What Fan Controller???

[Corey0808]

What fan controller works for a 92mm Vantec Tornado fan? Thanks for the help and if you could point me towards one on Newegg that would be great

 

[coolroyboy2]

This place has a number to choose from.

 

[Corey0808]

I just want a simple controller and not one of those elaborate ones that go in the drive bays. I read that the Zalman controllers don't work with the Tornado fans.

 

[bootoo]

The sunbeam!

 

[Corey0808]

I don't see the sunbeam fan controller on newegg. Can you point me towards where that would be?

 

[Zepper]

If you want real cheap, just get a 100 ohm 2W rheostat and wire it into the +12V lead of your fan.
You can mount it anywhere there is an existing hole, or drill a hole in a slot cover.
.bh.

 

[mato7742]

i just bought a vantec nexus fan controller for my 92mm tornado. it works great, and i've heard it's one of the few controllers that won't break down from the huge power demands of the tornado. you should definitely consider it.

 

[Corey0808]

I'm really not interested in one of the fan controllers that fits in a drive bay that can handle 4 fans or so. I'm just interested in something that will help calm down a Tornado fan. I just want something simple and cheap because I'm on a budget.

Zepper will that rheostat be able to handle the current that the fan draws? Will it eventually break due to this amount of current being drawn through? Thanks for the info.

 

[Zepper]

Oh, I see. The tornado (92x38mm) is a ~12 ohm fan so you will want an approx 10ohm 5W rheostat. The max dissipation on that rheostat would be just at the point where it's dropping the maximum voltage (5V) or at approx the 8 ohm point and would be between 3 and 4W. The fan would likely stall if you went beyond the ~ 8ohm point. So it should last a long time as long as it gets a little bit of air circulation. You can get a 15ohm/15W rheostat for a low price at http://www.allelectronics.com that would work and have plenty of headroom.
. But you could get two steps of 7 or 8.7V on your fan just by hooking it between the +3.3 and +12 or the +5 and +12V lines (black fan lead to lower voltage, red fan lead to higher). No rheostat needed. You can get the wire taps you would need anywhere electronic parts are sold.
.bh.
:moon:

 

[Corey0808]

Zepper. Thanks for all the help!! I think I'm going to go with the rheostat idea. I just have one more connection though. The Tornado fan allows you to connect another device through an adapter so you don't lose a plug on the PSU. I was wondering if I can connect more devices through that or since I'm using a rheostat on that line if I should avoid it?

Another note I have an Antec True430 coming in the mail That power supply has fan only connectors that adjust fan speeds according to the temperature in the case. Could I get by, by having my tornado hooked up to that? Does anyone know the "typical" voltage that the true430 keeps the fans at? Thanks for all the help!!!!

 

[Zepper]

That fan takes 1A at max speed, I don't know how much those fan leads are rated for, but more likely to be for normal fans that won't draw above 0.5 A. Normal fans run around 100 ohms so it depends on what method they use to regulate those lines and the load rating - the cheapest variable voltage regulators can only put out about .5A at best., so I assume that's what they are using
. If you build the rheostat into the red or black lead of your fan, the connectors that came with the fan will still be at 12V. So while you are getting parts, you might want to get some crimp-on quick disconnects. Cut one fan wire and put a set of male and female on the cut ends. Then solder a length of two conductor wire to the rheostat and put another set of QDs m and f on the ends of those wires. Then it would be easy to put the rheo in or take it out for use elsewhere. Of course, you could use small wire nuts just as well but the spade or bullet QDs would look more professional.
.bh.

 

[Soulkeeper]

the vantec floppy drive 4 fan controllers are the best
nice design and works well

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