The ultimate beginner's guide to PC FANS

[ScrubNinja]

No worries dude. Well, I mean in general. The best one I saw before I cut myself was

Specifications:
Type: 120mm
Operating voltage: 10.2V to 13.8V
Rated voltage: 12V
Current: 380mA
Noise level: 42dBA
Max airflow 2200 litres/min
Contiuous life: 60000 hrs @ 25 C
Operating temperature: -10 C to +70 C
Insulation resistance: 10MΩ @ 500V
DC dielectric strength: 5mA @ 500Vac
Weight: 200g
Overall size: 119.5 x 119.5 x 25.5mm
Fixings centres: 104.8 x 104.8 xdia 4.5mm

and that's a stereotypical crap fan - the sort of fan that led me to making this thread so people would know to avoid crap fans. It'll be okay for blowing on your bulbs or air circulation. I guess.

There is no mention of pressure rating. They have the dimensions measured down to fractions of a millimetre, yet they don't have any pressure rating. And they made me convert litres per minute into cfm, and it was still poor, so my vote is no. I'm sorry but I will not be swayed.

 

[maryjohn]

Got any old video game consoles?

Or if you feel like doing a bit of work, how about an old psu from a computer? I recently picked up 4 for 20 bucks.

 

[ScrubNinja]

Maryjohn have you noticed how low you can volt your fan? I'm looking at a review of a different delta I wanted and they say 8v to 13.2v.

Maryjohn have you noticed how low you can volt your fan? I'm looking at a review of a different delta I wanted and they say 8v to 13.2v.

 

[maryjohn]

I'll check it out this weekend scrub. I've been working away from home during the week. This week I have both saturday and Sunday. Sweet! Expect an update.

It's my understanding the low number is starting voltage, but if you turn down an already spinning fan you can go lower.

 

[ScrubNinja]

Ahhhh! That's interesting. Cheers bro.

 

[algrow12]

can someone give me a few ideas on what type of fan i would need to cool down a pc with a 70 watt hps in it. I would like it to be stealth and push through a carbon filter.

 

[ScrubNinja]

Hey algrow I don't use hps so if you don't get an answer, try asking on the 70w hps club thread. I couldn't picture a better way to get a more reliable accurate answer.

 

[ukpitbull]

hello again ic buddies , after pickling the few remaining brain cells i got reading thru again and again i thought about this fan http://www.quietpc.com/gb-en-gbp/products/scythefans/ultra-kaze-2000
to operate the diy scrubber , would it be okay even tho it has low amps??
if need be i could get 2 of the little buggers

 

[maryjohn]

I don't see the amps anywhere. Usually not a good sign.

It is 38mm though which is good. Forget cfm. You need to care about amps and the pressure rating (mm/h2o thingy).

 

[slowandeasy]

pitbull,
bought the bigger version the otherday, and it sounds like a gas airplane. Taking it back, for sure. Moves air, but makes an annoying sound!!

 

[ukpitbull]

cheers mj the amps r on the pic 0.25 i having trouble finding any decent fans here in the uk they all seem wimpy, looks like i might have 2 re design my cab and have a proper fan and carbon filter rigged to a fan controller, just not what i wanted i aint allowed much space hence why i have had to dismantle the budbox and 400w setup! oh well bk to the drawing board thanks for all u guys help any way

 

[maryjohn]

There must be overclockers and servers in the uk. You should be able to find what you need. Follow the nerds.

How much air do you need to move? My current cab uses two .35 amp fans and runs 10 degrees f above ambient with 6 x 42w cfl's. Everything runs through the scrubber. I got the deltas for the new cab, which can run up to 12 bulbs. I use them side by side and my scrubber is my only ventilation.

 

[ScrubNinja]

Pitbull, have you had a look for the thermaltake smart fan II ? If we deduce that you are looking for a fan around the low 30db's, then the thermaltake would be great because you just lower the speed till it's where you need the volume. 30 db's is probably gonna be like, 2/3rds speed on the dial, which is still kicking a fair bit of air and pressure. Seriously, it's a great fan for most micros. Once you have it all setup you'll realise a lot of the noise is now muffled, so you will probably turn it to full anyway. Always a good idea to keep some power up your sleeve for when you need it too. Stealth and high yields don't go together unless you really know your stuff.

Thermaltake is the most common brand of fan I see in this country, and the SFII is .48 amps on full.

 

[Norrath]

the noctua fans are EL SILENT. i have 3 of them running and i cant hear them at all. pricey though, 20$(canada) each

http://www.dvhardware.net/review133_noctua_nf_p12.html

i got the nfp12's 19dbs? if that means zero noise, then yes. hehe

 

[maryjohn]

Isn't noctua a German firm?

 

[ScrubNinja]

You say that like it's a bad thing, mj?

Norrath, are you using a carbon filter? How many watts are you cooling and how many are actually involved in the exhaust?

 

[maryjohn]

Nein, nein! Deutschland gefählt mir.

I mention it because it is close to the uk and shoul be available there.

 

[ScrubNinja]

Haha I had to learn compulsory German for 3 years in school. Now's the first time it ever looked like actually being useful, and I've forgotten it! Scheiße!

 

[Norrath]

that's them going at it. the little wire tied infront of the fans is a thermometer probe that, at 80F turns the fans on. and sub 80 turns them off, since i dont have a scrubber on them, works well to keep the smell inside as much as possible when it isnt too hot. It doesnt get over 80 very often with ambient of 70-75.

my plans for a scrubber would include pushing air through a CAN 9000 AC scrubber with an inline fan sucking air up from my 2 cabinets(this aforementioned cabinet and a clone cabinet) via Y transition, and that means the fan would be pushing thru the scrubber, obviously. All within my closet, with 2x 4" holes in the closet ceiling to pull the now scrubbed air into the vacuous area above the ceiling. as it stands, i only have the 2x4" holes in the ceiling with no scrubber attached, but i probably will have to implement my plan when my stuff starts really flowering - the odor isnt bad. I also have a tent with a scrubber going too, so this cabinet is really just for hobby-sake.

those noctua fans are sooo quiet. I got the notion to use them from RIP i think. i have one in a pc case grow too.

 

[Strangely]

How are you finding the noctuas pitbull? We've looked at them on this thread before and although loving the db levels thought they might be a little lacking in back pressure I think it was? What size is your grow space mate, and is it just the two we can see you're rocking in there? Howdy Scrub, good to see thoughts of leaving us all are on the back burner if only for the minute!!