Panaflo L1A - oddity

[Cerb]

I got my Panaflo L1As in the mail today, opened it up and checked them out with an old AT PSU.
Note that I am not naming where I got them from yet. I don't want this to have any affect on the said store unless these fans turn out to be *very* sub-par, and given how I've never used them before, part of my problems might just rest on me.

They are significantly louder than my Enermax adjustable fans at low, and my Cybercoolers, though it is a bit lower frequency noise, kind of growling (and push about the same amount of air when floating freely). In addition, it seems to have more forceful vibrating than my other fans (any way to balance them?).
However, when i put it closer to my skin (more to push against), the Panaflo clearly pushes more air, so I definitely will be trusting it for the heatsink.

It seems with the overwhelming love of these fans as a quiet solution, it wouldn't be louder than others, nor vibrate so harshly...does it not do so badly installed?

Edit: checked them out at 7v...only one (of four) will start at 7v. I know that's not normal. Most fans I've used will start at 7, many 5, and Panaflos have been specifically noted for starting at low voltages.

 

[Cerb]

bump, since further messing around showed what I hope to be easily remedied issues.

 

[BG4533]

I would say there is something wrong with your fans. I have 5-80mm L1As and 5-92mm L1As. All of them will start between 4V and 5V. Mine do not vibrate more than any other fans or have any unusual noises. They do have a bit of a whiny sound compared to other fans and are not the quietest fans I have ever heard, but they scale down quite nicely. Have you double checked that you got L1As and not H1As or something else?

Brian

 

[Cerb]

Originally posted by: BG4533
I would say there is something wrong with your fans. I have 5-80mm L1As and 5-92mm L1As. All of them will start between 4V and 5V. Mine do not vibrate more than any other fans or have any unusual noises. They do have a bit of a whiny sound compared to other fans and are not the quietest fans I have ever heard, but they scale down quite nicely. Have you double checked that you got L1As and not H1As or something else?

Brian

Yes, the model number ends in L and they push about as much as my other fans, none of which are loud, and which are rated around 30CFM. I'm currently letting them run at 12v, and will check 7v and 5v in a couple hours. The one that starts at 7v and 5v doesn't vibrate hardly at all at 7v, so once it's all done, they may stop all of that around 10v or so.

 

[Cerb]

Edit: They still vibrate a bit much at 12v, but all start at 5v just fine after running for a few hours 😕

 

[jarsoffart]

I know you don't want to mention the vendor, but I think that others that read this thread should be warned because your case doesn't seem to be isolated. I have read threads that case-mod.com received a bad batch of L1A's. There is a thread at Ars and SPCR. Many people report unbalanced fans.

 

[VisableAssassin]

by chance did you buy them at the online retailer thats selling them for like $2.99 or somewhere near there? if so i do believe i know which store (Case-Mod.com) your speaking of (correct?) and so far it looks like they are selling factory secods or some crap.
someone on the hardforum was having the same problem

 

[Cerb]

It is case-mod 😱. I mainly didn't want this to have any negative effect, since the service has been quite good.
Since I didn't find threads w/ similar info at those sites (I figured I'd check those and Hard OCP before I posted), link(ies)?
Note: now, searching relentlessly, I found the SPCR ones.

 

[VisableAssassin]

Originally posted by: Cerb
It is case-mod 😱. I mainly didn't want this to have any negative effect, since the service has been quite good.
Since I didn't find threads w/ similar info at those sites (I figured I'd check those and Hard OCP before I posted), link(ies)?

LOL yeah i knew where you got em 🙂

heres the link where i posted bout it as well a little while back. i bought all of mine thru caseetc.com which is now a portion of directron


Link to hardforum

 

[BG4533]

Is Case-Mod doing anything to fix this problem for everyone else?

 

[Cerb]

Originally posted by: BG4533
Is Case-Mod doing anything to fix this problem for everyone else?

I'm going to find out tomorrow (too tired right now to make a coherent email 🙂).

 

[sellmen]

Just wanted to add that I received two panaflo L1A's from casecooler.com - both of these make the vibrational clicking noise. The noise only disappears if the fans are blowing straight up or straight down.

 

[Cerb]

Originally posted by: sellmen
Just wanted to add that I received two panaflo L1A's from casecooler.com - both of these make the vibrational clicking noise. The noise only disappears if the fans are blowing straight up or straight down.

Is this the case from any direction? The ones I got feel like gamepad rumbling, and have similar noise from all directions. Most fans make a similar noise, though far lower in volume, and only if you have the airflow going towards your ear.

 

[Cerb]

Update: got an RMA number, will ship tomorrow. While the fans have been dissapointing, Case-mod has been very good, and when all this is over, they'll likely (I won't say anything absolutely, since this little saga is not complete) get a very good reseller rating from me.
In case Sellman's are the same thing, I'll probably hold off on buying the L1As for a little while, if just to be sure I get them from a different lot of fans.

 

[sellmen]

Originally posted by: Cerb

Originally posted by: sellmen
Just wanted to add that I received two panaflo L1A's from casecooler.com - both of these make the vibrational clicking noise. The noise only disappears if the fans are blowing straight up or straight down.

Is this the case from any direction? The ones I got feel like gamepad rumbling, and have similar noise from all directions. Most fans make a similar noise, though far lower in volume, and only if you have the airflow going towards your ear.

The fans make this noise from any direction/orientation, other than when the blade is parallel to the ground. When the blade is parallel to the ground, the noise completely disappears.