Do I need a Terranium Liner?

[ConcinusMan]

That is a great idea and those little computer fans are made to run constantly for years! I have an old tower now that is broken, can I just pull the fan and power supply out and plug it in? I am unsure about the power supply part.

Using the power supply isn't necessary. It just needs to be wired to a DC current matching the approximate specs on the fan, usually 12 volt and less than 1 amp. It doesn't have to match exactly. Lower voltage just makes in run slower, higher voltage, faster. If you have any old dc converters lying around that you don't need (I always keep them even if the device is broken/lost, etc) use one of those. For example I have a 12 volt, 1amp one that used to power a scanner. It will run two 12 volt / 0.5 amp fans.

[Billy_80]

If you look at any dc power supply, it will have the voltage and amperage output listed. It is rare to find one higher than 12v. The easiest way to connect them together is to simply strip the wires, twist the ends together and wrap the exposed wires with electrical tape individually so you don't short it out. In a DC motor, the polarity doesn't matter because the fan will spin in either direction. If anyone wants more info, or directions, I can make a video.

[Billy_80]

If you look at any dc power supply, it will have the voltage and amperage output listed. It is rare to find one higher than 12v. The easiest way to connect them together is to simply strip the wires, twist the ends together and wrap the exposed wires with electrical tape individually so you don't short it out. In a DC motor, the polarity doesn't matter because the fan will spin in either direction. If anyone wants more info, or directions, I can make a video.

when I say power supply I am referring to a standard dc converter. They are the ones that look like a small black box that gets plugged into the wall.

[Billy_80]

Snakes don't sweat though so that's not likely to help much.

Not to cool the snake directly, but to simply lower the ambient temperature within the enclosure.

[Billy_80]

Plus, a slow, constant air turn over is beneficial for their health.

[ConcinusMan]

Not to cool the snake directly, but to simply lower the ambient temperature within the enclosure.

Which it wont do. She's talking about 90 degrees in the house. My point is, a fan is only going to blow 90 degree air into the tank. It doesn't cool the air unless there's significant evaporation. That would cool you down because of the evaporation of moisture from your skin but it won't help a snake. If you just put a container of frozen water or gel in the tank it would be more effective.

[Varanus]

Yeah, it's a common misunderstanding that air from a regular fan is cooler than the air around it, it just feels cooler thanks to our sweat glands.

[Billy_80]

Yeah, it's a common misunderstanding that air from a regular fan is cooler than the air around it, it just feels cooler thanks to our sweat glands.

When dealing with an open environment, you are indeed correct. However, when you consider an enclosed environment, there is a heat build up within the structure. The laws of thermodynamics cannot be modified. A terrarium acts very much like a greenhouse. This effect is magnified exponentially in regards to the volume of the enclosure.