Help: rheostats for nubs?

[Liu Kang]

http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/si50warh.html

So uh... just how many of my Panaflos (http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/pa12ulhisp.html) can I daisy chain onto one of these? :)

If anyone has any useful info or sites I can check out re: rheostats, I'd appreciate it.

Cheers.

[Big_Daddy]

8......

[Liu Kang]

So uh, basic math? 6.12 x 8 = 48.96w < 50w

[Cutless009]

It will get EXTREMELY hot unless you are running them full-bore. The more you turn them down, the more power it has to convert from electric energy to heat energy.

[Floyd]

It will get EXTREMELY hot unless you are running them full-bore. The more you turn them down, the more power it has to convert from electric energy to heat energy.

Correct and they get INSANE hot at that.

[Liu Kang]

I hear ya... the heat isn't something I'm too worried about. With 20 fans, I'll be able to run 5 of the 25 watt versions rather than the 50s. Not sure if I'm a fan of the Sidewinder knobs though ;)

Thanks for the help, gents.

[Mr_Sushi]

Fans pull more wattage on start up IIRC so you may need more than that.

[Overclocking101]

I do believe Mr Sushi is correct fans pull a ton of wattage then ramp down.

[ablatman]

I hear ya... the heat isn't something I'm too worried about. With 20 fans, I'll be able to run 5 of the 25 watt versions rather than the 50s. Not sure if I'm a fan of the Sidewinder knobs though ;)

Thanks for the help, gents.

You don't like Gary's knob, eh? :p

I do believe Mr Sushi is correct fans pull a ton of wattage then ramp down.

No, the fans don't pull a ton of wattage. All a rheostat is, is a variable resistor. All an incandescent lightbulb is, is a specialized resistor. An incandescent lightbulb doesn't get hot because it puts out light, just the opposite -- it puts out light BECAUSE it gets hot.

Now if you're wondering why things like CPU sockets (Early Foxconn LGA1156) and 24-pin connectors (4-way crossfire slots where the cards draw too much power from slots), it's because the pins/wires aren't big enough (or there aren't enough of them) to handle the current (amps) and thus the pins/wires become resistive and heat up.....

[voklskier4452]

They will pull more watts at start up. So take that into account

[ablatman]

They will pull more watts at start up. So take that into account

That's just Newtonian physics -- an object in any state of motion wants to stay in that state of motion, and will do so until acted on by an outside force... If that force is to get it started, then it's going to take more energy to get it moving than to keep it moving....

[voklskier4452]

I am well aware of why they need more power at startup.. mechanical engineering student here :)

[CrazyJoe]

Great site for background information ( if you're into that sort of thing )

The site cpemma.co.uk has since shut down, but this is a mirror that someone was kind enough to put up. :up:

http://www.pcsilencioso.com/cpemma/index.html

[Liu Kang]

Thanks for all the info and links, much appreciated.