Looking for a dead silent HO fan

[1MP3R1AL]

I'm building a custom T5/LED fixture and looking for a very high output as well as quality and as silent as possible fan. Power doesn't matter, 120 or 12 volt, neither does size. It will be mounted inside or on top of the fixture.

Does anyone have any recommendations as to what they have and know what would work for my application? A link or model would be perfect.

Thanks in advance.

 

[frogspawn74]

any computer fan with ball bearings should be fine. Most will have a db rating. anything in the mid/upper 20's is very good. I prefer the 120mm fans for lower rpms (less noise) with big air movement. you will likely need to order a 110 online though. most computer stores only carry the 12v fans(can buy the power supply converter if needed). check newegg

 

[perkint]

I would stick 120mm 12V fans on and run them at 9V, that seems to be the best (cheap) way to get decent air movement and low noise. I run an artic pro F8 on 9V and it is silent. Try the F12s and you should get a good chunk more air, and they are pretty quiet even at 12V!

Tim

 

[jayball]

For good air movement and quiet operation I like Noctua (for computers at least)

http://www.amazon.com/Noctua-NF-P12...s=nf-p12&pebp=1421868737521&peasin=B006I6HMXI

 

[doctorwhoreefer]

Check reviews on newegg, pretty much the best for decent reviews other than tigerdirect or amazon or random web searches..

 

[1MP3R1AL]

jayball, those look perfect for my application. Thanks for the link!

 

[rgulrich]

I'd second the Noctua - I use four of them in my canopy and another under the stand.

 

[1MP3R1AL]

^ how long have you been using yours? Any issues? How is the flow?

 

[rgulrich]

I've been using the four 120mm Noctua fans in the canopy and one in the cabinet since October of 2014. No issues, great flow. Picked up through Amazon, though there are other sellers.

Specs and particulars:
Noctua 120mm NF-S12B ULN 120mm Fan 700/500RPM

Succeeding the vastly successful NF-S12, the NF-S12B is a next generation quiet fan featuring Noctua's advanced SCD2 technology as well as a highly optimized blade geometry with Beveled Blade Tips that improves its award-winning predecessor's airflow efficiency by up to 10%. Topped off with Noctua's time-tested SSO-Bearing, 6 years manufacture warranty and super-slow 700/500 rpm speed settings, the NF-S12B ULN is a premium quality fan for ultra-low-noise applications where maximum quietness has top priority.

Highly optimized impeller with Beveled Blade Tips
Thanks to its further refined blade geometry with extended leading edges and Beveled Blade Tips, the NF-S12B achieves up to 10% more airflow and static pressure than its much acclaimed predecessor at the same noise level.

2 speed settings for maximum quietness
Providing 700 and 500 rpm speed settings via the supplied adapter, the ULN (Ultra-Low-Noise) version is tailor made for serious silent enthusiasts who demand super-slow running speeds and utmost quietness of operation.

Size 120x120x25 mm
Bearing SSO-Bearing
Blade Geometry NF-S12B Blade Design with BBT
Rotational Speed (+/- 10%) 700 RPM
Rotational Speed with U.L.N.A. (+/- 10%) 500 RPM
Airflow 56,9 m³/h
Airflow with U.L.N.A. 38,2 m³/h
Acoustical Noise 6,8* dB(A)
Acoustical Noise with U.L.N.A. 5* dB(A)
Static Pressure 0,44 mm H2O
Static Pressure with U.L.N.A. 0,23 mm H2O
Input Power 0,6 W
Input Current 0,05 A
Voltage Range 12 V
MTBF > 150.000 h

Includes:
Ultra-Low-Noise Adaptor (U.L.N.A.)
4 Vibration Compensators
3:4-Pin Adaptor
4 Fan Screws

Cheers,
Ray

 

[zachts]

Rotory type pressurizing fans like the type steve's led uses for his heatsink setups are very quiet and move a ton of air for the power, even quieter at lower voltage. Come in many shapes and sizes but they have the benefit of allowing you to pull in cold outside air and direct it sideways in the fixture across your heatsink which may be of benefit to you given a linear hybrid with T5. down side is they take up more room in the ends of the build so don't always fit nicely but are worth looking into.

Otherwise just get as large of fans as you can and look for the db rating and cfm and pick the best of both worlds.....

 

[jayball]

Otherwise just get as large of fans as you can and look for the db rating and cfm and pick the best of both worlds.....

Yes, if you have room for it go for the 140mm model, more air for the same or less noise. I do not have experience with the blower style fans so I can not comment on that.