Hi Guys I've got a Scythe KAZE MASTER ACE 5.25 Bay Fan Controller and 3 Scythe Gentle Typhoons 1850RPM fans. Now my plan was to wire all of the fans together to run off 1 fan connector on the controller, as I'm using them for a 360 RAD, as I can adjust all of the speeds at once. The Kaze can run 12W per channel, each fan uses 0.360A at startup @ 12V meaning each fan uses 4.32W, wish pushes it over the limit. Now, will this cause the controller to burnout or the fans to just not start up? Or should it be ok?
Wouldn't it depend on how conservative Scythe have been with their 12w rating? You only need 1w more. That said, is there any way of knowing for sure... This post (http://forums.bit-tech.net/showpost.php?p=2355454&postcount=5) mentions a Sunbeam controller that does 35w per channel. Note: your link to the Scythe fan is a link to the 92mm fan, not the 120mm - correct link is http://www.scythe-usa.com/product/acc/051/d1225c12b1ap_detail.html. There isn't a 92mm 1850rpm listed so I assume it is the 120mm's you have.
I don't want to kill the fans or the controller though as they are expensive. Plus this is just the starting Amps, the normal running amps are 0.083 which would mean each fan uses less than one watt... that can't be right...
Quick thought - does wiring the fans in series rather than in parallel alter the startup current required? I am in a rush so haven't time to think about this - slap me down if stupid.
If they're parallel then shouldn't that use the same voltage but different Amps??? I can't remember how it works personally. But i was going to go for parallel as it'll be easier to wire.
the problem isn't the wattage, but the ampage going through the circuit. running 3 fans daisy chained might be ok for a little while but its something you really shouldn't do unless its a sunbeam beauty (20W per channel, but everything is designed to deliver that output) That last one could be a killer, its delivering 14 watts ok, but at a rate of 14 amps!
But it'd only be doing that for a second when the fans first start, as when they're up and running they use 0.083A... The sunbeam units look awful, I love the look of my Kaze, is there any way to boost the channels output perhaps...?
The Sunbeam Rheobus Extreme does 30w per channel and doesn't look as bad as the normal Rheobus (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Sunbeam/RheobusExtreme/1.html). Chilled PC sell them (http://www.chilledpc.co.uk/shop/product_info.php?products_id=522). Also, Specialtech seems to have a number of the Lamptron controllers that do higher watts per channel (http://specialtech.co.uk/spshop/customer/home.php?cat=106). Other than replacing circuits on your Kaze, I can't see any other way around it other than a) buying a new controller or b) splitting the fans onto different channels.
Yeh, Thats my thoughts too Damned annoying as the Kaze is very pretty, although I don't use the temp sensing and rarely look at the fan RPM, it just looks nice
What I'll probably do it link 2 together on one channel and the last one run on a channel by its self
the only reason the fan controller has a maximum wattage is due to over heating,so as the fans wouldnt be above 12 w for the majority of the time you could get away with it. you could also mod it by putting some little heatsinks on its ic's and/or beef up the wirering inside it with hire rated wireing
Hmmm I'll look at it over the summer as I'll have plenty of time on my hands. Is there any way of testing the rated output without damaging it?
You can stick enzotech copper ramsinks onto some fan controller heatsinks. I have a Sunbeam Rheobus Extreme and running 4 Scythe GT 1850 on 1 channel and 8 fans across the others with no problems. I find the LED's a bit bright though. I also have a Lamptron FC2 and apart from 4 Scythe GT 1450 on one channel, 4 fans on other channels it's also controlling a Phobya 400 18W pump as well, again without problems.
