Tom Schwartz
New member
So would an adapter that is 5.1V - 2A be too much and fry the fan?
PartyQ AC adapter mod for less than 10 bucks
- Thread starter Matt H
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So would an adapter that is 5.1V - 2A be too much and fry the fan?
Clint
TVWBB Olympian
No, the device will only draw as much amperage as it needs (I don't have one but if I hooked it to a bench power supply it'd probably draw 200mA in standby, and maybe 700 under load (when fans are spinning).
Tom Schwartz
New member
Thanks Clint! I appreciate your advice. I am going to go with the 5.1V-2A adapter as it has a longer power cord.
John Wheeler
TVWBB Pro
Exactly. Worse case scenario is the fan spins faster. Then the temp probe should kick in and turn the fan on and off. That's the regulator. Fan blows faster, but for less time=regulated temps. Remember... It ain't the volts that kill ya, it's the amps!
Clint
TVWBB Olympian
Exactly. Worse case scenario is the fan spins faster. Then the temp probe should kick in and turn the fan on and off. That's the regulator. Fan blows faster, but for less time=regulated temps. Remember... It ain't the volts that kill ya, it's the amps!
I don't think the fans would spin faster either
.....hard to explain but maybe it's easier to consider it as headroom (nice but not needed)..... If you increase the voltage though, that will make the lights brighter & the fans faster.
I'm definitely not the smartest electronics guy here but I've had bench power supplies for >12 years (I have one on my coffee table right now), & I've never been able to force more amps through any device I've tried (several). Volts, yes, amps, no.
I do enjoy prototyping electronics, experimenting, but I don't have enough time or brainpower so I make a little headway, get distracted, ignore projects for months, and then start again.
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Tom Schwartz
New member
I don't think the fans would spin faster either
If you increase the voltage though, that will make the lights brighter & the fans faster.
I'm definitely not the smartest electronics guy here but I've had bench power supplies for >12 years (I have one on my coffee table right now), & I've never been able to force more amps through any device I've tried (several). Volts, yes, amps, no.
I do enjoy prototyping electronics, experimenting, but I don't have enough time or brainpower so I make a little headway, get distracted, ignore projects for months, and then start again.
Success! Thanks for the helps and tips!
John Wheeler
TVWBB Pro
You're little cartoon looks more like the formula for finding watts. Cool pic and bench power block. Where can I find one? I actually need to slow a fan down. Might go but a blower resistor from ford. My trucks was only $17
I built one too....love the wooden batteries
I love my PartyQ, but like so many others, I wished it has an alternate power supply built in.
I borrowed this idea from someone else, so I can't take full credit, but here's the process for anyone interested. It's really simple and inexpensive.
The fan runs on half an amp, so I purchased a 6V, 1 amp power adapter (Amazon link below) and modified it.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00COCGL8M/tvwb-20
I cut the tip off, stripped the wire and attached the exposed wires to a couple screws I had laying around, and screwed them into 1/2" wooden dowels, then taped the wires down with electrical tape.
Sorry this picture is a little blurry.
The red wire goes to the positive terminal, and the black wire to the negative.
I cut a small notch in the plastic base and battery cover to allow the wire through.
And here she is plugged in and running. I haven't cooked with it yet, but I let it run on my counter for a while and everything seemed to work great. Nothing shorted out or got hot, so that's good.
One word of advice would be to install the wood "batteries" before plugging it in. You wouldn't want to touch the screws when the adapter is plugged in.
I can't wait to use this the next time I cook and really be worry free. Having the batteries crap out half way through a brisket really stinks.
CMenard, see How To Post A Photo. I don't think you can post photos to a forum from Google Drive, and I don't know if you can post them from Google Photos, either. You could post to a forum from Picasa, but Google has discontinued support for that product. So you may end up having to use Photobucket or something else.
Sheldon Koehler
TVWBB Super Fan
It will probably work. If you already have it, I would give it a try. I ended up using a 1000ma (1amp) adapter I had.
Bob Ivey
TVWBB Emerald Member
In the OP, it states that the fan pulls 1/2 an amp. This is equivalent to 500ma. If that is the case, I would get a power supply rated at one amp. Always better to have the extra current.
Did you ever attempt this mod on the newer gen PartyQ? I’m looking to pick up a new PartyQ for my 18.5” WSM.
ChadVKealey
TVWBB Pro
I have a newer PartyQ and while I have not tried this, there's no reason it wouldn't work. AA batteries are still the same size.
After doing further research on this, I found comments from the YouTube “how to” video for this mod. The latest version of the PartyQ apparently draws a bit more power than the older units (hence the reports of shorter battery life). Thus a different power adapter is required... a 6v 2amp. A person who successfully completed this mod on the newer PartyQ recommended and provided a link to this power adapter...
https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00LU8Z9JI/tvwb-20
https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00LU8Z9JI/tvwb-20
Brian (Mass.)
TVWBB Fan
One safety suggestion...Plug those into a GFI outlet if you have one...that way if some water spills or something you don't fry yourself...