Pwm Fan Controller

[KaareKanin]

Does anyone know of a good PWM fan controller? I can't seem to find any... I'm at the point where I'm seriously considering to just make my own... it can't be that hard, now can it?

[Guest]

Swiftech have an 8 way splitter that you might want to look into. Just plug it into the motherboard as well as a spare molex power connector and control 8 fans off one connector..

[AMICLG]

I've made my own etching PCBs in my garage. It's a simple circuit but the more fans the more complicated. I'm controlling 12 fans right now through software I made on the chip (ATmega 2560) in c++ and python on the computer it's just a serial connection through usb with a gui.

[KaareKanin]

Swiftech have an 8 way splitter that you might want to look into. Just plug it into the motherboard as well as a spare molex power connector and control 8 fans off one connector..

 

Hmm, it looks like a nice product and all, but I was thinking more of a sort of stand-alone controller. But if I'll have to make one myself, it might be a good place to start with butchering that one

 

I've made my own etching PCBs in my garage. It's a simple circuit but the more fans the more complicated. I'm controlling 12 fans right now through software I made on the chip (ATmega 2560) in c++ and python on the computer it's just a serial connection through usb with a gui.

 

Nice! My skills within these disciplines are a little limited, so programming-wise I didn't really imagine the possibility to tie in with the OS, and production-wise i might just end up using an avr Xplain board i have lying around (which, come to think of it, has USB on it). Maybe just un-split that swiftech splitter and tie it in with the whole setup as well. 

 

I think some planning is in order!

[AMICLG]

I've building pcbs for about 2 years now that was one of my first more advanced projects but something on a perfboard is definitely doable for your skill set. Check out hackaday and instructables for some inspiration.

[airdeano]

there kinda of a reason there are not many PWM fan controllers.

 

mostly under-volting them is terrible. linus' even commented

under-volting PWM is bad for the motor/circuitry. that the intention

of PWM was to let the PCB switching do the work and leave the voltage

input at static (12v). reducing the voltage develops un-needed heat and

reduces the relay performance.

 

buy 2-pin/3-pin fans and use a controller or allow a header to control PWM

using a swiftech fan block .

 

airdeano

[prodigydoo]

just sayin.. it can be allot of fun to make your own ;P

[KaareKanin]

I'm kinda expecting that it'll be fun to do my own, that's why i'm not sad there aren't any PWM controllers out there