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Message
Cooling Project: Fan Speed Controller (12V Application)
Posted on 6/11/15 at 4:00 pm
Posted on 6/11/15 at 4:00 pm
Working on a non-computer related cooling project and am planning to utilize four 140MM CPU case fans. I'd like to be able to vary the speed of these fans, either with a knob or just a position switch (H/M/L).
Link to 140MM Fans
The fans are 12V, 3-pin or 4-pin, 2W, 0.166 amps. I've gathered I can simply wire them up to a 12V source (2-wire, hot and ground), but they will run at max speed. How can I vary the speed of these fans, knowing my input is only hot/ground? I've searched various fan speed controllers, but not sure how they'd work with that input. I'd also consider raw with a rheostat/potentiometer, if one of those is what I'd need.
I'm also utilizing a small pump with a cajun cooler type arrangement (5gal bucket of ice water), all powered through a 12v car adapter. So I'm trying to keep my power consumption low. May also expand this in the future with more fans.
Any PC builders or knowledgeable others that can help me out with the wiring?
Link to 140MM Fans
The fans are 12V, 3-pin or 4-pin, 2W, 0.166 amps. I've gathered I can simply wire them up to a 12V source (2-wire, hot and ground), but they will run at max speed. How can I vary the speed of these fans, knowing my input is only hot/ground? I've searched various fan speed controllers, but not sure how they'd work with that input. I'd also consider raw with a rheostat/potentiometer, if one of those is what I'd need.
I'm also utilizing a small pump with a cajun cooler type arrangement (5gal bucket of ice water), all powered through a 12v car adapter. So I'm trying to keep my power consumption low. May also expand this in the future with more fans.
Any PC builders or knowledgeable others that can help me out with the wiring?
This post was edited on 6/16/15 at 5:32 pm
5
Posted on 6/11/15 at 4:14 pm to LSUtigerME
I don't really know much about currents but I'd think a voltage regulator can do what you're asking. Might cost $5 on amazon.
Posted on 6/11/15 at 5:52 pm to junkfunky
Voltage regulator does basically the opposite. Takes a varying input voltage and produces a steady output voltage.
Posted on 6/11/15 at 6:19 pm to LSUtigerME
What you need is a potentiometer, you can buy them from radioshack and stick a knob on them. It will have a ground and 12V tabs and a 3rd tab for output. The output will be 0-12V depending on the knob position.
Edit: This is a common project, google "potentiometer PC fan control" or something similar and you'll find many circuit diagrams and how-tos
Edit: This is a common project, google "potentiometer PC fan control" or something similar and you'll find many circuit diagrams and how-tos
This post was edited on 6/11/15 at 6:30 pm
Posted on 6/11/15 at 6:23 pm to LSUtigerME
My ghetto solution would be something like this on a power inverter:
Plus a molex-powered fan controller.
Plus a molex-powered fan controller.
Posted on 6/11/15 at 6:26 pm to TigerBandTuba
Also you really only need a 2-wire fan for this, otherwise you are buying a bunch of RPM monitoring and PWM control circuitry you won't be using.
Posted on 6/11/15 at 6:45 pm to TigerBandTuba
Well, it's not like he's wasting money on that part of it (it also doesn't have PWM control). Yate loons are cheap fans that move a lot of air and respond well to undervolting.
But, if they're going to be on a fan controller, why not get the high speed fans?
Also, is this a home brew project?
But, if they're going to be on a fan controller, why not get the high speed fans?
Also, is this a home brew project?
This post was edited on 6/11/15 at 6:46 pm
Posted on 6/11/15 at 7:20 pm to TigerBandTuba
I figured it was a potentiometer but wasn't certain or how to wire it up, or the resistance I would need for the fans. The extra wires on the fans were causing me concern and bringing other options into play (since they are used to vary fan speed). Since I'm running them straight from 12v and not the computer, I wasn't sure what to look for.
This is a farm project for fresh fruit/berries transport.
Don't need the fan control, just figured it'd be a nice functionality. The HS fans weren't available quickly, and I didn't see the specs right off. These Yate Loon MS fans were cheap and push more CFM than others for less than $10. I'm also limited on my amperage, so more fan power would be more amperage. Combined with my pump, might be over the limit of the adapter I'm using.
This is a farm project for fresh fruit/berries transport.
Don't need the fan control, just figured it'd be a nice functionality. The HS fans weren't available quickly, and I didn't see the specs right off. These Yate Loon MS fans were cheap and push more CFM than others for less than $10. I'm also limited on my amperage, so more fan power would be more amperage. Combined with my pump, might be over the limit of the adapter I'm using.
This post was edited on 6/11/15 at 7:24 pm
Posted on 6/11/15 at 8:21 pm to LSUtigerME
I believe that most PC fans will run on voltage control, which is I think 0-5 volts.
Newer fans also run on fancy digitally altered signals. I recall it is 3 pin vs 4 pin connectors.
Go to a pc build site to find the best fans. All are not created equally, and some are made for pushing air against a higher head pressure (resistance). I bought specifically quiet fans for case cooling for my pc build.
Newer fans also run on fancy digitally altered signals. I recall it is 3 pin vs 4 pin connectors.
Go to a pc build site to find the best fans. All are not created equally, and some are made for pushing air against a higher head pressure (resistance). I bought specifically quiet fans for case cooling for my pc build.
Posted on 6/13/15 at 2:44 pm to LSUtigerME
just use a rheostat on it.
I have a powerful muffin fan, and to control the speed I use a ceramic wire wound rheostat.
it's for emergency cooling when the power goes out
have a 12v car battery to run off of..just to move the air in the room a bit
you can use a pot, but the pot will likely burn out, depending on usage....but that's pretty low voltage/amperage
LINK
I have a powerful muffin fan, and to control the speed I use a ceramic wire wound rheostat.
it's for emergency cooling when the power goes out
have a 12v car battery to run off of..just to move the air in the room a bit
you can use a pot, but the pot will likely burn out, depending on usage....but that's pretty low voltage/amperage
LINK
Posted on 6/13/15 at 3:21 pm to LSUtigerME
Fan Mate 2 should work, but I think you'd need two of them to avoid overloading (max power is spec'd at 6 W).
Posted on 6/16/15 at 5:31 pm to Spock's Eyebrow
Update on this.
Hooked the fans up and was waaaayyy underwhelmed. That 62 CFM was much less than I expected.
I rethought and hopefully found a much better solution. I was originally looking for thin, 12v, desk fan (or box fan). It hit me yesterday an electric radiator fan would likely do the trick. 1000+ CFM, runs on low voltage, thin, etc. also can use one fan which makes the mounting arrangement easier.
I spent a lot of time researching how to size a rheostat/pot, so hopefully got it right. Purchased a 10 ohm 25w pot. Resistance seems low, but it's what the formulas came up with. Fan is 80w, 12v.
Hooked the fans up and was waaaayyy underwhelmed. That 62 CFM was much less than I expected.
I rethought and hopefully found a much better solution. I was originally looking for thin, 12v, desk fan (or box fan). It hit me yesterday an electric radiator fan would likely do the trick. 1000+ CFM, runs on low voltage, thin, etc. also can use one fan which makes the mounting arrangement easier.
I spent a lot of time researching how to size a rheostat/pot, so hopefully got it right. Purchased a 10 ohm 25w pot. Resistance seems low, but it's what the formulas came up with. Fan is 80w, 12v.
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