Modding CF fixtures for quieter fans...

I have but with no real success. The fans are just noisier the smaller they get

the smaller the fan the faster it must spin to be effective thus the moe noice it creates. you could get one of those pricey silent PC fans and wire it in. it would be much quieter then those little buzzers the Coralifes come with. but it would be a big bulky fan on top of the fixture. you should also get a metal grate for the fan you get to keep your fingers safe.

Well, I ordered 4 of these for $5 each, we'll see how long the bearings on them last.

Scythe "Mini Kaze" 40mm Silent Mini Fan
Fan Noise: 14.00dBA
Airflow: 4.11CFM

Hi was it a straight swap or you had to modify the fixture & where did you source them from.
Regards

where did you get them and do they come with their own power adapter?

I just modded my own lighting fixture to have individual parabolic reflectors, now I just need to add a couple additional fans and retrofit all the contents onto a shoplight and make it hanging fixture (instead of sitting on top of the tank).......then upgrade to ADA 120-P when funds permit :hihi:

Here is where I bought them:
http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=20870

They are essentially "drop in" -- one of the reasons why I went with these was that they have the same 2-pin power connector (as opposed to 3-pin or 4-pin Molex you find on other fans.) They need a 12V power supply, the Coralife fixtures provide this for you.

The one catch was the 4 corner holes were slightly too small for the pegs on the fan guards Coralife uses, so I had to drill them out. No big deal.


zergling: If you can fit them, go with bigger fans that you can then undervolt (google it) for lower noise with the same CFM of air moved.

relaxing said:

Well, I ordered 4 of these for $5 each, we'll see how long the bearings on them last.

Scythe "Mini Kaze" 40mm Silent Mini Fan
Fan Noise: 14.00dBA
Airflow: 4.11CFM

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Relaxing, any update on these fans? I just received two of them today and plan on installing them. Good/bad?

Thanks,

Andrew

How is the airflow comparing to the old fans??

Well, I installed them. The airflow is definately lower than the original fans but I don't know if that will have much long term impact. The reduced noise is a definate plus.

As stated earlier they are a straight swap and only the mounting holes need to be drilled out.

Andrew

I like the idea of an air-fan for lighting canopies!

Sorry about a change in subject: Do you think this can somehow be incorporated into some sort of water cooling unit as well? Like have some of the fans blow air INTO the hood / water surface to increase evaporation during the summer. Just a random thought though.

awbowden said:

Well, I installed them. The airflow is definately lower than the original fans but I don't know if that will have much long term impact. The reduced noise is a definate plus.

As stated earlier they are a straight swap and only the mounting holes need to be drilled out.

Andrew

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awbowden,

Did you happen to see what the mah rating for the fan(s) were? I am thinking about changing out the fan in my unit, but I don't want to do it until I have the fans in my hand.

I saw a thread somewhere where they just pulled the fans out and did away with them altogether with no noticeable long term effects.

BiscuitSlayer said:

I saw a thread somewhere where they just pulled the fans out and did away with them altogether with no noticeable long term effects.

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I'd be weary of threads like that. just because the fixture works, does not mean you aren't reducing the life of your bulbs and ballasts by allowing them to run hot. Also ambient room temperature may play a part, so a cool Northern basement might get away with no fans, while a Southern kitchen may not. Keep in mind that T5HO fixtures designed without fans, are better heat sinked to radiate heat out the top of the hood, while PCF fixtures do not heat sink as since they are designed to depend on their fan air flow to exhaust the heat away from electrical components.

spypet said:

I'd be weary of threads like that.

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Point taken. Based on the temp of my fixture, I don't think the fan is doing all that much to help with the temp. I personally think that the aluminum housing does more for heat dissapation then the stock fan in the unit.