An alternative to relays for adding fans, neons. etc...

[ak47clown 10+ year member]

I added some fans for my amp rack and was lookin up ways to do it. Most people seem to recommend a relays to switch the power to the fans but the engineer i worked with used a mosfet (can't remember if it was a P-channel or N-channel but I can post the specific part # if anyone is interested) to switch the ground. He put a 1k resistor for the remote as well.

So the inputs were remote and ground directly off the amp and the output was ground to the fans. The 12v power ran directly to the fan. Other than this being free (for me) -the other benefit is that the circuit takes up almost no load and it's all solid state components.

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[helotaxi 5,000+ posts]

Yeah using the correct type will work. Make sure to wire in the correct value resistor on the collector of the FET so you run the right voltage to the gate or you will toast it.

 

[wesl56 10+ year member]

kool way to do it... i seem to remember reading a thread like this before but idk lol