Enermax Chakra Case Fan Not Working

[GamingDaemon]

I just built a new rig with the Enermax Chakra case, the one with the huge 250mm fan, only it won't work. Has this happened to anyone else before? Any solutions?

Thanks in advance...

 

[zagood]

From the new Maximum PC case roundup...April 2007 p. 44 on the Enermax Phoenix (same fan).

"Worse, we could never get the fan to actually spin up without first removing the side panel and giving it a li'l nudge."

So yeah, you're not the first.

-z

 

[GamingDaemon]

Originally posted by: zagood
From the new Maximum PC case roundup...April 2007 p. 44 on the Enermax Phoenix (same fan).

"Worse, we could never get the fan to actually spin up without first removing the side panel and giving it a li'l nudge."

So yeah, you're not the first.

-z

Yikes. Well, I put in 2 120mm fans, one in the front as an intake, and one in the rear as a outtake. It is still whisper quiet comapred to my previous box, and it is keeping it super cool. I did a little overclock ing, put the FSP to 333 with the 9x multipler of E6600, and have had no problems for the last hour or so...

But still, I want that big huge gorgeous fan to spin

 

[Zepper]

What power source have you connected it to? Do not connect it to anything but the full 12V. Certainly not to any special FAN connector that comes off the PSU as that is already dropped by the thermal controller in the PSU or to any mobo fan connector - just straight to a drive power connector. And make sure the switch is set to a position other than center (off) - most will want the switch set so the fan blows into the case.

.bh.

 

[GamingDaemon]

I have the Corsair 620, so even with an E6600 and an 8800GTX, I should have power to spare. It is a modular power supply so I added what I needed. I am using a 4pin connector which I assume is a 12V connector, it is similar to what I used to power my DVD burner. I do use the fan connector on top of the 4pin connector for my intake fan and for this fan.

One thig is that the huge fan on has two power pins it is using. The other two are there but not wired up. And they are loose too. Not sure if that matters. But the fan coonectoronly has 2 pins also, so it seemed a good thing to put between the fan conenctor which was male and female, and the 4pin connector coming off of the power supply.

Does that make sense?

 

[Zepper]

Clear as mud. Paint me a better word picture (or draw me one) and in the meanwhile, connect the big fan connector directly to a drive power connector with no other fan connector either before or after it and then flip the switch that is above the fan on the outside of the door to the left which means the fan will blow into the case (the other way makes the fan an exhaust).

.bh.

 

[GamingDaemon]

Originally posted by: Zepper
Clear as mud. Paint me a better word picture (or draw me one) and in the meanwhile, connect the big fan connector directly to a drive power connector with no other fan connector either before or after it and then flip the switch that is above the fan on the outside of the door to the left which means the fan will blow into the case (the other way makes the fan an exhaust).

.bh.

I think I tried that last night --was up until 5am so I am not entirely sure --but I will try that again.

Right now, I have overclocked the CPU to 333FSB, with the memory set to 250MHz, 4:3, 5-5-5-12-17. The core temps are 32C and 31C idle and around 45C under load (Supreme Commander). So the CPU is good, not sure about the 8800GTX though.

 

[GamingDaemon]

No difference. I cannot get the fan to spin no matter what I do. I think the fan's wires are bad or there is a problem with the soldering, I can't tell. But I used one of the spare 4pin power connector cables that is also powering my DVD burner. Nada.

Oh well. Maybe they can jsut ship me a new side panel for the chasis?

 

[Zepper]

The Corsair 620 comes with a power Y that is for "Fans Only" which may be wired for 7V (positive wire to +12 and Ground (blk) wire to +5V or have a dropping resistor, etc. Do not use that for the 250 fan. Hook the fan directly to a standard drive/peripheral power connector. If you have a DMM (digital multimeter - all techies should have one! - under $20. at sears and higher priced ones are often on sale for under $20.), measure voltages at all points to see what is going on. The power connector on the fan could be bad, the solder joints at the fan (behind the label on the fixed side) could be cold, I have even had fans with hidden breaks within the wire insulation of the leads - all things to check for.

..bh.

 

[GamingDaemon]

Originally posted by: Zepper
The Corsair 620 comes with a power Y that is for "Fans Only" which may be wired for 7V (positive wire to +12 and Ground (blk) wire to +5V or have a dropping resistor, etc. Do not use that for the 250 fan. Hook the fan directly to a standard drive/peripheral power connector. If you have a DMM (digital multimeter - all techies should have one! - under $20. at sears and higher priced ones are often on sale for under $20.), measure voltages at all points to see what is going on. The power connector on the fan could be bad, the solder joints at the fan (behind the label on the fixed side) could be cold, I have even had fans with hidden breaks within the wire insulation of the leads - all things to check for.

..bh.

Looks like I need to go to Sears or Lowes. I was using the "Fans Only" connector at one time last night, but switched over to one of the other standard power connectors. I think there is something bad in the fan wiring. Sucks. At least thigns are cool, though I'm not sure about the 8800GTX. Maybe Enermax will jsut ship a side panel.

 

[Zepper]

More likely you can send them the fan and they'll either fix & return it or replace it. Won't know until you call their RMA dept. - I don't bother to email any RMA questions any more as the response time ranges from leisurely to never. It certainly would be nuts to have to mail the whole panel.

.bh.

 

[Skott]

I havent had any problems with mine. You are the first user (with the exception of MaximumPC) I've heard with the problem so it could be you just got a bad fan unit. Definetely contact Enermax and see about a replacement.

And for the record the reviewer/s at maximum PC never said if they even tried to get a replacement fan or not in their article. I think they should have tried and then reported if it was a one time only thing or something more problematic. I've seen them do it for other case reviews I dont know why they didnt for the Enermax.

 

[GamingDaemon]

Skott, your thread was one of the reasons I chose this case -not that I'm placing blame! I love the case. But I was annoyed by the fan not working.

I'm not sure it's just me and Maximum PC though. Read the 8 reviews at NewEgg. There is at least one more person with a bum fan.

 

[Skott]

Well, like I said yours and MaximumPC are the only two I have heard of. Thats not to say others havent had problems. Maybe they have and I just havent heard? I didnt see any complaints back when I bought mine but I think I was one of the early buyers. The MaximumPC was the first I heard about it and now you. In any case I'd contact Enermax and see if you can get a replacement. If Enermax fails to satisfy you then please let me know. I'll want to pass that onto folks when I talk about the Chakra. If there is a known problem we need to let people know about it. Meanwhile I'll look around closer and see if I can dig up some more info and find out how big this problem is.

 

[GamingDaemon]

Originally posted by: Skott
Well, like I said yours and MaximumPC are the only two I have heard of. Thats not to say others havent had problems. Maybe they have and I just havent heard? I didnt see any complaints back when I bought mine but I think I was one of the early buyers. The MaximumPC was the first I heard about it and now you. In any case I'd contact Enermax and see if you can get a replacement. If Enermax fails to satisfy you then please let me know. I'll want to pass that onto folks when I talk about the Chakra. If there is a known problem we need to let people know about it. Meanwhile I'll look around closer and see if I can dig up some more info and find out how big this problem is.

Well, I have filled out a post to the tech support section of the Enermax website, but didn't receive any reply. It may be the weekend, but how hard is it to add an auto-reply "We received your post. We will reply within X number of days. Thank you." I could code one in my sleep. Given this, I'm not expecting much.

There is no other way that I can see of to contact them. Looks like I will have to do some internet digging to find out where they are so I can call them directly.

 

[Zepper]

Here's contact info: http://www.enermaxusa.com/contact.php

.bh.

 

[GamingDaemon]

Originally posted by: Zepper
Here's contact info: http://www.enermaxusa.com/contact.php

.bh.

YTM! They will be receiving a call tomorrow morning!

 

[tylerdustin2008]

Or you could buy a new one.

http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/...oduct_info&cPath=327&products_id=20929

 

[Zepper]

Sears has a digital multimeter on sale this week for half price (~$10.00).

.BH.

 

[GamingDaemon]

Originally posted by: tylerdustin2008
Or you could buy a new one.

http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/...oduct_info&cPath=327&products_id=20929

Interesting. Well, thanks to Zepper, I spoke with someone at Enermax/Maxpoint and hopefulyl will be receiving an RMA number ofr the fan. He said they will ship me a new fan. I wil lsee how this plays out.

 

[Zepper]

Are they sending a whole new assembly - directional switch and all? If so, and if the new one works, I'll be glad to take the non-working unit off your hands... IOW, first dibs!

.bh.

 

[Skott]

Originally posted by: GamingDaemon

Originally posted by: tylerdustin2008
Or you could buy a new one.

http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/...oduct_info&cPath=327&products_id=20929

Interesting. Well, thanks to Zepper, I spoke with someone at Enermax/Maxpoint and hopefulyl will be receiving an RMA number ofr the fan. He said they will ship me a new fan. I wil lsee how this plays out.

I'm glad you got ahold of Enermax. After my last post I went to their site looking to see if they had a forum section. I was thinking if the fan has a known problem people would be posting about it. I couldnt find a forum section though. Just a email contact like you found.

I also looked at that NE post and the guy didnt seem to know for sure if the fan was working properly or not. He said it moved slow so not sure what he meant by slow. I assume he meant slower than it should. 800-900rpm is about its normal speed from what details I've seen reviews of.

Anyway for the record we'll say we know of three known instances so far where the fan has had problems. I'll keep looking around the Net and see what I can find. Please let me know how your new replacement works out.

Edited for grammar

 

[GamingDaemon]

Originally posted by: Skott

Originally posted by: GamingDaemon

Originally posted by: tylerdustin2008


Edited for grammar

I always edit for grammar after I post, and tpyos too!

I got my RMA # tonight. And to answer Zepper's question, when I spoke with the guy out in City of Industry, he said the "fan" so I am sending him the fan off of the side panel. Therefore, I won't have anything to give you. Otherwise, I would have sent it you know problem.

 

[GamingDaemon]

I got the fan today and installed it.

While I'm thrileld that it works, it seems to have absolutely no effect on my core temps, regardless of whether I pump the air, or pump the air out. Actually, it seems to be a little hotter under loadwhen I pump the air in.

That is a huge disappointment. Anyone else experience this?

 

[RallyMaster]

which CPU cooler are you using? (skimmed your posts and none of them seem to mention what you're using)