using low voltage on DC fans
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Greg Smith
I am using an ATX power supply for my Tortise switch machines. I have a number of 3.3 VDC and 5 VDC wires that at present are not being used. Can I use 3.3 or 5 VDC on 12 VDC fans without damaging the motors in the long run? They run okay, a bit slower than when on 12 VCD of course.
Greg ps - I am going to set the fans up behind my Digitrax Command Station and Boosters for a bit of extra cooling.
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Steve Haas
>>>>> I am using an ATX power supply for my Tortise switch machines. I have a number of 3.3 VDC and 5 VDC wires that at present are not being used. Can I use 3.3 or 5 VDC on 12 VDC fans without damaging the motors in the long run? They run okay, a bit slower than when on 12 VCD of course. <<<<<
Greg,
You’ll be fine. What you propose to do is roughly the equivalent of running a good old fashion 12 DC motor in an old Athearn engine at somewhere around 27% and 42% of full throttle on that old Power Pack you got with that first train set so many years ago.
Best regards,
Steve
Steve Haas Snoqualmie, WA
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The fans are in reality brush-less DC motors and therefore rely on internal electronics to make them rotate. What happens when you under drive them therefore cannot be predicted. Some fans are rated to work down to 5 Volts but others don't say. If you give me the model and part number I will see if I can find its' electrical rating. Ken Harstine
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Greg Smith
Ken
Thank you for the information. I have a couple of 12VDC fans – think
I paid $2.00 for them – so as you say they are not expensive. They do run
on 3.3 and 5 VDC. Mainly I was curious as to their likely longevity and
also to find a use for the 3.3 VDC outputs. One sure way to find out
is to run them and see if they last. If they do not I will replace with
5VDC fans.
I am new to this and many basic (dumb) questions are
forth coming.
Greg Smith
ps – I have checked the voltage output on the ATX power supply and all
three voltages are very close to rating.
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