Question NZXT Grid hubs, 10 port connections.

[DaaQ]

So these fan hubs are 3 pin 10 connection hubs, with an output to a controller.

Question is, should all fans connected use all 3 pins, and does the hub actually provide the circuitry for the RPM off its output connection?

Should I only connect 1 fan with a 3 pin for RPM purposes?

Info: Rated for 30W, using GT AP15, wont fill all 10 slots. But will be using a fan controller.

Advice?

Should I make the fan wires short and put the hub on the radiator? or longer and behind case wall? STH-10 Magnum case.

 

[DaaQ]

Forums dead, besides PnN and OT?

 

[BoomerD]

Looks like it's made for 3 pin fans:

There is also a full set of wires that come with the Grid to allow for a few different things. There is 3-pin to 4-pin fan adapters, but the fourth wire is a blank, as the Grid has no PWM functionality, or a way to sense and report speeds.

Read more: https://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/5503/nzxt-grid-10-port-fan-hub-review/index.html

 

[Paperdoc]

This unit is really what I prefer to call a fan SPLITTER. That is because it does NOT have any way to get power for its fans from the PSU directly, unlike what I prefer to call a fan HUB. So ALL the power for this unit must come only from the host header on the mobo, and that means its TOTAL load for all fans connected is limited to whatever the header can provide. Commonly that is 1.0 A max, but some mobo headers are different. In that respect, this unit makes it too easy to connect too many fans (10 ports available) if you fail to do your calculations from the specs of the fans you plug in. As an aside, I see that the unit MAY come also with a cable allowing you to power it from the PSU directly, and NOT from a mobo header. In this mode there is NO speed control by the mobo, but the limit on total current does not apply.)

OP's questions MAY imply a misunderstanding. On a 3- or 4-pin fan header the pin functions are: Pin #1 Ground, Pin #2 +VDC power supply, Pin #3 Speed signal (sent back to mobo). For a 4-pin one Pin #4 is the PWM signal. Any Splitter or Hub will return to the host header the speed signal from only ONE of its fans because that's all the header can deal with. On a unit with several cable "arms" as outputs, the simple way used to make this happen is that the male output connectors are missing Pin #3 on all but one output, so there can be no connection of "other" fans' speed signals. But on units like this NZXT one that look like circuit boards, and on closed boxes with side ports, the lone output that DOES send back its speed signal is marked in some way, and the design of the circuit inside is how the speeds of the "others" are NOT sent back. On many this is simply output Port #1. Sometimes it is labelled "CPU Fan", but you do NOT need to plug into that the CPU cooler if the Hub is used solely for case fans. So for this NZXT Grid unit you must plug into its Port #1 one of your fans to ensure the host header receives a speed signal from that. There is no question of "use all 3 pins" because the unit itself simply makes the speed connection back to the host header from ONLY its output Port #1.

Just a last note for both Splitters and Hubs. An important second function of any fan header is to monitor the speed signal it receives from its fans for NO signal, indicating fan FAILURE. A failure prompts a prominent message on your screen so you can deal with the problem. (In the particular case of failure of the fan on the CPU_FAN header, more drastic actions may be taken.) Since Splitters and Hubs return to the header only ONE fan's speed signal the header cannot monitor all the "others" for failure. Thus the user should check all fans from time to time to verify they all still are working.

 

[DaaQ]

Looks like it's made for 3 pin fans:

Thanks Boomer, I read the TT review and it did tell me on thing I didn't know, that the device will distribute the wattage as needed depending on fan configuration and generally best to use identical fans on it. Also there is some slight headroom on it's power rating.

This unit is really what I prefer to call a fan SPLITTER. That is because it does NOT have any way to get power for its fans from the PSU directly, unlike what I prefer to call a fan HUB. So ALL the power for this unit must come only from the host header on the mobo, and that means its TOTAL load for all fans connected is limited to whatever the header can provide. Commonly that is 1.0 A max, but some mobo headers are different. In that respect, this unit makes it too easy to connect too many fans (10 ports available) if you fail to do your calculations from the specs of the fans you plug in. As an aside, I see that the unit MAY come also with a cable allowing you to power it from the PSU directly, and NOT from a mobo header. In this mode there is NO speed control by the mobo, but the limit on total current does not apply.)

OP's questions MAY imply a misunderstanding. On a 3- or 4-pin fan header the pin functions are: Pin #1 Ground, Pin #2 +VDC power supply, Pin #3 Speed signal (sent back to mobo). For a 4-pin one Pin #4 is the PWM signal. Any Splitter or Hub will return to the host header the speed signal from only ONE of its fans because that's all the header can deal with. On a unit with several cable "arms" as outputs, the simple way used to make this happen is that the male output connectors are missing Pin #3 on all but one output, so there can be no connection of "other" fans' speed signals. But on units like this NZXT one that look like circuit boards, and on closed boxes with side ports, the lone output that DOES send back its speed signal is marked in some way, and the design of the circuit inside is how the speeds of the "others" are NOT sent back. On many this is simply output Port #1. Sometimes it is labelled "CPU Fan", but you do NOT need to plug into that the CPU cooler if the Hub is used solely for case fans. So for this NZXT Grid unit you must plug into its Port #1 one of your fans to ensure the host header receives a speed signal from that. There is no question of "use all 3 pins" because the unit itself simply makes the speed connection back to the host header from ONLY its output Port #1.

Just a last note for both Splitters and Hubs. An important second function of any fan header is to monitor the speed signal it receives from its fans for NO signal, indicating fan FAILURE. A failure prompts a prominent message on your screen so you can deal with the problem. (In the particular case of failure of the fan on the CPU_FAN header, more drastic actions may be taken.) Since Splitters and Hubs return to the header only ONE fan's speed signal the header cannot monitor all the "others" for failure. Thus the user should check all fans from time to time to verify they all still are working.

Thanks for the info, I will be using a fan controller, unfortunately not an Aquero6. Maybe down the road, but this is all stuff I should have completed years ago but real life got way into the way.

I have 2 Lamptron fan controllers that I will probably use both. Or at least install both since space is available.

Using watercooling so the pump speed signals will be going to the MB headers.

My real main concern was if the RPM signals from up to 8 fans will cause the controller to get wonky RPM readings if all fans were wired as 3 pin. But your explanation of port 1 maybe being the only reporting port makes sense.

Cant find any documentation from the vendor about it though. Also, custom wiring 12 or so fans total, I'm not sure I have enough 24awg wire to cover them all. I cant find the spool I had, and only have 50 ft from Lutr0's purchased way back when. Not sure if he is still in business or not. I will probably end up finding the spool though.