Lamptron FC-2 fan controller + San Ace warning

[BDW88]

First post for this forum and hello to all:D

Well like the title says this controller will make San Ace's give off a high pitched squeal like a stuck pig!!! tested fans on my Kaze Master for 2hrs 1000-900rpm, no squeal but now have 2 blown channels on the Kaze :(

quoted email from Gary: Hi,
Long story short answer - I have had this complaint once already. These fan controllers must be using pwm for this to happen. This means they will only be suitable for high speed, high power drawing fans (i.e. Delta)
Thats why it works fine on the Scythe. You are welcome to return the FC-2 if you would like. I will be putting some kind of note on our website about this to warn other folks that have san-aces. Loading three on a channel doesn't work, the other customer tried that as well. Its method of delivering power and adjusting voltage is just not appropriate for these fans it seems.
Gary Stofer
Sidewinder Computer Systems

So there it is, San Ace owners beware!!!:D

oh and I have to make a shoutout to Gary@ http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/ you are fucking Ace's man!!! :rockout:

If I had bought this from PPC's I would have been shit out of luck!
don't even get me started about my fiasco with them about giving me the wrong length on UV tubing, I mean who the hell orders only 1ft of tubing at a time come on Hank!!!:mad1:

[sidewinder]

Thank you BDW :cheers:
Site updated to reflect as promised.

[skinnee]

What is the amp draw per San-Ace? Could you explain a bit more on why/how PWM is causing this issue?

I'm curious, not looking to bust any balls...just want to know even if it is theory.

[BDW88]

On Petra's it says .52amp don't know if that's what your asking for,

Would like to know also what's up with this controller and PWM

about to try the controller on my Delta's and see if it happens again will post results soon.

[utnorris]

I am running 3 San Ace fans off of a Sunbeam 4 channel fan controller. The fans are .52 amps, confirmed looking at the label, but I am not running them at full power all the time. The fan controller is rated at 20watts per channel which I believe comes out to around 1.7amps, more than enough for 3 San Ace fans. However, I read once before that running them at a lower power actually causes more strain on the controller then at full power, something about the resistance being higher and causing a higher load. The only thing I have found so far is that 3 on a channel will seem to fluctuate in power slightly the higher the fan is turned up. When I had 2 San Ace on a channel, I didn't have this issue. My point is that if you are using San Ace fans, then I would suggest only putting a max of 2 fans per channel.

[BDW88]

I tried the FC-2 with only 2 San's hooked up and it still gave off that high pitched squeal (no squeal @ full blast)
finally tried with only 1 fan no squeal just a low hum past the halfway mark on the controller, been running the San's with the 5v trick for a couple of weeks and no problems no weird sounds nothing.

so do you think it's gotta do with how the controller putting out the power like Gary said or is it just faulty?

God that's gonna be a pain wiring 2 fans per channel for 2 360 rads >.<

[Boyu]

wow, thx for the info

[Septim]

good info, i too have said fan controller in my cart, will have to find something else to buy...

[sidewinder]

As far as I know there are two power methods available to adjust fan speed - Analog and Pulse width modulation. PWM from what I have seen seems to be the cheap way of doing it. There is some sort of relationship with power draw when using a PWM controller. If you are not pulling enough power in relation to the max capable draw of the controller, you can have this kind of side effect. The first product I saw this with was in 2001/2002 with Vantec's first fan controller (NXP-101?) From my experience, controllers like the Scythe Kaze master, the Superflower SF-609 are not pwm, and don't have the power/draw relationship. With a genuine rheostat, you also do not have any sort of clattering side effect regardless of the fan used.

[Snyxxx]

Gary, thanks for being involved in this issue.

There has always been problems with PWM controllers and some fans. Usually it is described as "ticking" sounds.

[Eddie3dfx]

As far as I know there are two power methods available to adjust fan speed - Analog and Pulse width modulation. PWM from what I have seen seems to be the cheap way of doing it. There is some sort of relationship with power draw when using a PWM controller. If you are not pulling enough power in relation to the max capable draw of the controller, you can have this kind of side effect. The first product I saw this with was in 2001/2002 with Vantec's first fan controller (NXP-101?) From my experience, controllers like the Scythe Kaze master, the Superflower SF-609 are not pwm, and don't have the power/draw relationship. With a genuine rheostat, you also do not have any sort of clattering side effect regardless of the fan used.

Gary, any Idea when the Super-Flowers will be stock?
Thanks

[BDW88]

Update.. Tried the FC-2 with my Delta EFB1212SHE 9.60w/.80amps, 3x delta's 1 channel high pitched sound @quarter turn, clattering and ticking @halfway mark

tried with 2x delta's per channel low pitch whine and a little ticking, the sound is so annoying that listening to them @full throttle sounds better.

faulty unit? should I return it? hook up leaf blower to it?

[sidewinder]

I'll try with that fan when time permits and let you know what the results are BDW. Question, did the ticking happen at the same setting of a dial as the san ace, or was it a lower setting that it started at?
If its lower, then a high powered fan may not exhibit it until it was turned all the way down. But I would not keep such a setting for a high powered fan, that can blow channels long term.
Superflower's minimum to reorder is 200 units. They would like us to order 500. It is a great controller, its just..boxes and boxes and more boxes.

[RedRaider]

GARY, thank you for taking your time to help out the community. :2up:

[trfnj74]

Gary talked me out of getting the L2 for this very same issue...I try do do all my shopping at Sidewinder because of excellent customer service. I just with there was a one stop shop for all watercooling parts.

[Gir]

Yea, I ordered some Panaflos from Gary a few days ago, packages extremely well and he didn't cheap out on the sleeving he used either!

Sidewinders is now on my list of trusted vendors right next to Petras. :2up:

[NAekuh]

if you dont have a scythe kaze master, you really should get one..

4 temps probes + fan controller + Sexy VFD = as R3 would say it the best... FTW!

But wait you pop'd 2 channels on your kaze master?? the sinks get dayam hot, i have a fan right on top of them.... :X

and the connectors get dayam lose all the time, you sure its not just a lose connector?

[BDW88]

Yeah the channels popped on the Kaze even had a 92mm fan blowing over it..

Really like how the FC-2 looks but I like my San Ace's even more, gonna get a Big-Ng and hook the San's to that instead and see how it goes.