How many times can you split a fan header?

[Deusrex]

I currently have a an AIO liquid cooler but I'm thinking of upgrading to a custom loop. I currently have 6 fans in my case, which I can control with my 5 PWM headers on the motherboard but as I understand it the pump speed is also controlled via a PWM. So in order to use all five of my fans on radiators I'd have to split one header into three fans is that possible?

[NoobCase]

Yes.  Get a 3 way splitter

[zMeul]

until you hit 1A

each fan has it's amperage rating written on it, you can add as many as the load does not exceed 1A

[Master Disaster]

More than you could even need realistically.

[Eddie Current]

Please, I repeat PLEASE, look up your motherboard specs and see how many amps the heads are rated for first. Than do the same for your fan(s).

 

Example:

 

Amps per MB header = 3 amps

Amp draw per fan = .07

 

3 amps div. .07 draw = 4.28

 

So in this example you could attach 4 fans to each header (3 if you want to leave a safety factor)

[W-L]

3 hours ago, Deusrex said:

I currently have a an AIO liquid cooler but I'm thinking of upgrading to a custom loop. I currently have 6 fans in my case, which I can control with my 5 PWM headers on the motherboard but as I understand it the pump speed is also controlled via a PWM. So in order to use all five of my fans on radiators I'd have to split one header into three fans is that possible?

As mentioned by other if you are not using a powered splitter you will not want to exceed the 1amp capacity of the header. However for PWM based fans you can get powered splitters that take 12V from the PSU and only a PWM control and RPM signal to the header. 

[jj9987]

2 hours ago, Eddie Current said:

Please, I repeat PLEASE, look up your motherboard specs and see how many amps the heads are rated for first. Than do the same for your fan(s).

 

Example:

 

Amps per MB header = 3 amps

Amp draw per fan = .07

 

3 amps div. .07 draw = 4.28

 

So in this example you could attach 4 fans to each header (3 if you want to leave a safety factor)

Please, show me a mainstream (say, H170 or Z170) board that has that information available.

[Deusrex]

7 hours ago, Eddie Current said:

Please, I repeat PLEASE, look up your motherboard specs and see how many amps the heads are rated for first. Than do the same for your fan(s).

 

Example:

 

Amps per MB header = 3 amps

Amp draw per fan = .07

 

3 amps div. .07 draw = 4.28

 

So in this example you could attach 4 fans to each header (3 if you want to leave a safety factor)

I didn't know it was variable, I'll look it up, I'm current using a spitter for two of the fans with no issue but I didn't want to put three on one header until I got some more information,  thanks. 

[Deusrex]

I just read through the PWM section of my Mobo manual and it doesn't specify how many amps you can draw from it.

[Deusrex]

5 hours ago, jj9987 said:

Please, show me a mainstream (say, H170 or Z170) board that has that information available.

For real though, I just read through the entire manual and couldn't find it. Each of the fans only draw . 28 amps so I'm going to assume it can handle 1A.

[Eddie Current]

MSI Z97 GAMING 7

 

- 2 x 4-pin CPU fan connectors

- 3 x 4-pin system fan connectors

 

Go to the MSI site and ask support. It really is a good idea to know.

 

FWIW, ASUS advertises their fan header watts and amps,