Anyone use this computer fan for cooling? [Archive]

dzhuo

09/20/2010, 08:41 PM

I am looking for a couple computer fans to cool down my tank and came across this:

http://www.jab-tech.com/Cooljag-Everflow-120x120x25-PWM-Fan-R121225BU-AF-pr-3847.html

It's a 4" with a pretty good 110CFM. It's also reasonably priced. The only thing seems to be that it might produce a bit of noise (40 dBA). I figure the fans will only turn on during the day when the MHs are on so it's not a huge deal.

Any thoughts?

mario8402

09/20/2010, 09:51 PM

way too loud. you want less than half that dba rating.....it will matter when you hear 40dba :)

dzhuo

09/20/2010, 10:11 PM

You have any recommendation?

niko5

09/20/2010, 10:37 PM

eBay they have a lot and I agree 40 db is loud.

dzhuo

09/20/2010, 10:52 PM

What's an acceptable dbA?

dzhuo

09/21/2010, 12:20 AM

So I found another one: 30dBA / 79CFM (http://www.frozencpu.com/products/7837/fan-476/Antec_TriCool_120_x_25mm_Chassis_Fan.html?tl=g36c435s1101)

What you guys think about this one?

notclear

09/21/2010, 05:30 AM

Get a silenx fan. Quiet.

tweetyfish

09/21/2010, 05:46 AM

Get a silenx fan. Quiet.

Has anyone ever wired this fan in place of an Icecap temp controlled fan? I was wondering what colored wires on the fan connect to what wires using the existing Icecap power supply and temp probe.

Thanks
Tony

mario8402

09/21/2010, 06:37 AM

I would recommend something 19db or less.. of course cfm usually goes down but you can run more than 1 to get more airflow and still be quieter than that 40db
silenx are quiet fans.. i used 4 vantec stealths on my 72.. I have a 4-pack of coolermaster fans that I got at frys for about $20 i think .. i have yet to hook them up but they are rated at 19db

OneReef

09/21/2010, 06:40 AM

I use all SilenX. They are the best

dzhuo

09/21/2010, 12:06 PM

Which model are you guys use in particular? Most of the SilenX fans I found is pretty weak.

leeit2me

09/21/2010, 12:26 PM

If you want air flow and I mean air flow.. get a pair of Delta fans.
Delta 120x38mm FFB1212VHE

151.85 CFM ÷ 53.0 dBA = ~2.865

it's a screaming banshee!! and you will need ear plugs.. LOL.. No Chillers needed..

dzhuo

09/21/2010, 01:19 PM

Aside from noise, 151CFM will evaporate too much water. SilenX is nice but it's too weak and I will probably need a lot for my 150g. It will end up being nosier. I am looking for something in the 70 to 90 CFM range and I will only need 2.

MMA

09/21/2010, 01:39 PM

Check out xoxide

dzhuo

09/21/2010, 02:18 PM

Thx MMA. 82CFM @ 26dBA (http://www.xoxide.com/aerocool-shark-120-blue.html). That's pretty unbelievable and it's only $13. Is the stat correct? If so, I am ordering 2.

reefermad619

09/21/2010, 05:27 PM

Newegg.com. I've seen cool master fan with ~80-90cfm and less than 20db.

dzhuo

09/21/2010, 05:33 PM

No way! Really? I have been searching all night last night (and yes newegg.com included) but couldn't find one with CFM / noise ratio better than the one I posted.

Do you remember the brand new? or happen to have a direct link to it?

Thrashie

09/21/2010, 05:51 PM

Coolermaster 90CFM 19dba fan (http://www.coolermaster.com/product.php?product_id=4355)

reefermad619

09/21/2010, 06:06 PM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100007998+600035590+600035655+600035661&QksAutoSuggestion=&ShowDeactivatedMark=False&Configurator=&IsNodeId=1&Subcategory=573&description=&Ntk=&CFG=&SpeTabStoreType=&srchInDesc=

dzhuo

09/21/2010, 07:36 PM

waynotcars

09/21/2010, 07:48 PM

outy

09/22/2010, 12:30 AM

I use all SilenX. They are the best

no they suck and suck bad. overpriced and they have horrible reviews in all the overclocker forums as well

you can get the antec fans with the 3 way switch from fry's they perform great and can be turned up or down depending on tank tamp.

coolermasters arent bad but there much louder then there ratings so I say pass on those. i dont like lier's when it comes to ratings

yeldarbj

09/22/2010, 06:10 AM

I've had good success with Scythe S-Flex fans or Arctic Cooling.

Thrashie

09/22/2010, 07:32 AM

Great. Thx a ton.

Do you guys know if this is all I need to hook up the fan to the wall plug? And I believe I only need one since I can chain multiple fans together as long as the Amp is higher then the total of the fans added up?

http://www.coolerguys.com/840556029977.html

ANY 12v DC power supply will work if yer handy with wiring and soldering.
Correct, don't exceed the amperage rating.

i am currently setting some up on a canopy i am building and using a 12v power supply i had laying around from an LCD monitor.

Zalmann fans are also pretty quiet too.

leeit2me

09/22/2010, 09:31 AM

Every time I hook up my computer fans for cooling, the adapter burns out in a few days to two weeks. What power source are you guys using for your computer fans? I even bought an expensive adapter that could reverse polarity and/or lower wattage and it also burned out

I use an old 250W PSU from an old PC I had around. Don't need to buy expensive adapters. Plus the PC PSU, you can hook up multiple fans or 12V or 5V devices on it.. :)

You just have to know how to jump the PSU to be constant ON. Google it, how to jump a PC PSU on. it's pretty simple by using a piece of wire to bridge the connection.

mario8402

09/22/2010, 10:37 AM

a pc psu is too bulky and open imo..
I bought a silenx 4 fan controller.. sleek, you can adjust each fan individually and only requires one power cord.

ErikS

09/22/2010, 12:10 PM

Panaflo, NMB, Noctua...........good fans. I'd likely choose Noctua.

Other stuff (those mostly available) = rubbish.

zangmann

09/23/2010, 09:54 AM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812706011
Runs up to 4 Fans.

and

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835185060

good to go!

outy

09/23/2010, 10:13 AM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812706011
Runs up to 4 Fans.

and

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835185060

good to go!

37dba it sounds like a frieght train lol

i run the alloy evercool fan and its close to silent, there also on a timer to operate only when lights come on.

zachfishman

09/23/2010, 11:18 AM

Get a silenx fan. Quiet.

Ditto, I have a 80mm model that pushes 32cfm at 18dB (or is it 14?). Soooooo nice compared to the lawnmower that was the 120VAC fan that came with my Orbit hood.

DanMgy

09/23/2010, 06:50 PM

I have been looking and I found this to be one of the best ratios of noise and air movement, and not a bad price either.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=5472133&CatId=802
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=5472133&CatId=802

Air Flow: 72 CFM
Noise Level: 14 dBA

dzhuo

09/23/2010, 07:50 PM

Very nice. I ended up using this one:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103063

90CFM @ 19dBA and it's only $9.67. :)

reefermad619

09/24/2010, 12:01 AM

Those are what I'm thinking of using too. Let us know if they're really as quiet as the advertise.

dzhuo

09/24/2010, 12:18 AM

I bought 2 of them and a AC <-> DC adaptor so I can plug and play. I will let you guys know how everything goes. I should have bought a molex on/off switch as well but now I don't want to pay for shipping just for that.

Thrashie

09/24/2010, 07:44 AM

i ordered 2 of them as well the other day, hopefully they will be here today!

u can pickup a 25ohm pot at radio shack and then u have fan speed control too :D

dzhuo

09/27/2010, 10:46 PM

My package arrived today. Here are a couple of pictures:

The fan (90 CFM @ 19 dBA):
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w84/dzhuo/IMG_20100927_204350.jpg

The whole package (2 fans plus AC/DC converter):
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w84/dzhuo/IMG_20100927_204425.jpg

It took me about 2 minutes to hook them up and turn the fans on. Fans are very quiet and seems to move a lot of air. The added red LED looks pretty cool too. I will mount them to my canopy this weekend.

reefermad619

09/27/2010, 11:17 PM

Cool! Are they quiet? Can you post pics of how you wired them? I've never used the molex connections before. I've always sliced and spliced.

dzhuo

09/28/2010, 12:04 AM

Yes. The fans are very quiet. It's quieter than the 2 ~40CFM fans I had. Wiring them is very straight forward and you don't have to slice and splice. Everything is plug-and-play so it took me about 2 minutes. Here are a few pictures (all connectors came with the fans and there are 8 screws used to mount the fans that I didn't show):

Connect the red to the white connectors (both are 2 pins):
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w84/dzhuo/IMG_20100927_224238.jpg

Chain the 2 fans together with their molex connector:
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w84/dzhuo/IMG_20100927_224317.jpg

Connect the molex to the AC/DC power (I am actually having problem line up the molex pins and almost broke one of the them so I took the whole plastic thing of the molex off and connect the pins one by one):
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w84/dzhuo/IMG_20100927_224355.jpg

Finally, here is everything hook up. You then plug the power to the wall:
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w84/dzhuo/IMG_20100927_224145.jpg

Again, it would take you at most 2 minutes; just plug-and-play. The only thing that you have to watch out for is to line up the molex pins to the AC/DC's molex connector correctly (picture # 3). The 1 (from the fans molex) lines up to the 1 (of the AC/DC's molex connector), 2 lines up to 2, 3 lines up to the 3 and the 4 lines up to the 4. These are small number printed on the connectors. If you reverse or mix them (say 1 lines up to the 4), the fans will still turn on but it will be very weak.

reefermad619

09/28/2010, 12:28 AM

Awesome! Always wondered how that was done. This it what I'll be ordering too.

reefermad619

09/28/2010, 12:36 AM

Will you also post what ac dc converter you used? Thanks a ton. I'm trying to figure out if it's worth buying an ac dc converter with a molex connection, or just splicing it up with a wall wart. I'm glad to hear the fans are pretty quiet.

dzhuo

09/28/2010, 12:47 AM

I use this one (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812706011). It's $16. I am sure you will be able to find one cheaper. I think it's cleaner but that's just because I am not a DIY-er. $16 is really nothing in this hobby and it saves me a little time. :)

Thrashie

09/28/2010, 08:38 AM

i got mine in yesterday too, the fans are SILENT!

I rigged up a 12v power supply i had laying around to a Dc jack to the fans and using it that way. i'll post pix when i get home.

why did u take the shell off the molex connector? couldnt get it plugged in? you gotta work it! the fans come with a connector that plugs right into that power supply and u don't have to take the wires out like that....how do you plan on securing them? i'm baffled by that move...

psykokid

09/28/2010, 09:59 AM

coolerguys dot com have a bunch of different sized fans with all the cfm and dba ratings. They have a trick little fan controller as well that has a thermistor that will adjust the fan speed according to temp. They even make a waterproof version of the thermistor for aquarium use. I ordered some 50mm vantec fans from them to add to the feeding lid of my nano cube.

dzhuo

09/28/2010, 10:51 AM

why did u take the shell off the molex connector? couldnt get it plugged in? you gotta work it! the fans come with a connector that plugs right into that power supply and u don't have to take the wires out like that....how do you plan on securing them? i'm baffled by that move...

I couldn't line up the molex pins with the connector. When I tried to force it, I pushed 2 pins out of the shell so I decided to take the entire plastic shell out. The connection isn't loose at all so I am not really worry about securing them. I will put some wiring tape tho. Other than looking pretty unprofessional, I think it still works.

reefermad619

12/08/2010, 09:12 PM

Are these still quiet? I'm finally getting around to builing the fans for my T5s. Would you change anything that you've done?

dzhuo

12/08/2010, 10:34 PM

Still very quiet. Wouldn't change a thing. :)

spllbnd2

12/08/2010, 11:58 PM

Very nice. I ended up using this one:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103063

90CFM @ 19dBA and it's only $9.67. :)

I may need to check these out. Building a new canopy soon and still need fans.

Cheers,
Alex

iamwrasseman

12/09/2010, 12:21 AM

i have Orion fans on my canopies and they are very quiet ,efficient and easy to install . they do require a lead to plug into the wall and i suggest that you purchase one for the fan that is offered on the same website that they sell on . google Orion fans and go to town they are very dependable as i have a couple that have been running 24/7/365 for eight years . they still make the same exact ones as i just purchased a few six months ago .

tegee

03/26/2011, 08:07 AM

Still very quiet. Wouldn't change a thing. :)

dzhuo and others.....

Just came across this awesome thread. Looking to do the same exact thing. All my equipment is now in a new basement maintenance room and never realized how noisy my canopy fans where/are.:hmm3:

I did a search for the fans you recommended and can not find them? And your link must have expired on NewEgg's site becuase it does not direct me to them.

Can you let me know if you are still happy with them and can you direct me to the same exact fan you have? Finally, I want to mount at least 4 fans, so would I need two of those nice power supplies you have?

MANY thanks for any info you can provide and great thread again.....

spllbnd2

03/26/2011, 11:57 AM

tegee:

Here are the fans I found from CM that are nice and quite and move a good amount of air.

http://www.coolermaster-usa.com/product.php?product_id=2916

yeldarbj

03/26/2011, 01:28 PM

dzhuo and others.....

Just came across this awesome thread. Looking to do the same exact thing. All my equipment is now in a new basement maintenance room and never realized how noisy my canopy fans where/are.:hmm3:

I did a search for the fans you recommended and can not find them? And your link must have expired on NewEgg's site becuase it does not direct me to them.

Can you let me know if you are still happy with them and can you direct me to the same exact fan you have? Finally, I want to mount at least 4 fans, so would I need two of those nice power supplies you have?

MANY thanks for any info you can provide and great thread again.....

Here is a great kit from RapidLED - http://www.rapidled.com/servlet/the-74/92mm-Vantec-Stealth-Fan/Detail

Not sure if that power supply will drive four fans, it's possible, just depends on the specs of the power supply and fans. You could send RapidLED an e-mail and ask.

dzhuo

03/26/2011, 04:29 PM

Can you let me know if you are still happy with them and can you direct me to the same exact fan you have? Finally, I want to mount at least 4 fans, so would I need two of those nice power supplies you have?

Here is the exact same fan I use: COOLER MASTER R4 120mm Case Fan, 2000 RPM, 90 CFM, 19 dBA, Blue LED (http://www.avadirect.com/product_details_parts.asp?PRID=15340). It seems like the only difference is mine has a red LED and this one has a blue LED. :)

I am still very happy about my fans. Just to give you an idea how quiet 19 dBA is. My tank has a Herbie overflow, Tunze stream, ATB skimmer and an Ehiem return. The whole set up is pretty much silence and adding the fans do not add any additional noise. On top of that, my tank is in the basement and even at night when things are extremely quiet, I hardly heard the fans at all. I have also been running the fans more than usual (because I want more evaporation with kalk to help keep my pH up) and the fans has never failed to start up. 90 CFM moves a ton of air! My tank is 4' and I have 2 of these fans. I mount them on one side of the tank and blow across the 4' length. I stood on the other end of the tank and I can feel a pretty strong air. If you use 4 fans, I would imagine it would move a tremendous amount of air.

I am not sure abut the power supply. My guess is that you can probably get away with a single power supply for even 4 fans but since everything is so cheap, maybe just get 2 power supplies just in case?

This has to be the second best $30 spent just right behind my ATO.

tegee

03/26/2011, 08:07 PM

Here is the exact same fan I use: COOLER MASTER R4 120mm Case Fan, 2000 RPM, 90 CFM, 19 dBA, Blue LED (http://www.avadirect.com/product_details_parts.asp?PRID=15340). It seems like the only difference is mine has a red LED and this one has a blue LED. :)

I am still very happy about my fans. Just to give you an idea how quiet 19 dBA is. My tank has a Herbie overflow, Tunze stream, ATB skimmer and an Ehiem return. The whole set up is pretty much silence and adding the fans do not add any additional noise. On top of that, my tank is in the basement and even at night when things are extremely quiet, I hardly heard the fans at all. I have also been running the fans more than usual (because I want more evaporation with kalk to help keep my pH up) and the fans has never failed to start up. 90 CFM moves a ton of air! My tank is 4' and I have 2 of these fans. I mount them on one side of the tank and blow across the 4' length. I stood on the other end of the tank and I can feel a pretty strong air. If you use 4 fans, I would imagine it would move a tremendous amount of air.

I am not sure abut the power supply. My guess is that you can probably get away with a single power supply for even 4 fans but since everything is so cheap, maybe just get 2 power supplies just in case?

This has to be the second best $30 spent just right behind my ATO.

GREAT info dzhuo...and thanks for providing the updated link.

Can I ask one more favor/questions. Can you provide a link for the power supply you used to hook up the fans? And I agree, I will purchase two PS to power all four fans. Also, does the power supply come with all my needs to hook up the fans...i.e.: come in a kit? Or do I need extra supplies/connections?

Many thanks again for everyone's help...tegee.

dzhuo

03/26/2011, 09:55 PM

This one should work very well: CG 110v AC to 12v DC Power Supply with 4 Pin Molex (2000mA) (http://www.coolerguys.com/840556029977.html) and it says it can power up to 5 fans. I don't think you will need anything else. The fans will come with the molex cable which you plug into the power supply which plug into the wall.

liquidplumber

03/27/2011, 06:25 AM

Great thread dzhuo, I am ordering 3 of these to change the ones in my reef finatics led pendent and 2 to move air in my fish room.
:mixed:

tegee

03/27/2011, 10:25 AM

Ok....

I am ordering four of these fans: http://www.silenx.com/ixtremaprofans.asp?sku=ixp-74-14 . Felt a reduction in CFM was worth the lower dB imho. Display tank is in my TV room

And going with this power supply: http://www.coolerguys.com/840556029977.html .

Do I need any additional wiring harnesses and/or 'Y' splitters in order to connect all four fans to one power supply.

Can't thank everyone enough for all the GREAT info in DYIing a nice canopy fan setup...gotta love RC and all the input.

Many thanks......

dzhuo

05/07/2011, 12:58 AM

I want to provide an update to whoever is still following this thread (or looking into fans)...

One of the 2 fans I have is having start up issue. I notice tonight that only one of them is on and when I gently gave it a spin, the fan turned back on. I took this problematic one out trying to give it a clean but realize the entire fan has no screw and there is no way to take things out for cleaning. How annoying! Luckily, these fans are $9 a piece and I have a couple back up around so I switched in a new one.

The other one is still running perfectly. So it took 8 months for one to break; actually not bad for a $9 purchase. :) Just FYI and set expectation right. I strongly suggest you buy a couple as back ups no matter which brand you end up getting. Summer is going to be hot!

spllbnd2

05/07/2011, 04:35 PM

Most computer fans can be disassembled for cleaning and relubing any bearings inside. Take a look at the links provided and do a quick Google seach and you'll find some information.

It may be a little frustrating to take apart but once you've done one, it gets easier.

Cheers,
Alex

http://prodmod.wordpress.com/2007/02/12/take-apart-that-pc-fan-see-whats-inside-brushless-dc-motor/

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-take-apart-a-case-fan/