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Help finding a fan controller

D

dandragonrage

[H]F Junkie
Joined
Jun 5, 2004
Messages
8,295
I'm looking for a fan controller with more than 4 channels (6 seems good). I like the look of the Zalman one, but I read it's only 7W/chan. That's not enough for even one of my NMB 120mm fans. I could go and make one, but then it wouldn't be as pretty. Does anyone know of a nice looking 6 channel fan controller that's like 18-20W/chan? I'd actually prefer 25W/chan or so in case I needed to throw 2 of my 120mm fans on the same channel, but I don't think I have seen ANY that go that high so it's not an absolute requirement.... Oh, and I have seen the Enermax 6 channel ones that have the LCD, but I find those rather ugly.

Or the other thing I was thinking is that I could probably get the Zalman and replace the transistors with beefier ones.
 
im using the Zalman ZM-MFC1. It does 4 channels of 7W max, dial adjustment. and 2 channels of toggle switchs,which of course have no W max. The 2 toggles do my dual 120mm's on my heater core. Its a very nice unit all in all.

Ill upload a pic maybe in a little while. Times up.


resized one.JPG
 
Well, yes, I do like the Zalman. But, like I said, the 7W/channel is crap. I was thinking I might be able to get it and replace the output transistors with something beefy like 2N3055s (assuming it's using NPN transistors). If anyone has a picture of the PCB for this thing, I'd like to see it, or at least know what model transistors it comes with.

CrimandEvil: That one looks decent... Perhaps I will get that if I do not do the above. Thanks.
 
Last week I was looking for one.
And while nobody answered me, I found a decent looking one. :p

http://www.performance-pcs.com/cata...=1206&osCsid=2d1767e3c1e8f3c003703dccbd4e5d3e

It's meant to use up to 6 fans and 2 lights or other similar device. Each of the three knobs controls 2 fans, and then there's two buttons each controlling one device.

I ordered it, but don't have it yet.

Edit:
lol, I just noticed it's the same one that Crim posted links to.
Oh well, there's another place it can be bought.
 
I hate to put a damper on the subject, but...I ordered, used, and threw away the "Noise Isolator". What a joke. If you have your fans on anything less than full 12V blast, all of the fans make this growling noise. I had read the reviews that talked about how noisy this thing can make your fans at low speeds, but I ignored it. Stupid me.

Return it!! Cancel the order!!

My setup was louder WITH the "Noise Isolator" than without. It uses PWM (Pulse width Modulation). THE major drawback with this technology is the noise the fans will make.

Yes it can handle 20W, but wahats the point when it sucks ass?

So I ordered the Zalman unit-I'll post my findings when it gets here.
 
Can you explain why your replacing the transistors? I'm just curious b/c i dont know much on this subject
 
n64man120 said:
Can you explain why your replacing the transistors? I'm just curious b/c i dont know much on this subject
Click to expand...

It's pretty easy to blow a channel when you have several fans hooked up to one channel.
by several i dont mean... 2 or 3 fans. It can also be to keep the voltages to the fan a lot more stable. ^^ Especially when you have multiple fans on the same channel, you can hear them speed up and slow down.
 
I'm replacing the transistors with higher power ones so I can do more than a crappy 18W/channel.
 
Oh, you can hook several fans up to 1 channel on the controller and controll all their speeds together? I'd assume you cant get the RPM then, please explain more :D
 
Yes, you can hook up multiple fans as long as you don't exceed the power rating for the channel. I recommend the fans be the same type of fan so the RPMs will be about the same, though you don't HAVE to keep them the same.
 
Brahmzy said:
I hate to put a damper on the subject, but...I ordered, used, and threw away the "Noise Isolator". What a joke. If you have your fans on anything less than full 12V blast, all of the fans make this growling noise. I had read the reviews that talked about how noisy this thing can make your fans at low speeds, but I ignored it. Stupid me.

Return it!! Cancel the order!!

My setup was louder WITH the "Noise Isolator" than without. It uses PWM (Pulse width Modulation). THE major drawback with this technology is the noise the fans will make.

Yes it can handle 20W, but wahats the point when it sucks ass?

So I ordered the Zalman unit-I'll post my findings when it gets here.
Click to expand...

Do you have it yet, Brahmzy?
I'm curious what you have to say about it, after being dissapointed with the Noise Isolator.
 
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