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maxing out fan controller wattage

post #1 of 12
11/8/12 at 1:46am
Thread Starter 
I have a Lamptron FC Touch fan controller unit that supports 30 watts per channel[there are 6 channels]. I'm considering 6 of these fans which are rated at 29.4 watts http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835213001 would these be too close to the max wattage, frying my fan controller?
sorry noob question
Edited by Noob1080 - 11/8/12 at 1:54am
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post #2 of 12
11/8/12 at 2:00am
Your controller should be fine with that. Your ears on the other hand, I feel sorry for. Delta's are insanely loud, and 6 of them! I hope you're not planning on sitting next to your computer with those.
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post #3 of 12
11/8/12 at 2:05am
You also have to take into account startup current, which may stress the controller a little. Fans like these have rather high start up currents (especially Delta and the higher end Nidec fans).

On a side note, it appears (not 100% familar, quick web search) that this controller connects to the PSU with a standard molex. I would be a little apprehensive of trying to pull ~180W through a standard molex connector on account of melting wires and a world of hurt.
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post #4 of 12
11/8/12 at 2:26am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by mezmenir View Post

You also have to take into account startup current, which may stress the controller a little. Fans like these have rather high start up currents (especially Delta and the higher end Nidec fans).
On a side note, it appears (not 100% familar, quick web search) that this controller connects to the PSU with a standard molex. I would be a little apprehensive of trying to pull ~180W through a standard molex connector on account of melting wires and a world of hurt.
S o how could i mod it to not burn up the wires? or could i just use a splitter to attach 2 molex connectors from the psu?
Edited by Noob1080 - 11/8/12 at 2:28am
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post #5 of 12
11/8/12 at 2:30am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by chatterbox272 View Post

Your controller should be fine with that. Your ears on the other hand, I feel sorry for. Delta's are insanely loud, and 6 of them! I hope you're not planning on sitting next to your computer with those.
I plan to run the fans on 50% or less most of the time to lessen the intense ringing in my ears and I usually listen to music while on my computer so i SHOULD be fine. And I DO know what i'm getting myself into in terms of noise.
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post #6 of 12
11/8/12 at 2:32am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Noob1080 View Post

S o how could i mod it to not burn up the wires? or could i just use a splitter to attach 2 molex connectors from the psu?

A splitter would probably work well for that purpose, just make sure that you don't plug both into the same string of molex cables as to avoid putting all the strain on set of 12v wires. The way I see it (logic here), a CPU ATX power cable is 150W and it uses 2 pairs of +12 and GND, so- 180 on a single pair of wires is probably not a great idea. Not saying it would be guaranteed to fail, but I'd definitely be apprehensive.
Quote:
I plan to run the fans on 50% or less most of the time to lessen the intense ringing in my ears and I usually listen to music while on my computer so i SHOULD be fine.[?] . But I know what i'm getting myself into in terms of noise.

At 50% or less power, it probably won't be too brutal to sit near. But yes, these are LOUD, high power fans, and damn nice ones thumb.gif. With music on, you can probably drown out the sound pretty easily at 50%, also running them a 50% will drastically cut down on their power consumption and related. smile.gif
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post #7 of 12
11/8/12 at 4:31am
Sorry, but I take the 30w / channel with a grain of salt.. a single molex calbe to supply 180w is serious design flaw in my book. I will not be in the least surprised if you post up a few weeks / months from now that your controller let it's smoke out and no longer works.

Way too much hype in product specs and advertising. Manufacturers bank on public having no knowledge or common sense... and this is an example of a controller designed to run a normal fans in a normal case.. 2w maybe 3w each for 6 or 8 fans with 24-30w total..., not several super high powered fans rated at 29w each.
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post #8 of 12
11/8/12 at 2:53pm
Thread Starter 
The fan controller is powered by a single molex but what worries me is that the fans(or their molex adapters) attach to the controller with a 3-pin plug. Am I right in thinking that this is a stupid design for a fan controller supposed to support 30w/channel? That means that even one of these fans would fry my controller,right?
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post #9 of 12
11/9/12 at 12:18am
The 3pin fan connector is just one example of how controller is underrated for your 30w load. I suspect all of the components/wires in the controller have similar limitations.

Most if not all fan controllers are not designed for 30w fans, 30w/channel load, or 180w total load. It's all a bunch of "pie in the sky" hype.

Simply put, they lie to us. biggrin.gif

Edit: Here's a link to rheostat rated at 50w. It's 2.75" Dia. biggrin.gif
http://www.alltronics.com/cgi-bin/item/0_5RH50/45/0.50-Ohm.-50-Watt-Rheostat
Edited by doyll - 11/9/12 at 12:28am
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post #10 of 12
11/9/12 at 5:50pm
Thread Starter 
Oh well. Thanks for keeping me from making a really stupid (and dangerous) mistake. Still angry that if I use it as advertised I would set part of my computer on fire.....
Edited by Noob1080 - 11/9/12 at 5:52pm
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