Computer Fan wiring?

[Powder River]

I was wondering how some of you wire computer fans in you portables to circulate heat.  Or to be more specific, can you just take the fan wiring and strip them back and attach alligator clips and run them off a vex battery or do I need to be looking for a certain kind of fan with a special wiring that can be used with these batteries?  I know nothing about this kind of stuff and would really like to rig something up.  Finally, how long can you expect one of these fans to run off a fully charged battery with nothing else running off it.
 Thanks,
  Powder River

[Bean]

On the fan somewhere it should tell you if it is an AC fan or a DC fan. You will want to get a 12 VDC fan so you can run it off your vexilar battery. The amperage or wattage doesn't really matter as they're all low wattage. The wires that come with these aren't too long, so you'll need a long pair of alligator clip cables or just get some small gauge wire and solder it on to the existing wire, then put alligator clips or terminal connectors on the end you'll attach to the battery.

[putback]

I use a small 12 volt lawn tractor battery in a plastic battery case. Inset into top of case a block of 3 aux. power plugins [cigerette lighter type] from an auto parts store. 1 each for depth finder, stereo, and fan. Fan is also from parts store, small clip on, comes with plug-in attached, moves more air than computer fan, is caged and less than $20. A 4th male plug in at home to hook to battery charger about every other trip. Compact, portable, under 10lbs.  About 10 yrs old. If I was gonna do it now I'd see what radio shack had for small plug-ins.

[SPARKYICE]

go to this site and type "electronic cooling fans " in their search window.
lots of options.


http://www.mcmaster.com/