Universal Power Supply. The cooling units should be powered using a Universal Power Supply which has selectable DC voltages. The reason for selectable voltages is due to the fact that you can change and manipulate the speed of the fans and thus set the fans at an appropriate level taking into consideration both noise and effectiveness. In general, our products are intended to run between 5 and 9VDC. For more aggressive applications, the units can be run between 9 and 12VDC.
This feature makes our products more universal in that one unit can be used for multiple applications. If your equipment is in a closet and noise is not a concern, you can run the unit more aggressively. If it is in an open cabinet, then you would want to run the fan slower so you cannot hear the unit. The units perform very well at lower speeds but it is important when using lower voltages to ensure that the units are running and when turned off, will restart when the power is disconnected and then reconnected.
Powering Multiple Units. Powering multiple units from one power supply is easy with the Power Y- or Tri-Cable which plugs directly into the 2-pin female connector on the power supply and then provides either two or three power leads. The y-cable with long leads has approximately 18" leads (each 'leg' is approximately 18") so no extension is typically needed but in case it is necessary, an extension cable is also available. The y-cable with short leads and the tri-cables both have short leads and will most likely require extension cables.
Switching Options. Many receivers have a switched outlet that can be used to power the units. The switched outlet on the receiver simply turns on (is activated) when the receiver is turned on and it goes off when the receiver is turned off as well. You can either plug the power supply straight into the switched outlet or use a short extension cord and generally you will need one that does not have a ground because most receivers only have a two-prong receptacle.
One thing to note, do not use 12V triggers unless you have setup the trigger with a relay. The reason is that most 12V triggers on equipment provides very little amperage and will not be able to proper power the units. Another reason for not using a 12V trigger is that our products generally are not designed to run at 12V. If your trigger does supply enough power for the units, use the Advanced Temperature Controller as it will then regulate the speed of the fans for quiet, yet effective cooling.
Optional Temperature Controllers
The Basic and Advanced Controllers simply plug inline between the power supply and cooling products. The High-Voltage stat has a 110/120V AC plug which is 'switched' when the temperature reaches the setpoing.
Basic On/Off Controller. The Basic controller simply provides on/off control based on temperature. The setpoint (this is a fixed setpoint - cannot be adjusted) is 88F degrees. There is a variance with this setpoint in that the units will not switch on and off when the temperature holds around the setpoint. The temperature must drop several degrees below the setpoint before the units are turned off.
Advanced Temperature Controller. This unit provides automatic on/off and variabl e speed control based on temperature. This unit is microprocessor controlled and features 3 modes with different setpoints and variations of the aggressiveness of the ramp up. The unit also includes polarity control and an alarm features to protect against accidental unplugging of the units or fan failures.
High-Voltage Thermostat. This product provides on/off capabilities based on temperature and would only really be used when powering 110/120V AC fans. The temperature setting can be adjusted by the installer.
