Run 6 fans off one fan-header possible?

[Mortis Angelus]

Planning a small form factor build Using ITX-mobo. All ITX-mobos I've found so far only has 1x chassi fan header (in addition to 1x CPU-fan header). Now I have 6 fans.

 

3 of them use 0.22 A, and 3 of them use 0.15 A. That makes a total of 1.11 A. Could those be driven from that one Chassi-header if I dont plan on running the fans on full speed?

 

These are the fans in question:

 

https://www.quietpc.com/gel-silent5

and

https://www.quietpc.com/gel-silent6

 

Side-question; Is there any super tiny fan controller that would take fan-speed info from mobo chassi fan header, but would have molex/sata power-input that would amplify the signal and thus spread to multiple fans?

[Lurick]

I'm using a couple of these in my build:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00VNW556I/

 

Nice and small and allow for up to 8 fans.

[W-L]

11 minutes ago, Mortis Angelus said:

Planning a small form factor build Using ITX-mobo. All ITX-mobos I've found so far only has 1x chassi fan header (in addition to 1x CPU-fan header). Now I have 6 fans.

3 of them use 0.22 A, and 3 of them use 0.15 A. That makes a total of 1.11 A. Could those be driven from that one Chassi-header if I dont plan on running the fans on full speed?

These are the fans in question:

https://www.quietpc.com/gel-silent5

and

https://www.quietpc.com/gel-silent6

Side-question; Is there any super tiny fan controller that would take fan-speed info from mobo chassi fan header, but would have molex/sata power-input that would amplify the signal and thus spread to multiple fans?

That would be too much for the header most are only rated for 1Amp and with the sudden current surge when they start it will exceed that rating even more. For 3 pin fans you won't be able to use power splitters as they provide the fan 12V so they will run at full speed. A fan controller like the NZXT gird+ V2 would be something that would work for this solution to allow for individual fan control. 

https://www.nzxt.com/products/grid-plus-v2

[Shiv78]

Just now, W-L said:

That would be too much for the header most are only rated for 1Amp and with the sudden current surge when they start it will exceed that rating even more. For 3 pin fans you won't be able to use power splitters as they provide the fan 12V so they will run at full speed. A fan controller like the NZXT gird+ V2 would be something that would work for this solution to allow for individual fan control. 

 

What about a Molex-powered fan hub?

 

Real talk - why do you need 6 fans for an ITX build?

[Mortis Angelus]

2 minutes ago, Shiv78 said:

What about a Molex-powered fan hub?

 

Real talk - why do you need 6 fans for an ITX build?

Normal molex adapters cant be used due to me not wanting 100% fan speed. On my ATX mobo there was options to set fan speed of 3-pin fans, even if the header was 4-pin pwm. It just lowered the voltage (I think).

 

Why 6 fans? For maximum air flow with low speeds, and just because I can (fits the case). No need to run hot just because its ITX. Xp

 

8 minutes ago, W-L said:

That would be too much for the header most are only rated for 1Amp and with the sudden current surge when they start it will exceed that rating even more. For 3 pin fans you won't be able to use power splitters as they provide the fan 12V so they will run at full speed. A fan controller like the NZXT gird+ V2 would be something that would work for this solution to allow for individual fan control. 

https://www.nzxt.com/products/grid-plus-v2

WAAY too big for my build.

 

22 minutes ago, Lurick said:

I'm using a couple of these in my build:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00VNW556I/

 

Nice and small and allow for up to 8 fans.

Looks promising. Do you have the exact dimensions for the module?

[Shiv78]

3 minutes ago, Mortis Angelus said:

WAAY too big for my build.

 

 

3 minutes ago, Mortis Angelus said:

Why 6 fans? For maximum air flow with low speeds, and just because I can (fits the case). No need to run hot just because its ITX. Xp

 

What 6-fan-capable-case can't fit that thing?

 

An S340, an ATX midtower, can only hold 5 fans.

[W-L]

4 minutes ago, Mortis Angelus said:

Normal molex adapters cant be used due to me not wanting 100% fan speed. On my ATX mobo there was options to set fan speed of 3-pin fans, even if the header was 4-pin pwm. It just lowered the voltage (I think).

Why 6 fans? For maximum air flow with low speeds, and just because I can (fits the case). No need to run hot just because its ITX. Xp

WAAY too big for my build.

Looks promising. Do you have the exact dimensions for the module?

That module uses auxiliary power so the fans will run at 12V for 3 pin fans. If you want you can run splitters taking the CPU and chassis header so you distribute the load between the headers. There are manual controller such as this but your options will be limited as 3 pin fans require DC votlage control where PWM fans can be group control in mass and power from the PSU instead of the motherboard header. 

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA85V3NX6852&cm_re=fan_speed_controllers-_-9SIA85V3NX6852-_-Product

[Mortis Angelus]

1 minute ago, Shiv78 said:

 

What 6-fan-capable-case can't fit that thing?

 

An S340, an ATX midtower, can only hold 5 fans.

You didnt check the links to the fans, did you? 3x 60x60x15.5 mm and 3x 50x50x15 mm 

 

I am talking about small form factor here. Not those ITX builds that end up big as mATX in the end.

[Shiv78]

1 minute ago, Mortis Angelus said:

You didnt check the links to the fans, did you? 3x 60x60x15.5 mm and 3x 50x50x15 mm 

 

I am talking about small form factor here. Not those ITX builds that end up big as mATX in the end.

oops sry

[Mortis Angelus]

1 minute ago, Shiv78 said:

oops sry

No problem.

[W-L]

Here is actually a better option than that manual control box, this unit takes in a PWM control signal and power in from the PSU, and converters it to an equivalent DC voltage control signal for 3 pin fans allowing them to still vary with loads and temps.

http://www.phanteks.com/PH-PWHUB.html

[Mortis Angelus]

5 minutes ago, W-L said:

Here is actually a better option than that manual control box, this unit takes in a PWM control signal and power in from the PSU, and converters it to an equivalent DC voltage control signal for 3 pin fans allowing them to still vary with loads and temps.

http://www.phanteks.com/PH-PWHUB.html

That is awesomely perfect!

Thank you (W-L), and thank you all for helping me!

[Enderman]

48 minutes ago, Mortis Angelus said:

3 of them use 0.22 A, and 3 of them use 0.15 A. That makes a total of 1.11 A. Could those be driven from that one Chassi-header if I dont plan on running the fans on full speed?

Just an fyi, the current listed on the fan is continuous current.

When a motor starts up it uses multiple times the current it is rated for.

Even though it would be 1.11A continuous it could be 3 or 5A or even more when it starts up.

This would instantly blow the fan control on your motherboard.

Maximum recommended number of fans per header is 2-3.

[Mortis Angelus]

5 minutes ago, Enderman said:

Just an fyi, the current listed on the fan is continuous current.

When a motor starts up it uses multiple times the current it is rated for.

Even though it would be 1.11A continuous it could be 3 or 5A or even more when it starts up.

This would instantly blow the fan control on your motherboard.

Maximum recommended number of fans per header is 2-3.

Arent all non-pwm fans listed as consistent current? Does this mean then that I cant set the fan speed?

[W-L]

Just now, Mortis Angelus said:

Arent all non-pwm fans listed as consistent current? Does this mean then that I cant set the fan speed?

It's inconsistent with manufacture's some list as continuous running current some list as peak, most times it is the running current and not the peak from when it needs to kick the fan on. 

[Enderman]

4 minutes ago, Mortis Angelus said:

Arent all non-pwm fans listed as consistent current? Does this mean then that I cant set the fan speed?

All non-PWM fans can be voltage controlled if your motherboard supports DC fan control.

My point is that too many fans will blow your fan controller, because they always pull more current when starting up.

[Mortis Angelus]

Just now, Enderman said:

All non-PWM fans can be voltage controlled if your motherboard supports DC fan control.

My point is that too many fans will blow your fan controller, because they always pull more current when starting up.

So if I plugged int those non-PWM fans from Gelid into that fan-controller from phanteks, would it work or not? 

 

Sorry for the questions, but I am really confused now.... 0.o

[W-L]

Just now, Mortis Angelus said:

So if I plugged int those non-PWM fans from Gelid into that fan-controller from phanteks, would it work or not? 

Sorry for the questions, but I am really confused now.... 0.o

It will work, he is mentioning from the OP where if you were the original plan was to plug in all 6 fans into one header that it would easily overload it due to the starting current of the fans. 

[Enderman]

1 minute ago, Mortis Angelus said:

So if I plugged int those non-PWM fans from Gelid into that fan-controller from phanteks, would it work or not? 

 

Sorry for the questions, but I am really confused now.... 0.o

It will work, the outputs on the fan hub are not PWM, the PWM is just used to control the fan hub, which then controls DC fans.

Just plug one fan per header on the fan hub, not all 6 into one header

[Mortis Angelus]

8 hours ago, W-L said:

It will work, he is mentioning from the OP where if you were the original plan was to plug in all 6 fans into one header that it would easily overload it due to the starting current of the fans. 

 

8 hours ago, Enderman said:

It will work, the outputs on the fan hub are not PWM, the PWM is just used to control the fan hub, which then controls DC fans.

Just plug one fan per header on the fan hub, not all 6 into one header

Thanis guys, for making that clear to me.