[Schematic] So I built a fan controller and I absolutely LOVE IT!

[iamdarkyoshi]

My PC is so quiet when it is not having to work on heavy loads, and when I start folding, the fans spool up and keep my temps UNDER 60 DEGREES!! It really is not very loud even while folding, and when I first start the PC, the fans do not spin (unless they have been manually started). as soon as the water temps heat up, the fans reach their minimum startup voltage and cool the the system down, and then they slow down again. Their minimum start voltage is higher than their minimum running voltage, so after it cools down, the fans will still be running. I designed the fan controller around a 10K NTC thermistor, which my reservoir JUST so happens to have

 

Breadboard schematic for those interested:

 

The sensitivity control also adjusts the temp offset (minimum temp) so keep that in mind. You will need to heatsink the mosfet if you put a decent load on it.

Potentiometers can be found at radioshack, mouser.com, ect

NTC, mosfet, 10K resistor, and heatsink can be salvaged from an old PSU (some do not use an NTC to measure temps, most do) you might be able to find potentiometers in one, too!

 

Any questions?

 

I feel like this is a great alternative to expensive fan controllers for those electrically inclined

[Guest]

My PC is so quiet when it is not having to work on heavy loads, and when I start folding, the fans spool up and keep my temps UNDER 60 DEGREES!! It really is not very loud even while folding, and when I first start the PC, the fans do not spin (unless they have been manually started). as soon as the water temps heat up, the fans reach their minimum startup voltage and cool the the system down, and then they slow down again. Their minimum start voltage is higher than their minimum running voltage, so after it cools down, the fans will still be running. I designed the fan controller around a 10K NTC thermistor, which my reservoir JUST so happens to have

 

Breadboard schematic for those interested:

 

The sensitivity control also adjusts the temp offset (minimum temp) so keep that in mind. You will need to heatsink the mosfet if you put a decent load on it.

Potentiometers can be found at radioshack, mouser.com, ect

NTC, mosfet, 10K resistor, and heatsink can be salvaged from an old PSU (some do not use an NTC to measure temps, most do) you might be able to find potentiometers in one, too!

 

Any questions?

 

I feel like this is a great alternative to expensive fan controllers for those electrically inclined

Really cool idea, fans are super simple I don't know why more people aren't doing stuff like this.

[Enderman]

my fan controller is $300 and it looks like this

[TheKDub]

Nice job!

[iamdarkyoshi]

Really cool idea, fans are super simple I don't know why more people aren't doing stuff like this.

No joke. The neat part is that it uses a mosfet instead of a transistor. The mosfet is put RIGHT on its "on" voltage, and this sensitivity is what is required to keep the circuit simple!

[iamdarkyoshi]

my fan controller is $300 and it looks like this

 

Can it handle 10 fans on one port?

Edit: NON PWM fans!

[Enderman]

Can it handle 10 fans on one port?

no it handles 1 fan per port, like 8-10 fans

having multiple fans per port would completely defeat the purpose of custom fan curves and a dozen temperature sensors

[iamdarkyoshi]

no it handles 1 fan per port, like 8-10 fans

having multiple fans per port would completely defeat the purpose of custom fan curves and a dozen temperature sensors

Fair enough. But I find it easier to design a circuit rather than to tweak fan curves in software

[AresKrieger]

snip

Yeah that wouldn't cost much more than the breadboard as mosfets, potenciometers and resistors are dirt cheap, funny enough I have all the parts in my room  :lol:

[iamdarkyoshi]

Yeah that wouldn't cost much more than the breadboard as mosfets, potenciometers and resistors are dirt cheap, funny enough I have all the parts in my room  :lol:

And I wired it all "dead bug" style on the heatsink I stole from the PSU No perfboard needed!

[AresKrieger]

And I wired it all "dead bug" style on the heatsink I stole from the PSU No perfboard needed!

Half of electronics is jury rigging, it's really a good skill to have.

[Enderman]

Fair enough. But I find it easier to design a circuit rather than to tweak fan curves in software

no

plotting 3 points on a graph is much faster than designing a circuit

dont lie

[iamdarkyoshi]

no

plotting 3 points on a graph is much faster than designing a circuit

dont lie

First you need a supported motherboard. I dont even know if mine can do it. But routing all the fan cables to one place is certainly easier

[Guest]

no

plotting 3 points on a graph is much faster than designing a circuit

dont lie

Designing a website using 3rd party flash tools is "easier", but I still prefer to write css and html code. It's simpler for some people to use basic logic. It's not really easier, but it does have benefits.

[Enderman]

First you need a supported motherboard. I dont even know if mine can do it. But routing all the fan cables to one place is certainly easier

but if you could, it would still be easier and faster than building a circuit

not saying you do it instead of a circuit, but it would be easier