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"Best" Choice 120mm Computer Fan

MEXICOWANDERER
Explorer
Explorer
  • I own (4) Fantastic Endless Breeze fans
  • Sometimes I want a much smaller fan that I can slip inside a "Pabellon" Pab-E-YOAN hammock tenting made of mosquito netting
  • A computer muffin fan with twin grille guards sounds ideal, but...."
  • Nice brisk breeze, quiet, and max energy efficient
  • Oh yeah, I forgot I want it to last "forever"


The word "inexpensive" does not enter the picture with this type of fan. Brushless and dual ball bearings. The Endless Breeze is efficient. But if possible I want to halve what the Endless Breeze consumes on # 1 setting.

Do all of these fans tend to buzz or hum if PWM speed control is used?
5 REPLIES 5

landyacht318
Explorer
Explorer
The silverstone FM121 is an excellent fan. 0.09 amps to 0.4, upto 110CFM@ 2400 rpm. Built in speed controller. 10K ohm 2 wire remote pot.

I've had one in continuous operation on my ceiling for 7+ years. Hours at 14.7v each day. It exhausts cooking fumes too.

But, without any doubt in my opinion, the Noctua Industrial NF-F12 industrialPPC 3000 rpm version is superior.

It too has 110CFM, but more than twice the static pressure rating at max speed, than the silverstone fm121 at max speed. Also at max RPM, it only draws 0.3 amps. 110CFM and the huge static pressure rating, for 0.3 amps makes it the most efficient 120MM fan available. It is also IP52 rated

https://noctua.at/en/products/product-line-industrial/nf-f12-industrialppc-3000-pwm

Noctua has a new PWM speed controller. The fan does not Whine at redced speeds on this controller.

https://noctua.at/en/products/accessories/na-fc1

I have 2 of the industriual Noctuas on their speed controller. Their speed controller can handle many fans at once, and splitter cables are provided.

If one rotates the Speed pot all the way CCW, it can turn the fan off, or if they press the button the little green light will come on and it will run the fans at minimum RPM. which is Very slow and dead silent. I use my Noctua speed controller as an on off switch. Minimum speed for both Noctua fans is somewhere around 0.03 amps consumption.

The Noctua fans do not whine at reduced speeds. These fans do well with restriction in front of OR behind the impeller, which is not true of the SilverstoneFM121(behind)

Noctua has a 6 year warranty
They answer Emails promptly.
They have come out with some newer fans that have only a 0.5mm clearance between fan blade tips and the housing.

https://noctua.at/en/products/fan/nf-a12x25-pwm


Noctua has 140MM industrial fans which are IP67 rated, and some of their 120MM fans at 24V are IP67 rated.

I have two NF-F12's 3000 rpm industrials as intake fans on the speed controller, next to a Silverstone fm181 fan. All three together at max speed use less than an amp.

I do not use a finger guard on the front of the noctuas as the hub support will keep all but a determined finger out. The rear on mine would require a tool to hit impeller, but these Noctuas do not come with a finger guard grille.

If you want the Mac daddy of all 120MM fans, Delta has a 120MM fan with 252CFM, which face down on a flat surface will hover and roam around the table at the limit of the power cord. It will also remove ones fingertip. I was not able to successfully control this fan via the 4th wire, the blue PWM wire.

I might have fried the PWM circuit trying inadequate methods to slow the fan. A regular PWM Motor speed controller feeding the power on red and black, cannot slow the fan enough to be useful.

It is ridiculously loud. Mine draws about 2.83 amps at ~12.2v. More at higher voltage. Will not spin up below 9v, and is still way too fast and loud at 9v. Nice to have that power available though.

https://www.amazon.com/Delta-Electronics-PFC1212DE-120x120x38mm-Cooling/dp/B004Z29YOM/ref=sr_1_2?ie=...

I had a regular 1500 rpm NF-F12 on my fridge conpressor for 5 years. I replaced it with the Noctua NF-a12x15 which is said to outperform 2 NF-f12's in a push pull orientation on an heatsink.

I movved the NF-f12 to exhaust my electrical cabinet at reduced speed of 1200rpm via the provided noise reduction cables

My Meanwell power supply Lid has a 60MM pusher and an 80 MM Noctua fan puller it. The keep its loid 40MM fan from coming on until mp output exceeds 32 of its 40Max.

MOney no Object, the Industrial Noctua nf-f12 3000 rpm and their speed controller are the best, especially considering the 0.3amp max draw.

My silverstone FM181, a 180MM fan, is 0.08 amps at slowest speed which is still ~65CFM and 0.27 amps at max RPM and ~165CFM. Much Much quieter, more air moved. Hard to get 180MM fingerguards/grills.

I eagerly await new Computer fan designs, but do not require any more air movement, even parking in direct sun mid summer.

GordonThree
Explorer
Explorer
The Endless Breeze pwms pretty good itself. After a grueling day of work tomorrow, I'll try to make a video for you.
2013 KZ Sportsmen Classic 200, 20 ft TT
2020 RAM 1500, 5.7 4x4, 8 speed

MrWizard
Moderator
Moderator
maybe this ?

Unique 9-bladed design.
All white fan blade and frame.
800rpm ~ 2400rpm speed range.
Long-life dual ball bearing motor.
Stylish aluminum fan controller.


Silver Stone Fan



when an O2cool fan died a few years back
i pulled the fan motor and blades and installed this in the housing
I can explain it to you.
But I Can Not understand it for you !

....

Connected using T-Mobile Home internet and Visible Phone service
1997 F53 Bounder 36s

GordonThree
Explorer
Explorer
Check out Austrian company Noctua.

Not only computer fans, but sealed industrial type fans as well, the kind you can hose out when they get gunked up.

Buzzing is a side effect of low frequency pwm, the beefier the motor the more likely it'll grumble at a lower frequency.

Annoyed by such things, I built my own h- bridge driver that operates at 31 khz
2013 KZ Sportsmen Classic 200, 20 ft TT
2020 RAM 1500, 5.7 4x4, 8 speed

SidecarFlip
Explorer III
Explorer III
You want Fluid Dynamic Bearings not ball or sleeve. Mine is noiseless other than the sound of the fan blades moving air and my 120mm fan consumes about 1.5 amps at 12 volts. I actually have 2 on my fridge exhaust to move the air across the HX.

Think I paid 30 bucks for the pair on Flea Bay, Mine are 2 wire, no speed control.
2015 Backpack SS1500
1997 Ford 7.3 OBS 4x4 CC LB