AC Fans...

io331

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May 15, 2000
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Would thee be a problem mounting AC fans in/on a computer case...

I haev thought about it some and I knwo there is some potential for EMI, but would it affect performance?
 

SpeedTester

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Mar 18, 2001
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I wouldnt do it. The EMI will most likely make weird wavy patterns on your monitor.
You could always test it though but I wouldnt recommend using any Ac fan
near your computer.
 

Big Lar

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Oct 16, 1999
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I have been using ac fans, of the radio shack and other varieties for years, and don't have any probs at all with emi.
 

io331

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May 15, 2000
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<< I wouldnt do it. The EMI will most likely make weird wavy patterns on your monitor.
You could always test it though but I wouldnt recommend using any Ac fan
near your computer.
>>



Since my monitor is about 3ft away from the PC I sure hope not :)



<< I have been using ac fans, of the radio shack and other varieties for years, and don't have any probs at all with emi. >>



What sizes?
 

cadjack

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Dec 19, 1999
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I've been wondering about this myself, I've got 2 120mm AC fans in an old PA amp rack that appear to be 3-blade Deltas. (Labels sprayed black years ago). Hoped maybe I could tame their roar with a light dimmer.

Anyone ever use a light dimmer+AC fan combo? These things loud enough to drown out a vacuum cleaner without some kind of rheostat-type setup.
 

SpeedTester

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Mar 18, 2001
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<< Since my monitor is about 3ft away from the PC I sure hope not >>



Ooops I meant to say it can interfere with the video card therefore causing
wavy lines on the monitor. I have a couple 120mm Whisper AC fans which will
do that.
 

stingray2

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Jan 11, 2001
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I too want to mount some a/c fans (radio shack) in the cabinet where my computer resides (with no computer case sides on), and use a lignt dimmer to adjust the fan speeds.. I plan to hook up at least 2 fans, on to bring air in, the other to vent it out, so I will be hooking them up in parallel, and puttting the dimmer in line.. anyone else attempt this? did it work? did it blow the dimmer out?
 

cadjack

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Dec 19, 1999
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Since the dimmer is on the supply side, as long as it's rated for the amperage of that circuit blowing it shouldn't be a concern. The two things I was worried about are the EM field generated by the fans, and the buzz or hum created in some audio devices when a dimmer is on tha same AC circuit.

SpeedTester already confirmed the EMI issue, so I guess it's a no go for me. Sounds like you plan to place them outside the rack, maybe if it's 8 or 10" away you'll avoid the EMI, but the dimmer might cause audio probs. The fans I have don't hum through the HK Citation 16 amp in the rack, but there's no dimmer/rheostat either...
 

io331

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May 15, 2000
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Well it looks like this good idea is falling apart :)


Time to look at one of those generic little DC power supplies then... Or maybe I will just get that 500watt monster from Enermax :)
 

Big Lar

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Oct 16, 1999
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As to the size of the fans, they are 120mm fans, and I run 6 of them, off a Levitron dimmer switch. ( Household dimmer switch). 1 of the fans is app. 3"s above my vid card expelling air, and another directly above that, along with 2 in the front for intake. 2 are in the drive side of the box, I repeat, I have NO emi issues, and the fans I am running at present are not the rad shack fans, but non ball bearing cheapo fans, with no probs with vid nor sound. I imagine if 1 was to put a Large house fan next to the computer, or monitor there could be a prob, but for the computer type of fans in the box, I have seen no probs here, and this is even in an Oak computer I built.