really stupid fan question

[awolkoff]

Is there any way to tell from which end air is taken in and which end air is expelled simply by looking at a fan? The fan in question is a vantec stealth.

TIA

ASW

 

[ECUHITMAN]

There should be a little arrow showing the rotation and the way the air is moving. If there are not any arrows, from my experience the side of the fan that has the label on it is the side of the fan that the air is moving (i.e. if the label side is pointing into the case, it should be pulling air into the case).

 

[awolkoff]

The Vantec people are making things interesting--there is a label on BOTH sides of the fan and no arrows. However, one side of the fan has no "obstructions" and the other has a kind of "crossbar" on it.

I'd just plug the thing in, but I'm replacing fans along with a failed PS so no easy way to test.

ASW

 

[ECUHITMAN]

Well, you got me. I have no idea other then just trial and error.

Good Luck!

 

[pirred908]

Just plug it in, turn on teh computer, and see.

 

[AyashiKaibutsu]

Just plug it in without having it screwed into anything and feel it with your hands one end will have considerably more air pressure and that's the exhaust side.

 

[gimp0]

make sure you stick your finger into the fan while its on...

it...

uh...

...seats the bearing so they run quieter

 

[imported_Kiwi]

Originally posted by: awolkoff
Is there any way to tell from which end air is taken in and which end air is expelled simply by looking at a fan? The fan in question is a vantec stealth.

The concave side of the blade curve is the intake (front) side, or you can say that the convex side is the exhaust. If I have "curve out" crossed up with "curve in". blame it on OLD-timer's memory leaks. In other words, the blades' curve has a hump UP on the front and a hollow on the back. Back = exhaust when described this way.

 

[JonnyStarks]

Not so stupid question.. I moved some fans around my case and afterwards saw that temps we much higher than normal.
Then I realized that I put my completely non-marked fan backwards so it was blowing hot air back into the case... whoops.
But yeah the only way I could see with that one was to turn it on and find out.

 

[HermDogg]

Originally posted by: gimp0
make sure you stick your finger into the fan while its on...

it...

uh...

...seats the bearing so they run quieter

Haha! Story time!

So I had this friend who was fairly proficient with computers (i.e. he built his own, was able to do his own maintenance, etc...) He was the biggest tech-head I knew, with the wirless mouse and keyboard before they were cool. Unfortunately for him, he could never remember where he left it. Also working against him was the fact that he lost the 5 1/2" drive cover for his bottom slot. For some reason, he thought he may have dropped it inside the computer (no windows on it). So what did he do? HE STUCK HIS HAND INSIDE THE PUTER WHEN IT WAS RUNNING. While feeling around, he stuck his finger into the CPU fan while it was spining, causing some breakage. He immediately turned it off, like a smart lad. He then sat around while waitring for his new one to arrive. He was bored, so what did he do? HE TURNED THE PUTER ON TO "See the lights." Needless to say, he fried the CPU. Best puter story evar.

 

[lenjack]

Kiwi...you have it backwards...the concave side is exhaust and convex is input.

 

[0roo0roo]

look at sticker get blasted in the eyes

 

[Navid]

For a case fan, you can look at the blades and think of them as spoons. They turn in such a way that the spoon spoons the air!
The air moves away from the inside of the spoons!

This is not always true for all fans.
One exception is the fan in the VGA silencer. The reason for that is the shape of the air channel with respect to the position of the fan. That is the only fan I have seen where air moves away from the back of the spoons.

I hope this makes sense.

 

[imported_Kiwi]

Originally posted by: lenjack
Kiwi...you have it backwards...the concave side is exhaust and convex is input.

I made sure to define the humps vs. the hollow, just in case:

"In other words, the blades' curve has a hump UP on the front and a hollow on the back." Back = exhaust when described this way.

:laugh:

 

[awolkoff]

First of all, my thanks to all that replied! Anandtech Forums have been a huge help to me as I continue to learn more about computer stuff. Group hug

Originally posted by: awolkoff
However, one side of the fan has no "obstructions" and the other has a kind of "crossbar" on it.

For future reference, the side of the fan without obstructions is the "sucking" side, and the side with the crossbar is the "blowing" side.

At least for fans.

Thanks again to all.

ASW