best fan bay controller?

[Johnbear007]

Im looking for a cheap fan bay controller. Nothing special, just soemthing that can control a bunch of fans

 

[bluntman]

The best would have to be the Sunbeam Rheobus. The build quality is excellent, dual colour LED fans, aluminum knobs and (I believe) has a 20w capacity per input.

I know have Vantec 305 fan controller installed because I needed the 5.25" bay that the Sunbeam lived in for my new DVD burner. I also had a Vantec 301 for a short period of time (until the 305 was available at my local computer store). Both the 301 and 305 are good controllers. Although not as solidly built as the Sunbeam unit, and with a slightly lower wattage capacity, they fit my needs perfectly. FWIW, I am able to connect two 80mm fans to one connector on the Vantec and and Sunbeam units.

 

[Johnbear007]

Originally posted by: bluntman
The best would have to be the Sunbeam Rheobus. The build quality is excellent, dual colour LED fans, aluminum knobs and (I believe) has a 20w capacity per input.

I know have Vantec 305 fan controller installed because I needed the 5.25" bay that the Sunbeam lived in for my new DVD burner. I also had a Vantec 301 for a short period of time (until the 305 was available at my local computer store). Both the 301 and 305 are good controllers. Although not as solidly built as the Sunbeam unit, and with a slightly lower wattage capacity, they fit my needs perfectly. FWIW, I am able to connect two 80mm fans to one connector on the Vantec and and Sunbeam units.

Cool, ill look into the sunbeam then

 

[cleverhandle]

If you don't need knobs and continuous voltage regulation, I've always found the cheapo BayBuses at PCMods to be perfectly adequate. They look classier with the simple switches instead of neon knobs, too - though that's obviously IMO.

 

[Johnbear007]

Originally posted by: cleverhandle
If you don't need knobs and continuous voltage regulation, I've always found the cheapo BayBuses at PCMods to be perfectly adequate. They look classier with the simple switches instead of neon knobs, too - though that's obviously IMO.

I think I would prefer more control than just on/off but thanks!

 

[0roo0roo]

sumbeams use more power and put out more heat then vantecs.

 

[Johnbear007]

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
sumbeams use more power and put out more heat then vantecs.

how much heat? and how do they compare in functionality?

 

[0roo0roo]

from what i remember, the type of tech they use differs. the vantecs rapidly switch on and off to regulate speed, the sunbeams simply dissapate the extra energy as heat. so i guess whatever part of the 20watts you don't use turns to heat.

that and sunbeams are ugly

<--biased vantec owner

 

[Johnbear007]

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
from what i remember, the type of tech they use differs. the vantecs rapidly switch on and off to regulate speed, the sunbeams simply dissapate the extra energy as heat. so i guess whatever part of the 20watts you don't use turns to heat.

that and sunbeams are ugly

<--biased vantec owner

lol


I guess ill have to look at both. Is there a cheap place to buy them? maybe SVC?

 

[cleverhandle]

Originally posted by: Johnbear007
I think I would prefer more control than just on/off but thanks!

They're 3-position switches actually - On/Off/Custom. Simple, but effective enough. Sounds like you're looking for the full-out knobbed variety, though.

 

[Blooz1]

I have Sunbeam rheobus units on both of my systems, and heat from the rheobus have never been noticable on either one.

 

[Johnbear007]

Personally im liking the look of the vantecs better. They fit in a 3.5 inch bay, hae knobs, and blue leds. I dont like the red/blue combo on the rheobus...


How many watts does a normal 80mm fan use up?

 

[EeyoreX]

I prefer the Sunbeam:

They turn all the way off, which for several of my fans is right where I want them when they are not needed. This is also good if you use lighting that you dont want on all the time (CCFL should not be used unless they are all the way on or off). The LEDs are so easy to replace it took me about 5 minutes. That included the time it took me to unmount and mount it in its bay (I didn't like the dual-color LEDs AND they were really too bright). Heat issues? I seriously doubt there is enough heat generated by this to make a difference. I notice no increase in temps when I run or don't run the rheobus (run=plugged in and powering fans. Not run = unplugged and, obviously, not running any fans).

The Vantecs can have a noise issue when using fans at slower levels. I do admit they look much cooler, but I wanted the on/off capability, and at the time (and is still the case?) it was/is the only rheobus that had this option.

I suppose it is all a matter of personal preference, I chose the functionality of the Sunbeam over the cooler look of the Vantec (and others). I purchase by feature first, not by appearance.

<edit>Oh yeah, and SVC had both pretty inexpensive when I was looking.</edit>

\Dan

 

[mindwreck]

I got my sunbeam from svc like a week ago. Hasn't dispointed me yet. being able to switch the fan off is real + for me. since most of the time the computers idle. I've never notice a heat problem from it. I doubt its going to cause a huge increase in case temp. The LEDs are great, it lights up my floor and when its red, i hardly notice it (computer is under my desk)

Last reason why i didn't get a vantec were those problems with teh transitors or something. my friend's went up in smokes after 2 weeks. almost burned his cpu cause his HS/fan was hooked up to it

all in all im am yet to be dispointed by it

 

[Serp86]

Its not very cheap, but i love the coolermaster aerogate 2

 

[Johnbear007]

Thanks for the additional input, now im leaning back towards teh sunbeam. Could you guys give me an idea on how I would go about replacing the LEDS?

 

[bluntman]

Are they too bright? I found that to be the case with this controller. I haven't replaced the LEDs but apparently they just pop out of their holders.

 

[Johnbear007]

Originally posted by: bluntman
Are they too bright? I found that to be the case with this controller. I haven't replaced the LEDs but apparently they just pop out of their holders.

I doubt they will be to bright for me, plus thats a non-issue as I have an Antec 1080 AMG and the door covers up the bays.

 

[hytek369]

sunbeams are great. can't think of anything close for the price

 

[EeyoreX]

Replacing the LEDs is a simple matter of pulling the old ones from the holder to putting new ones back. The only issue I had was that the dual-color LEDs had 3 prongs while the single color LEDs I bought have only 2 prongs. I had to test which sockets to plug the prongs into to power the LEDs correctly. The Sunbeam switches colors at about 7 volts. The other thing that I noticed was that depending on which sockets you put the LEDs in, either they light up when they are under or over 7 volts. This doesn't bother me, as I either run my fans at off (no LED), at about 7 volts (nice and quite, with LED) or full speed (with LED). There may be another way around this, but to me it wasn't an issue, and as I said before, I place a high value on being able to turn my fans off when they are not needed.

\Dan