Fan controller causing fans to buzz

C

C C

New member
Ok, to make this easier, I'll just copy/paste what I wrote in the support ticket to BitFenix (to which I haven't gotten a reply to, despite sending a week ago).
I bought a Hydra Pro fan controller June last year (2012) and every fan running off it emits some kind of motor whine noise.

The fan & fan controller configuration is as follows:
2 BitFenix Spectre Pro LED fans running off a channel
3 BitFenix Spectre Pro LED fans running off a channel
2 NZXT fans (that came with Switch 810) running off a channel
2 Stock Corsair H80 (1st gen) fans running off a channel

I'm using BitFenix 3pin to 3x3pin fan splitters for the BitFenix and NZXT fans and some random 2-way splitter for the Corsair fans.

I only hear this noise when the fans are running between minimum to ~90% of the fan controllers output. IE. I don't hear the motor whine when the controller slider is at minimum or maximum. This is the same for all of the fans.

The fan controller is connected to an AX-750 power supply (primary and only PSU in the system).

Also possibly worth noting is the fan controller itself is emitting a very faint static noise (I have to have my ear right next to it to be able to hear it), the noise gets more prominent once I increase the speed on any of the sliders with fans connected to it (though it is still very faint).

PS. I have the LEDs in the Spectre Pro fans (all five of them) connected directly to the fan controller.

Thank you for your time.
Click to expand...

Since sending this and doing some more googling, I've learned that this may be a common thing amongst fan controllers. Is this the case?

Are there any fans/fan controllers that won't give you this problem when changing the fan's speed?

Thanks.
 
Different frequencies have a different audible effect on the ear. I have no idea if this is whats happening here but it would be my first guess?

Maybe some fan guru (lol) could chime in?
 
C C said:
I've learned that this may be a common thing amongst fan controllers. Is this the case?

Are there any fans/fan controllers that won't give you this problem when changing the fan's speed?
Thanks.
Click to expand...
I'm not sure why your fan controller is doing that, but it isn't common amongst fan controller. I for one use a Kaze Master Pro and have no problems or weird noises.
Have you tried to power one of the fans without the fan controller to see if it still makes that noise?
 
Last edited:
Snortan said:
I'm not sure why your fan controller is doing that, but it isn't common amongst fan controller. I for one use a Kaze Master Pro and have no problems or weird noises.
Have you tried to power one of the fans without the fan controller to see if it still makes that noise?
Click to expand...

Well they don't make any abnormal noises at minimum or maximum speeds, it's only when I got in-between min & max they they start making this motor whine/buzz noise.
 
Do you have any fan adapters from 12V to 7V/5V? to use the fan without the fan controller and see if it still makes a noise when not at full speed.
Alternatively if you have a molex to 3 pin adapter, you can use that to get a 7V/5V mod.
 
Snortan said:
Do you have any fan adapters from 12V to 7V/5V? to use the fan without the fan controller and see if it still makes a noise when not at full speed.
Alternatively if you have a molex to 3 pin adapter, you can use that to get a 7V/5V mod.
Click to expand...

I think the only reducer I have handy is the one which came with my Zalman Performa. I don't know what it reduces the voltage to (doesn't specify), but I can try it.

If all 9 fans, from 3 different companies are buzzing, it would have to be the controller, wouldn't it?

Anyway, I'll try the reducer in the morning.
 
Yea, its most likely that the controller is to blame since multiple different fans have the same issue. But still try that to make sure.
 
Ok, I ran three of the Spectre Pros from my motherboard with the fan speed reducer (from my Zalman Performa) between them and there was no buzzing or whining sound.

Side note, should a resistor in a simple fan speed reducer get so hot that it hurts to touch?


My Googling turned up threads and forum discussions about PWM control having adverse effects on motors causing whining sounds. I'm no electrical engineer, so I don't fully understand it all, but I skimmed through Newegg reviews of some of the popular fan controllers and found quite a few people complaining about buzzing/whining.

If you guys don't have this problem with your fan controllers, I guess it's inherent to some fan controllers or maybe I just have a faulty one.

It'd be nice if BitFenix would get back to me, so I could hear their take on the situation...


Thanks for the help, Snortan.
 
Woah woah woah...
Some pretty bad advice here...

Most fan controllers work by rapidly turning fans on and off, rather than reducing the voltage - hence one of the reasons fan controllers are frowned upon on these forums.

The Scythe Kaze Master - as mentioned earlier, does use voltage resistors, rather than rapidly turning them on and off - hence why you don't have a problem with it.

In short - avoid fan controllers.

Use voltage resistors or fan speed reducers like:
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CM-101-BX
 
Thanks for the into. Is there a list somewhere of fan controllers which reduce the voltage to control fans?
 
Other than the Scythe and Lamptron controllers, I'm not sure of many more.
Most of the ones that change the voltage have knobs, rather than touch screens if that helps at all.

I personally wouldn't use them. You don't need to constantly adjust fan speeds - just set them up so they're quiet all the time and never get loud.
 
So the Lamptron FC8 and the Lamptron FC9 definitely use voltage regulation rather than PWM?
They both cost a bit more than the Kaze, but I'd rather pay the extra than have a screen I'd never use (don't have PWM fans and wouldn't bother with the temp probes).

I understand what you're saying about using simple adapter cables, but I don't want to be swapping these around come summer/winter ("quite" fans may not be an option come Australian summer). Plus, with a fan controller, I can get the balance just right for the different fans.


I'm confused. On one hand, I seem to have the symptoms of "PWM noise" in my fans, but on the other hand, I can't seem to find any other Hyrdro Pro owners reporting the same issue.

I'm not even sure if the Hydro Pro uses PWM, can anyone confirm this? Is there any way of determining this by looking at the PCB?

If I've just got a faulty unit, I'd be more than happy to buy another Hydro Pro if I knew it was going to work fine.
That's assuming BitFenix don't want to replace it. Though, even if they did want to replace it, I'd rather just ad $35 to my next order than stuff around with RMAs and be without a fan controller for weeks.

Thanks for all your help.
 
Bit of an update:

I connected a multimeter to one of the channels and found the following:

Min - Smooth, 4.8/9v
Max - Smooth, 12.1v

Anything in between - Jumped all over the place, voltage varied by as much 3.5v without touching the slider.

So yeah, the controller is stuffed.


I've decided to get the Lamptron FC5 V2.

Thanks everyone for your help.
 
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