determining air flow direction of a fan..

JAM3S121 · Feb 25, 2011

how?

i don't see any markings on any of them

does the side of the fan that has the power connector on it determine it or anything?

jach11 · Feb 25, 2011

usually the sticker side means exhaust. Take a paper and see which side sucks the paper in rather than push it out.

Faraz · Feb 25, 2011

The absolutely sure-fire way without turning on the fan is to judge based on concavity and convexity.

The concave side will exhaust. The convex side will intake.

LiFTed · Feb 25, 2011

I hope this makes sense:

The side of the fan on which the middle/round part that houses the motor, if that side is facing toward you, then the air will be blown away from you. The side that doesn't have the motor cover is the side that it will push the air out.

clark_b · Feb 25, 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by jach11;12523490
usually the sticker side means exhaust.

^this

never encountered a fan where this wasn't true

:edit:
sticker side is the one with the "struts" going to the center of the fan

Scorpii · Feb 25, 2011

Most fans I've come across have two arrows on the side, one indicating rotation direction, the other indicating air exhaust direction.

Failing this, you could just plug it in and turn it on, the side you feel air being pushed on is the exhaust side...

Or sometimes the sticker on the hub is on the exhaust side.

Or, as faraz said above, concave = exhaust side

MIKEVALL · Feb 25, 2011

Usually there is a small arrow. blades are a tell tail sign.

Kick · Feb 25, 2011

the side with the 4 supporting things that come out from the middle is the exhaust.

ex:

you see the 4 supporting things that come out? that's the side that air blows to ( exhaust )

the side that doesn't have the 4 support things = intake like the above image shows

cuad · Feb 25, 2011

trial and error.

Mongol · Feb 25, 2011

sticker side...almost always exhaust.

the side that has no struts/grill protecting the fan blades is usually intake.

Dom_sufc · Feb 25, 2011

Plug it in if you're still unsure.

Wiremaster · Feb 25, 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by faraz1729;12523497
The absolutely sure-fire way without turning on the fan is to judge based on concavity and convexity.

The concave side will exhaust. The convex side will intake.

This is correct. I've had fans with stickers on both sides.

Wr3ckin_Cr3w · Feb 25, 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kick;12523561
the side with the 4 supporting things that come out from the middle is the exhaust.

ex:

you see the 4 supporting things that come out? that's the side that air blows to ( exhaust )

the side that doesn't have the 4 support things = intake like the above image shows

+1

This is how I've always determined the exhaust

JAM3S121 · Feb 25, 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kick;12523561
the side with the 4 supporting things that come out from the middle is the exhaust.

ex:

you see the 4 supporting things that come out? that's the side that air blows to ( exhaust )

the side that doesn't have the 4 support things = intake like the above image shows

thanks i appreciate it!

Kick · Feb 25, 2011

np man. gone through my share of fans and used that technique and hasnt failed me yet.

imadude10 · Feb 25, 2011

That or, all the fans I have ever owned have arrows on the side. One shows airflow direction and the other shows direction of blade rotation.

Kick · Feb 25, 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by imadude10;12523798
That or, all the fans I have ever owned have arrows on the side. One shows airflow direction and the other shows direction of blade rotation.

yeah but OP specifically stated there was no markings...

ehume · Feb 26, 2011

Unless it's an Arctic Cooling cage fan, the air goes over the struts.

Bing · Feb 26, 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by *********;12523584
sticker side...almost always exhaust.

the side that has no struts/grill protecting the fan blades is usually intake.

The unusual exhaust orientation.

ehume · Feb 26, 2011

Forgot about Papst. Some of theirs turn clockwise, too.

determining air flow direction of a fan..

JAM3S121

jach11

Faraz

LiFTed

clark_b

Scorpii

MIKEVALL

Kick

cuad

Mongol

Dom_sufc

Wiremaster

Wr3ckin_Cr3w

JAM3S121

Kick

imadude10

Kick

ehume

Bing

ehume

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