Solved Fan Connector Issue

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Slytod

PCHF Member
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Jan 21, 2017
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Unsure if this should be in 'Computer DIY Support' or here, but here goes.

A couple of my PC fans had stopped working, so I tried to find direct replacements for the SilverStone S1803212HN-3M. I couldn't find any sold new, and no mention on the SilverStone website, so I concluded that they must be discontinued.

I contacted SilverStone to ask what I should get as replacement. They never responded.

I had to make a guess, and eventually ordered two AP183s (it says SST-AP183-M on the sticker) which looked the same and were similar spec.

I've just tried to replace one with the other to find:

a) the new one has no switch (which may not be crucial as the old one's switch was always left in the same position), but worse b) the connector is larger and has 4 sockets, not 3.

Ideally I'd rather not go through the hassle of paying for return (if that's even an option) but is there any way one can buy & fit some sort of adaptor to get the new fans to connect to the motherboard and work correctly ?

Thanks.
 
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the switch would have been to select different fan speeds; low, medium, high.
you can connect 4 pin fans to 3 pin headers, you'll just lose the ability to govern the speed unless the motherboard supports speed control based on voltage.
most motherboards use pin3 to control voltage so you should be good on that front.

here is the pinout diagram.
1636405641664.png

Tach is the revs per minute from the fan and PWM is the pulse width modulation from the mobo.
 
So you are saying that if I just plug the 4 socket cable into the 3 pin motherboard plug, leaving the PWM pin outside & disconnected, then the fan will be automatically connected correctly ?
 
The diagram seems to have it's location bits on the opposite side to what I'm seeing, but I just tried plugging the cable in, and it spun just fine. Thanks for the information, I shall have to remember that for the future.

Cheers.
 
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