Temp controlled fans?!

[Hugo Tait]

I'm trying to wire up an STW-5006 to control the fan speed in my light. I've wired as follows (see pics).

From mains (230v U.K.) to 12v LED converter. From converter to stw-5006.

I'm using the yellow cable (12v) from the molex connector into the '+' of the converter output, and one of two blacks (ground) into the '-' of the converter.

The pink cable is the temperature probe

There is another connector on the stw-5006 that says HDD (+-). Must this be connected for the unit to work?

Nothing from fan or controller LCD

Thanks in advance!

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[mcgyvr]

An "LED driver" is a constant current output power supply.
You want a regular power supply that features "constant voltage" output..

 

[Hugo Tait]

An "LED driver" is a constant current output power supply.
You want a regular power supply that features "constant voltage" output..

Many thanks. I'll try this


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[Hugo Tait]

I'm assuming this 12v 0.2A supply will not be enough for the 10W controller?

Thanks


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[perkint]

An "LED driver" is a constant current output power supply.
You want a regular power supply that features "constant voltage" output..

I suspect that "LED driver" is actually just a 12V constant current [edit - constant voltage I meant! Muppet!!!] supply, by the look of it. An unfortunate practice now days (labelling them drivers)

I'm assuming this 12v 0.2A supply will not be enough for the 10W controller?

The PSU needs to be able to supply the fans as well as the controllers. I wouldn't expect the actual controller to take 10W but it is possible. But, looking at the pictures and what detail I could find online, I suspect the controller might actually need a 5V supply as well as the 12V!

Tim

 

[Hugo Tait]

I suspect that "LED driver" is actually just a 12V constant current supply, by the look of it. An unfortunate practice now days (labelling them drivers)

The PSU needs to be able to supply the fans as well as the controllers. I wouldn't expect the actual controller to take 10W but it is possible. But, looking at the pictures and what detail I could find online, I suspect the controller might actually need a 5V supply as well as the 12V!

Tim

thanks Tim,

Do you think something like this would work?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/230v-AC-4p...8&qid=1485281932&sr=8-6&keywords=molex+to+12v

(not sure if I'm allowed to post links)

 

[perkint]

To be honest, I'm not sure about links, but yes that should do the job

Tim

 

[perkint]

Just to hilite my own stupidity - I put constant current in my previous post, but meant constant voltage!

Tim

 

[mcgyvr]

I suspect the controller might actually need a 5V supply as well as the 12V!

Tim

Looking at it again.. It does.. +5V/GND/+12V

 

[mcgyvr]

Whats the current rating for the fan?

 

[Hugo Tait]

Single Arctic F12 fan, 0.24A/12VDC

 

[Hugo Tait]

Hmmm. That 5-12v supply worked a treat!

However, the fan speed doesn't change when turning up/down the settings either using the temperature probe or manually...
I've tried 4 different fans now, normal/PWM/noctua and cheap ones (the connector is only 3 pin so I guess all PWM functions are redundant?!).

The £20 noctua didn't even start by itself. Presumably the controller starts at 5v which is not enough to rotate the fan.

Any ideas appreciated...

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[mcgyvr]

I've found that to be true for many DC fans..
Their internal electronics does not allow them to be pwm'd..
Only via reducing/increasing voltage (to a point) can the speed be controlled..

 

[Hugo Tait]

This chap seems to have got it working.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=T9624_a43OA


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[perkint]

Don't know how the controller works, but it should at least vary the speed on PWM fans? 3 speed fans don't have an external speed control so can only be varied by changing the voltage and even then, a lot only actually work with a range of something like 9 - 12V, but you should be able to tell the difference! Similar with PWM fans - most cannot actually be turned off using PWM so you only have a limited speed range, but should be able to tell.

Have you tried a 4 pin fan? Connecting all 4 pins?

Tim

 

[Hugo Tait]

Don't know how the controller works, but it should at least vary the speed on PWM fans? 3 speed fans don't have an external speed control so can only be varied by changing the voltage and even then, a lot only actually work with a range of something like 9 - 12V, but you should be able to tell the difference! Similar with PWM fans - most cannot actually be turned off using PWM so you only have a limited speed range, but should be able to tell.

Have you tried a 4 pin fan? Connecting all 4 pins?

Tim

Thanks Tim,

The controller itself only has a three pin connector (with room for four pin connection). I've tried both 3 and 4 pin fans. I've since brought a new Thermaltake controller which works fine with all the fans. I'm guess it must therefore be a broken controller.

Only problem is the controller attempts to regulate fan speed to maintain 40C, which can't be altered. I guess I'll just have to experiment with the location of the temp probe to find a spot that maintains the T5 cold spot at 45C.


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[slojim]

Here on the Gulf Coast, I'll rarely worry about my tank getting too cold. I'll likely not need temperature control, I'll just have them turn on with the lights. But for my entertainment center, where I didn't want the fans running all the time the power is on, I used fans from coolerguys.com. I can't tell you they are better or worse than anyone else, but they had all the options I wanted for fan cooling in one place. They've been installed about 2 years now, working fine. Again, I have not used them on my fish tank. I did get a fan and controller upgrade, along with a hood mod, from a place called nanotuners. It worked, but I think they are out of business.