QUOTE (benjimatt @ Jan 9 2005, 02:38 PM)
do not plug the fan straight to the wall.
that would turn out bad.
if it is a computer fan than it is probably 12 volts. so if it is 12 volts then plug it into either a 12 volt adapter or a pc power supply. if it is a fan off of a overhead projector than it is a 120v fan and that can go straight to the wall.
Ya, benji is right, chances are you have a 12V DC fan. There are 120v AC fans around but they're uncommon. Figure out which one you have before proceeding.
also as Benj says, find yourself a 12v DC wall wart with 300ma current or higher, strip the wires from the tip, figure out the hot and cold lines, then proceed carefully from there. Do not cross the two wires otherwise you risk a shock/fire or blown circuit.
On a 12v DC computer fan the red wire is positive and the black wire is ground. Cap and ignore the yellow wire which is an rpm sensor.
Be careful not to touch live wires with your bare hands!