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View Full Version : where to buy quiet cooling fans?


t34418l3fit
04/18/2006, 09:44 AM
where can you buy a quiet cooling fan that has an ac current? i went to radioshack and purchased one but super loud. is there anywhere online?

Wryknow
04/18/2006, 09:46 AM
Buy the ICECAP fans from marinedepot.com. They are a little pricey but they are efficient, quiet, and reliable.

t34418l3fit
04/18/2006, 09:49 AM
i hear there actually not that quiet. ive heard myths of people and there super quiet 10$ fans that blow the icecaps away.

55Reef
04/18/2006, 10:52 AM
I use 2 $12 Radio Shack fans. I can barely hear them ...

t34418l3fit
04/18/2006, 11:23 AM
are those fans on the radioshack website? and how did you wire yours??

atillathetom
04/18/2006, 11:27 AM
What kind of transformer are you using to allow AC? I have a coralife fan (20ish dollar), but it seems silly if you can use a 5 dollar quiet PC fan.

Tom

t34418l3fit
04/18/2006, 11:31 AM
the fan that i got from radioshack was about 20$ and all i had to do was wire it up to a chord and plug it in the wall. im curious on how people make the pc fans work?

gvibes
04/18/2006, 11:36 AM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7199744#post7199744 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by t34418l3fit
the fan that i got from radioshack was about 20$ and all i had to do was wire it up to a chord and plug it in the wall. im curious on how people make the pc fans work?

You can just get a 12V AC->DC wall wart (adapter) from a place like Harbor Freight, or even Wal-Mart (I hear). The best ones are adjustable, so you can under-volt them to 6V or 9V, which makes them even quieter. The DC fans are definitely quieter than the AC fans.

Popular quiet PC fans include the Panasonic (Panaflo) L1A.

Also, check out PC cooling sites like silentpcreview.com - they have tons of info on quiet PC fans.

55Reef
04/18/2006, 11:38 AM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7199744#post7199744 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by t34418l3fit
the fan that i got from radioshack was about 20$ and all i had to do was wire it up to a chord and plug it in the wall. im curious on how people make the pc fans work?


That's how I wired mine. Both are wired to the same plug.

t34418l3fit
04/18/2006, 11:40 AM
how much are they?

t34418l3fit
04/18/2006, 11:48 AM
with the 12v converter do you just strip the wires and wire each fan to them or is there a seperate connector? also where can you buy the converters you can adjust?

gvibes
04/18/2006, 01:12 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7199837#post7199837 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by t34418l3fit
with the 12v converter do you just strip the wires and wire each fan to them or is there a seperate connector? also where can you buy the converters you can adjust?

Yep - you can just strip the wires.

Supposedly, people have found adjustable ones at wal-mart (in the electronics section, near the power strips and stuff) for < $10. Also, if there is a Harbor Freight near your, supposedly they are even cheaper there.

AZDesertRat
04/18/2006, 02:54 PM
I am using Vantec Stealth 120mm fans and Harbor Freight variable voltage power supplies. Very quiet and tuneable for seasonal temperatures, I keep the house warmer in the summer months so speed the fans up a little.

fadeintoblue
04/18/2006, 03:02 PM
I'm also using the Vantech Stealth fans, I have 4 of the 4.5" . They are super quiet an flow alot of air. Would recommend them to anyone looking.

Wryknow
04/18/2006, 03:16 PM
Well, I guess that "quiet" is pretty subjective term. I have four of the ICECAP fans in my canopy right next to where I sit in the living room and I don't notice them unless I am specifically listening for them. My concern with the radioshack fans, etc is that they are not designed to be run in a salt-water environment. Corrosion will be a concern pretty quickly I think.

AZDesertRat
04/18/2006, 03:39 PM
The key to longevity of fans in a saltwater environment is having them blow cool dry air in and not blow hot humid air out. Its much better to have fans draw air from outside and free flow exhaust it out the back or through the top. I have had fans last 8 years in a reef situation before needing attention. My current ones are 2.5 years old and chugging along.

55Reef
04/18/2006, 04:14 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7201290#post7201290 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by AZDesertRat
The key to longevity of fans in a saltwater environment is having them blow cool dry air in and not blow hot humid air out. Its much better to have fans draw air from outside and free flow exhaust it out the back or through the top. I have had fans last 8 years in a reef situation before needing attention. My current ones are 2.5 years old and chugging along.

Yep! Both my fans are blowing in just for this reason...

juan jose
04/18/2006, 05:50 PM
I´m using two coralvue fans in my 90 gallon and they have a temp sensor which makes them go faster or slower depending on water temp changes. They are doing the job my temp is stable up to now.