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-   -   Can I make my power supply fan turn faster? (http://www.hardwarebanter.com/showthread.php?t=199063)

[email protected] July 9th 18 05:41 PM

Can I make my power supply fan turn faster?
 
The fan is making noise. I can stop it with a pencil. I sprayed a
jet of wd 40. It is a little more quiet. I think if I could get it
spinning faster and give it one more burst, it might hit the spot.

Ant July 9th 18 07:12 PM

Can I make my power supply fan turn faster?
 
Take it out and clean it fully. If that doesn't work, then replace it
with a brand new fan.

lid wrote:
The fan is making noise. I can stop it with a pencil. I sprayed a
jet of wd 40. It is a little more quiet. I think if I could get it
spinning faster and give it one more burst, it might hit the spot.


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We're going to specialize in selling worm farms. You know like ant
farms. What's the matter, a little tense about the flight?" --Lloyd
Christmas (Dumb and Dumber movie)
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Paul[_28_] July 9th 18 07:43 PM

Can I make my power supply fan turn faster?
 
lid wrote:
The fan is making noise. I can stop it with a pencil. I sprayed a
jet of wd 40. It is a little more quiet. I think if I could get it
spinning faster and give it one more burst, it might hit the spot.


That's exactly the wrong lubricant.

WD40 is a penetrating solvent, for loosening rusty this and that.

Even 3-in-1 oil, isn't an ordinary lubricating oil.
While it may indicate electric motors on the can,
it might not be the absolute best lubricant for the job.

The oil in your car, is getting closer to a real lubricating
oil. You need to select a viscosity for the job (too
thin, just pours out, too thick, it causes some
friction on the motor hub). for example, my old
tin of bicycle grease, the brown stuff, might
stick around... but it also might "stick around".
It would be hard to apply without a pressure fitting
and a pump.

In any case, you'll notice from overclocker threads,
that brushless DC cooling fans are voltage sensitive.
They spin slower at 7V than at 12V.

PWM (four wire, really small connector), those have
a speed control determined by the fourth wire. The
signals include

GND
+12V
RPM_signal (output) - two pulses per rotation
PWM signal (input) - square wave, duty cycle indicates desired speed

The CPU fan header on modern motherboards tends to have a PWM signal.

When the PWM signal is unconnected (plug four pin fan into
three pin motherboard), the fan spins full speed.

When you plug in a three pin fan to a four pin motherboard
header, everything is normal as far as the capabilities
of the fan go.

On older three wire fans, the signals are

GND
+12V
RPM_signal

and there is no speed control. Adjusting the 12V any where
between 7V and 12V provides a measure of speed control.
Maybe a ten year old motherboard, has a three pin connector
for the CPU fan, where the +12V power is adjustable.

Ventilation fans, such as remove air from the computer
case, have these fewer signals. There is no RPM signal available
to monitor whether the fan is spinning or not. These are
*very* common. Odds are, this is your fan. Note that,
this fan isn't practical to use on the CPU fan header,
because the motherboard will "whine" about no fan
being present, unless it sees RPM_signal pulses
coming out of the CPU fan. Generally the CPU fan is
the only fan header which is full-featured. Adjusting
the voltage on this, will control the speed.

GND
+12V

The ATX power supply doesn't have ready-made voltages
for lab experiments.

For the amount of dicking around it would take to
make you an "electronics lab" for this little
project, you might be able to pick up a replacement
cooling fan at the computer store. I realize in 2018,
there aren't a lot of good candidates. I was shocked
at the crap for sale at my one good computer store,
when I went looking for spares. I ended up with some
fans with ugly blue LEDs, which is not really what I
wanted.

The absolute best fan at the time a few years ago,
was Vantec Stealth. They've lasted nicely for *years*
here, but I don't think Vantec sells them any more.
Of the four speeds, low, medium, high, ultra, the
Stealth is a low. Your fan is probably a medium,
so that wouldn't be an exact substitute anyway.

High and ultra are too loud. I own one ultra, an impulse
buy, and it has a nice metal body. It runs around
110CFM and sounds like a mini vacuum cleaner.

The medium will be around 35CFM.

A low would be somewhat less than that.

The medium and low will be less than 30dBa. Fans
over that dBa level, have the potential to annoy.
To use the ultra, I used to run it at 7V. It's
currently out of the computer case, and some other
fan took its place.

The ultra was thicker. 37.5mm thick. Convention fans
are 25mm thick (one inch). Your fan will be conventional.
They do make 15mm fans, which are sometimes used on
low profile blow-down CPU coolers. The thinner the fan,
the less CFM cooling.

Fans also come in standard square dimensions. Such
as 80mm and 120mm. You need to measure the fan with
your inch ruler, and multiply by 25.4mm per inch.
Also, verify the four mounting holes for the
screws are in the standard locations. Some fans
do weird things with the corners, and you have
to keep your eyes peeled for stupid stuff. Fans
almost have defacto standards... except when they don't.

Sometimes you can guess at the energetics of the fan,
based on the current flow number printed on the fan
hub label. Like, if you took the fan to the computer
store, the clerk might look at the hub label, and the
overall design, to select a substitute for you.
My ultra is 1000mA. The Stealth might be 100mA.

There are a lot of fiddly little details, but nothing
you can't handle if you're observant.

Also, look at your motherboard manual, to see what
fan header capabilities you've got. Maybe simply turning
down the fan, via some BIOS setting will be enough.
Some BIOS had quite fancy thermistor versus RPM
rate controls, and they adjust the fans according
to thermal conditions. The SuperIO chip actually has
an automated "thing" to do that.

Or in Windows, use Almico Speedfan (which will re-program
the registers on the SuperIO). If you have PWM
or motherboard voltage control fan headers, you could
turn the fan down a notch and see if the noise stops.

http://www.almico.com/speedfan452.exe

( http://www.almico.com/sfdownload.php )

Speedfan can only control fan speed, if the motherboard
fan headers have the right electronics to support speed
changing. Don't expect miracles. From a percentages
and betting perspective, most chassis cooling fans
won't respond to a Speedfan setting. If you have
a primo setup, you might get lucky :-)

Most of the time, the confluence of factors means
that fan you didn't describe in detail, doesn't
actually have speed control. And you have to be
handy with a soldering iron, if you want to prove
them wrong.

You can get a rheobus for a 5.25" tray in the
computer, and it comes with knobs you turn to
adjust fan speed. But these have gone out of
favor, and there might not be much on a site
like Newegg to choose from. Only a couple
designs were exemplary, having a 2 amp per
channel control capability, and those could
handle anything. The rest were "schlock" and
had wire-wound pots or something, a really cheap
and not so good method. The cheesy ones could
burn out easier.

This is a sample of a rheobus. OK, great, it
has eight channels. It's 8 channels for $85.
If they'd made a 4 channel one, it would be
$42 bucks. And if they made a 2 channel one
(enough for the cheapest computerist), they
could have made this for $21 bucks. I bet
they've sold zero of these... "Maybe Bill Gates
owns one." Still, their heart is in the
right place, as it has a 30W per channel rating
(a bit more than 2 amps at 12V).

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...9SIA17P5RA7928

Paul

VanguardLH[_2_] July 9th 18 09:57 PM

Can I make my power supply fan turn faster?
 
no wrote:

The fan is making noise. I can stop it with a pencil. I sprayed a
jet of wd 40. It is a little more quiet. I think if I could get it
spinning faster and give it one more burst, it might hit the spot.


Is the PSU out of warranty? My guess is Yes as the fan is making noise
which happens after the warranty expires. Hopefully the fan goes bad a
long time after the warranty but that depends on the quality of the fan
which depends on the qualify of the PSU. Expect crappy fans in cheap
PSUs. You definitely get what you pay for (if you buy the PSU to build
your own) and pre-builts often come with crappy PSUs (whatever is
minimal to handle the spec load of a model and for a MTBF that is just
longer than the warranty).

Measure the diameter of the fan. Buy a new one. After the new fan
arrives, remove the PSU and open it up. Spin the blade hub by hand.
Does rotate several times or does it stop in under 1 or 2 rotations?
Does it feel free as you rotate the blades by hand or can you feel
resistance (wear)? If the fan rotates freely, use an ear swab with
isopropyl alcohol to clean the fan blades on both sides. Check if the
fan is now quiet since filth on the blades (that you cannot blast off
with a compressed air can) can throw it out of balance and cause noise;
however, if it has been going on for a long time, the bearing has gotten
worn with an out-of-balance fan. Oiling the bearing with silicone spray
(WD-40 was the worst you could use) might make it quieter until the
lubricant oozed out of the bearing to let it start wobbling again. If
it was a cheap PSU, it could have a sleeve bearing fan which means the
lube will ooze out. Sleeve fans are only good for vertical use.

Since you'll have to open the PSU to get at the fan to properly lube it
(spraying lube at the fan will NOT lubricate the bearing but instead
change its balance) or clean it or both, you're already right there
inside and might as well as replace the fan. That's why I first
mentioned getting a new fan. Do NOT get a sleeve type fan as those are
designed for vertical operation, not horizontal as in a PSU. Get a
ball-bearing type fan. Those will last about 6-8 years. Fluid/hydro
fans are good, are more costly, and last 10 years, or longer. Consider
how much longer you will have the computer. Remember the cheaper you go
on a fan then the more likely it will fail sooner. Noctua are pricey
but that's what I end up putting in my builds and when I have to replace
a PSU fan (video card fans are often very specialized, especially if
shrouded, so you're stuck getting a duplicate for replacement).

You may not find a replacement fan that has the same connector to mate
with the header on the PCB inside the PSU. Likely it is just a 2-wire
fan unless it can be speed controlled (which is a 3-wire fan). Likely
you will need to remove the old fan by snipping its wires near the fan
to reuse with heat shrink tubing and solder to splice on the new fan.
Make sure the now longer wiring doesn't get into the new fan's blades.

If you don't know how to use a heat gun with heatshrink tubing and do
soldering, get a new PSU.

Rene Lamontagne July 9th 18 10:21 PM

Can I make my power supply fan turn faster?
 
On 07/09/2018 3:57 PM, VanguardLH wrote:
no wrote:

The fan is making noise. I can stop it with a pencil. I sprayed a
jet of wd 40. It is a little more quiet. I think if I could get it
spinning faster and give it one more burst, it might hit the spot.


Is the PSU out of warranty? My guess is Yes as the fan is making noise
which happens after the warranty expires. Hopefully the fan goes bad a
long time after the warranty but that depends on the quality of the fan
which depends on the qualify of the PSU. Expect crappy fans in cheap
PSUs. You definitely get what you pay for (if you buy the PSU to build
your own) and pre-builts often come with crappy PSUs (whatever is
minimal to handle the spec load of a model and for a MTBF that is just
longer than the warranty).

Measure the diameter of the fan. Buy a new one. After the new fan
arrives, remove the PSU and open it up. Spin the blade hub by hand.
Does rotate several times or does it stop in under 1 or 2 rotations?
Does it feel free as you rotate the blades by hand or can you feel
resistance (wear)? If the fan rotates freely, use an ear swab with
isopropyl alcohol to clean the fan blades on both sides. Check if the
fan is now quiet since filth on the blades (that you cannot blast off
with a compressed air can) can throw it out of balance and cause noise;
however, if it has been going on for a long time, the bearing has gotten
worn with an out-of-balance fan. Oiling the bearing with silicone spray
(WD-40 was the worst you could use) might make it quieter until the
lubricant oozed out of the bearing to let it start wobbling again. If
it was a cheap PSU, it could have a sleeve bearing fan which means the
lube will ooze out. Sleeve fans are only good for vertical use.

Since you'll have to open the PSU to get at the fan to properly lube it
(spraying lube at the fan will NOT lubricate the bearing but instead
change its balance) or clean it or both, you're already right there
inside and might as well as replace the fan. That's why I first
mentioned getting a new fan. Do NOT get a sleeve type fan as those are
designed for vertical operation, not horizontal as in a PSU. Get a
ball-bearing type fan. Those will last about 6-8 years. Fluid/hydro
fans are good, are more costly, and last 10 years, or longer. Consider
how much longer you will have the computer. Remember the cheaper you go
on a fan then the more likely it will fail sooner. Noctua are pricey
but that's what I end up putting in my builds and when I have to replace
a PSU fan (video card fans are often very specialized, especially if
shrouded, so you're stuck getting a duplicate for replacement).

You may not find a replacement fan that has the same connector to mate
with the header on the PCB inside the PSU. Likely it is just a 2-wire
fan unless it can be speed controlled (which is a 3-wire fan). Likely
you will need to remove the old fan by snipping its wires near the fan
to reuse with heat shrink tubing and solder to splice on the new fan.
Make sure the now longer wiring doesn't get into the new fan's blades.

If you don't know how to use a heat gun with heatshrink tubing and do
soldering, get a new PSU.


WARNING !!!!!! IF you open up the PSU be warned that the large Caps can
store a very dangerous Voltage. If your not familiar with This stuff,
leave it alone and buy a new PSU.

Rene


mike July 9th 18 11:40 PM

Can I make my power supply fan turn faster?
 
On 7/9/2018 9:41 AM, lid wrote:
The fan is making noise. I can stop it with a pencil. I sprayed a
jet of wd 40. It is a little more quiet. I think if I could get it
spinning faster and give it one more burst, it might hit the spot.

Don't use WD40.
I use thick gun oil "hoppes" I think.
I put it in an insulin syringe with a tiny needle
so it goes where I want.

Problem with a fan is that you can only get at one
end of the bearing. I've actually drilled a tiny
hole in the blade hub at the shaft so I could
inject oil into the other end, but that's another
story.

Typically, there's access to the shaft/bearing
under the sticker on the back side of the fan.

With the insulin syringe, I can poke a hole in
the label and inject oil.
Depending on the mounting system, you may be
able to see the label thru the grille
on the back end of the PS. If not, I drill
a hole in the metal to allow access.

You're gonna need to inject oil periodically,
so might as well make it as easy as possible.

Are we having fun yet?

Paul[_28_] July 10th 18 01:17 AM

Can I make my power supply fan turn faster?
 
mike wrote:
On 7/9/2018 9:41 AM, lid wrote:
The fan is making noise. I can stop it with a pencil. I sprayed a
jet of wd 40. It is a little more quiet. I think if I could get it
spinning faster and give it one more burst, it might hit the spot.

Don't use WD40.
I use thick gun oil "hoppes" I think.
I put it in an insulin syringe with a tiny needle
so it goes where I want.

Problem with a fan is that you can only get at one
end of the bearing. I've actually drilled a tiny
hole in the blade hub at the shaft so I could
inject oil into the other end, but that's another
story.

Typically, there's access to the shaft/bearing
under the sticker on the back side of the fan.

With the insulin syringe, I can poke a hole in
the label and inject oil.
Depending on the mounting system, you may be
able to see the label thru the grille
on the back end of the PS. If not, I drill
a hole in the metal to allow access.

You're gonna need to inject oil periodically,
so might as well make it as easy as possible.

Are we having fun yet?


There are several bearing types.

Sealed for Panaflo (fluid dynamic).

Sleeve bearing (the ones we oil, and oil, and oil...)

Ball bearing fans (3dB louder than a sleeve bearing)

It's possible the Noctua ones are fluid dynamic.

There are also a few fans with ceramic bearings,
with longer lifetimes. And a couple attempts
at magnetic levitation.

Paul

Flasherly[_2_] July 10th 18 02:35 AM

Can I make my power supply fan turn faster?
 
On Mon, 09 Jul 2018 12:41:02 -0400, lid wrote:

The fan is making noise. I can stop it with a pencil. I sprayed a
jet of wd 40. It is a little more quiet. I think if I could get it
spinning faster and give it one more burst, it might hit the spot.


What your material life expectancy over orientation
(vertical/horizontal) of the sleeve or ball-bearing stator and whether
it is designed for a self-contained seal?

Noise is out of specs if rated at anything above R, which includes
your pencil, or, for that mater, anything else that physically
deviates or compromises the integral intent of application's
engineering. I.e., fan resistance is not designed for
end-maintenance.*

.. . .

V=E+IR,

V is motor terminal voltage

Terminal Voltage = Back EMF + Armature Current * Armature Resistance

E is the back EMF and I is the motor current and R is the armature
resistance, as E falls (you slow the motor down by applying a
mechanical load, I increases and the armature losses increase.

Available torque goes DOWN with increasing speed. Available power from
a DC motor is maximum at the rated speed. Available torque is maximum
at zero speed.

Armature current is proportional to electrical load when DC machine is
a generator, and is proportional to mechanical load when DC machine is
a motor.

*Armature Resistance stays constant as it's based on its physical
construction.

Paul[_28_] July 10th 18 02:45 AM

Can I make my power supply fan turn faster?
 
Paul wrote:
lid wrote:
The fan is making noise. I can stop it with a pencil. I sprayed a
jet of wd 40. It is a little more quiet. I think if I could get it
spinning faster and give it one more burst, it might hit the spot.



Ah, it's the power supply fan. I missed that bit.

The last power supply I opened up, the fan was
connectorized. But they don't have to be that way.
It's probably $0.02 cheaper to solder the
fan wires right to the PCB.

The fan speed is a function of temperature on
some of them.

You would need to replace the header inside the PSU
as a power source, with something else.

I'd rather open the supply up. *Don't* touch anything.
Identify whether the harness leading from the fan, is
on a removable connector or not (like a desktop computer
fan connector). Then, look for a replacement for
the thing.

The little LP3 style fan connector, has a locking
feature that makes it hard to release. You have to
lean the connector body a bit, to get it past
the tab when removing it. In the example here, the
tiny circuit board it plugs into, is probably
the fan speed control.

https://techreport.com/blog/14236/th...n-swap-of-2008

Paul

Steve Hough July 10th 18 10:28 AM

Can I make my power supply fan turn faster?
 
Rene Lamontagne was thinking very hard :

WARNING !!!!!! IF you open up the PSU be warned that the large Caps can store
a very dangerous Voltage. If your not familiar with This stuff, leave it
alone and buy a new PSU.

Rene


Indeed. As the o/p has already managed to squirt the wrong oil into it.
I'm surprised so many others here advocated opening the thing up. And
if he waas familiar with this stuff, I doubt he would have uses WD40 in
the first place.


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