120 V Fans

szlats · Post by **szlats** » Wed Aug 22, 2007 1:39 pm

I realize that this is not exactly a computer related problem but I wonder if anyone has information that could help me. I am using 3 92 mm 120 V fans to cool a home media center cabinet that are noisier than I'd like. The fans are mounted on a wooden panel with rubber O rings between the fan body and the wood panel. I am looking for quieter options. Can anyone suggest quiet 120V fans to use for this purpose? Are there 120V speed controllers to reduce the RPM's? I suppose an other option would be to get a 12V power supply and use 12V fans; any suggestions on this option?

Thanks

jhhoffma · Post by **jhhoffma** » Thu Aug 23, 2007 6:53 am

They're called Variac (voltage controller) but they're expensive. I'm sure there are cheaper alternatives.

What may be cheaper again is, like you mentioned, to find some quality 12v fans that provide the airflow and noise characteristics you want (probably easier around here), and then buy a cheap "Universal Power adapter" from Radio Shack to adjust the voltage wherever you want it.

szlats · Post by **szlats** » Thu Aug 23, 2007 12:00 pm

Thanks for the info.

subsonik · Post by **subsonik** » Fri Aug 24, 2007 2:58 pm

If the fans are identical, you could try wiring 2 of them in series. Each of them will receive only 60V, causing them to run much slower and quieter.

jhhoffma · Post by **jhhoffma** » Sat Aug 25, 2007 6:24 am

subsonik wrote:If the fans are identical, you could try wiring 2 of them in series. Each of them will receive only 60V, causing them to run much slower and quieter.

If they run at that voltage...

szlats · Post by **szlats** » Sat Aug 25, 2007 12:03 pm

Thanks for the suggestion, I'm not sure that they will run at 60V but I guess there is one way to find out. The fans that were supplied with the entertainment center are a piece of crap so I should replace them anyway. I read the reviews on the site for quiet 12 V fans and the top 3 recommended fans I can't seem to find in the US (Fander, Nexus, Noiseblocker), any suggestions on a source of supply?

jhhoffma · Post by **jhhoffma** » Mon Aug 27, 2007 5:58 am

Yate Loon D12SL-12 have long been a staple of the SPCR mass.

They are cheap and are essentially the same fan as the Nexus 120mm fan, but run slightly faster (1350rpm @ 12v as opposed to Nexus' 1000rpm). They are quite quiet at 12v but get more so when you drop the voltage.

Scythe S-Flex are also good fans but run close to $20/each.

To find fans, I find it's easier to Froogle the part number rather than the fan description. You just have to make sure of the description before you buy.

szlats · Post by **szlats** » Mon Aug 27, 2007 6:19 pm

Thanks,

I found Nexus fans at endpcnoise.com for $13.00 each so I think I'll get them

seemingly.random · Post by **seemingly.random** » Mon Aug 27, 2007 7:10 pm

http://jab-tech.com/Nexus-120mm-Real-Si ... -3857.html

This is a new version of the Nexus - as noted in the url they now include an alternative to hard screw mounting. They also have 'open' corners which might be a consideration. Don't have experience with them so don't know if anything else has changed.

Another vendor is frozencpu.com. They are a little higher priced than others but have lots of stuff. They also have 120v fans although they refer to them as 115v.

disphenoidal · Post by **disphenoidal** » Tue Aug 28, 2007 1:06 am

The sticky at the top of this page has a few 120VAC fans on it, but I don't know how current it is.

klingenfelter · Post by **klingenfelter** » Thu Aug 30, 2007 10:18 am

I use two 250 mm 12 vdc fans. They are powered by a simple 120 VAC to 12 VDC power adapter ( the little ones you plug into the wall). I got it from Radio Shack. I cut the leads and installed a molex connector like used in a PC. The adapter is plugged into the switched outlet on my HT Receiver.

These fans cannot be heard in the listening area and move alot of air.

See here for more info and pictures.

viewtopic.php?t=42579

jhhoffma · Post by **jhhoffma** » Thu Aug 30, 2007 6:54 pm

Yep, I was thinking of your build when I recommended the AC/DC converter. I really liked your setup, and this guys after the same thing...