OK, good deal. I’ll go with the regulator instead of a resistor. My local radio shack has it in stock, and I’ll be within my budget.
FWIW the fan says 0.12A, 12VDC, and little else. I haven’t checked the resistance or tested the current, but it’s moot now anyway.
Thanks again everyone.
I’m wondering if reducing the fan speed is going to solve the noise problem. If the problem is truly the sound of rushing air, then the best solution might be to put a filter on the fan. Besides quieting the ‘wind noise’, a filter would also cut down on the airborne dust factor in the room. Simply cutting a sheet from a vacuum cleaner bag and putting it over the fan might do the trick. Ducting either the input or output might also make a difference.
However, I suspect the problem is more the noise of the fan itself – the whining operating noise inherent in these little demons. If that’s the case, then isolating the fan from the cabinet to eliminate the sounding board effect may be more useful than reducing the operation speed. Rubber grommets could be used for mounting, or the fan could be located remotely, with appropriate ductwork. Since you’re doing this on the cheap, you could also get try baffles or weights on the actual fan blades.