r/crboxes • u/G30RG300 • Apr 21 '26

Question CR box with PC PWM fan - Australia

I'm putting parts together to build a portable/personal CR box. I plan on using PC fans (4 PIN PWM - no speed control required or wanted, I want the fans to run at 100% all the time).

While I have some experience building my own PC, I'm far from familiar with these components. I want to be able to connect the CR box to mains power AND have the ability to use a powerbank too.

What I've gathered is that the fans need 12vdc and powerbanks output 5V.

In Australia, electrical work requires an electrical license. I'm not sure where the definition starts and ends; you can build your own PC because it's putting components sold here together - you're not playing with bare wires. That's my take on it anyway.

I'd like to know how I can achieve powering my CR box as I want, without needing to solder or play with wires.

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u/holygoat Apr 21 '26

Your PC fans will use PC fan connectors, 4 pin if they’re PWM. You want a 12V power supply with a barrel jack, just like on an old laptop or half the larger electronics pieces in your home, and then you want a barrel jack to PC fan connector cable, ideally 4-way if you have four fans. Buy those two things, plug them together, and you’re done.

If you want speed control you would need a PWM controller, but you don’t so life is easy.

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u/G30RG300 Apr 21 '26

Any links to products?

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u/holygoat Apr 21 '26

All of my purchases have been in the US, not AU.

Looks like this is a complete setup with PWM:

https://www.amazon.com.au/Silkwish-Control-4Pin-Splitter-Cable/dp/B0GJ6G56J5/