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I am EE hobbyist and I often used recycled parts in my projects. I came across this connector to a Heat Sink Fan and would like to know the name of it.

Thanks for the help.

enter image description here

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    \$\begingroup\$ The informal term is a "four-pin fan connecter". Won't help you find the part in a catalog, but will help you if you're talking to the computer geeks who use most of the fans with that connector. \$\endgroup\$ – Mark Nov 17 '14 at 22:41
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    \$\begingroup\$ Over 6 years later, and this is still a helpful Q&A!. It makes me wonder though... maybe there should be a Stack Exchange for Connectors (esp Molex :) \$\endgroup\$ – Seamus Mar 13 at 0:59
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I think that it could be Molex 47054-1000.

Found it in section 4.1.5 on page 17 of this doc: http://www.formfactors.org/developer%5Cspecs%5Crev1_2_public.pdf

Here is a Molex product page: http://www.molex.com/molex/products/datasheet.jsp?part=active/0470541000_CRIMP_HOUSINGS.xml

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The three-pin version (non-PWM) is referred to by some computer technicians as a "TX3 connector," but this is something of a misnomer (similar to the moniker "Molex connector," referring to the once-common 4-pin ATX power connectors originally produced by AMP).

The standard 3- and 4-pin fan connectors are Molex KK series connectors. According to Wikipedia the part numbers for the 4-pin version are:

Of course, many manufacturers produce compatible connectors, and most 0.1 inch pitch headers will work with these connectors provided they are long enough (approx 0.3 inch).

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  • \$\begingroup\$ You've anticipated my question with your comment re mating with 0.1" headers :) \$\endgroup\$ – Seamus Mar 13 at 1:01
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I don't know very much about electronics, but I recognize this as the 4-pin connector of a fan that uses PWM to regulate the speed. It's a newer technique where previously varying the voltage was used. It will work just fine if black is connected to ground and yellow to +12V. Green is used to measure the RPM and blue regulate the speed.

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    \$\begingroup\$ Those colors are accurate for the OP's pictured connector, but there is no standard; many PWM fans also use all black wires, or red for +12V, yellow or white for the tach. signal, and blue or green for the PWM signal. \$\endgroup\$ – bcrist Nov 17 '14 at 23:16

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