Electronics Need some help.

I read a guide on how to make a fan controller. The guide said buy 1000Ohm Rheostats well i bought them... Well i bought Potentiometers (they called that in Aus) well they are way to powerful, i cant even make a quarter turn without these 12v fans turning off. The lowest Ohm i can get is 500 and they will still be ****. Is there anyway I can rig these up?

Thanks

 

Please, post in the right section: I think you should move the thread to the Electronic forum....

Regarding the pots, are they linear or logarythmic?

 

Ummm


I dunno.... They are just pots from Dick Smith Electronics

 

Nail on the head papeniglo...

Onward to electronics...

 

I think you misread something. 100ohms is a more likely value (as cpemma said in another post, it's best to match the "resistance" of the fan [12v*whatever current the fan draws]). I've also seen 50ohms stated in guides.

 

There is also a difference between rheostats and potentiometers, and you really do need rheostats in order for it to dissipate enough power.

 

Only by adding a transistor or two or a 317T voltage regulator.

Useful Links will show you some ways if that interests you.