect it straight to the fan or to the fan with the rheostat?
Your fan may be bad if it is not starting up with >6V. I think most computer fans only need 3 or 4V to start.

[beer_bear]

I hooked a 3v cell phone charger to a 12v fan and had no problem at all. It just spins really sllow, but that's the idea for me. Sounds like the fan is going out. They aren't made really good most of the time and barrings do go out, (as does my spelling). That's the only thing I would look at.

[Thirsty Mallard]

I'm starting to think it is the fan as well. It came off an old computer that hasn't run in years...

I was hoping it was something else because I don't like the idea of having to pry apart the Liquid Nails I used to attach it...

Lesson learned: Test all parts before permanently attaching.