OC3D Review: Lamptron FC-2 Rheobus Fan Controller

[JN]

Looking for a fan controller capable of taming even the most powerful fans? We check out the 45w per channel Lamptron FC-2.

Lamptron FC-2 Rheobus Fan Controller

 

[Luigi]

This is a very nice read, such a big shame it didnt live up to its claimes.. I would love to have my pc kitted out with deltas quietly purring, then jam them up and suck my room in!

 

[monkey7]

Good, easy to read review, thanks

Shame its performance sucks though. I was looking around for a good fancontroller, but this one is certainly not on the shortlist.

 

[Bungral]

Audio link on page 3 is dead mate...

Shame the controller doesn't really work... Would be nice to be able to tame Deltas down to a half reasonable level.

 

[JN]

Audio link on page 3 is dead mate...

Shame the controller doesn't really work... Would be nice to be able to tame Deltas down to a half reasonable level.

Well spotted. Will fix that in a sec.

Yeah I'm mass disappointed to. I really wanted to use a pair of these in my next build, but as I've got a box full of about 20 Delta's here which sound absolutely awful when hooked up to this controller, it gets a big fat thumbs down from me.

 

[Bungral]

Well spotted. Will fix that in a sec.

Yeah I'm mass disappointed to. I really wanted to use a pair of these in my next build, but as I've got a box full of about 20 Delta's here which sound absolutely awful when hooked up to this controller, it gets a big fat thumbs down from me.

Is there any voltage you reckon that Deltas will still run but be near silent?

If so then someone coming out with a seriously good fan controller would be well worth the effort. Whack them up to hurricane for benching and then back down for normal use.

If you come across a good controller for Deltas, let me know and I'll buy some fans off ya

 

[JN]

Is there any voltage you reckon that Deltas will still run but be near silent?

If so then someone coming out with a seriously good fan controller would be well worth the effort. Whack them up to hurricane for benching and then back down for normal use.

If you come across a good controller for Deltas, let me know and I'll buy some fans off ya

I wouldnt say 'near silent' but they can push a bit more air than your average fan with the same level of noise when turned down a tad. It does depend what ones you get though. It seems like some are just designed to be noisy. Personally i like the tri-blade ones.

The only things I've found that really work for adjusting the Delta's speeds is 50w rheostats. The only problem is they are pretty large (each one is about the size of your thumb and forefinger made into an O) and they aint pretty either:

 

[Rastalovich]

This is my issue with mobos not adopting the control of fans.

If ur controlling fans outside of regular pc use, for ur rad etc, then fair enough. But if u need one of these to control ram, pwm, nb, drive, etc fans, then frankly ur mobo is pos, imo ofc.

Tack on the cost of the controller and get a decent mobo

 

[Skiddywinks]

I'm really disappointed, it has to be said. I am looking for a simple fan controller to stick my push-pull configuration on (whether it be six individual rheobuses or whether I have to daisy chain them on to less doesn't really bother me), and with the high amperage of this I figured it would be perfect for either situation.

Looks like they really dropped the ball with this one.

 

[Luigi]

Have you looked at the Mcubed t-balancer?? If you dont need all of those fans Ill buy a couple off you and try them out

 

[Bungral]

I'm really disappointed, it has to be said. I am looking for a simple fan controller to stick my push-pull configuration on (whether it be six individual rheobuses or whether I have to daisy chain them on to less doesn't really bother me), and with the high amperage of this I figured it would be perfect for either situation.

Looks like they really dropped the ball with this one.

For 6 normal fans and a simplistic classy look then this is always a contender.

 

[JN]

Conclusion page updated guys with a response from Lamptron.

Unfortunately it doesn't look like the issues we experienced while using Delta's on the FC-2 are going to be resolved as it is being put down to the use of PWM for controlling fan speed.

 

[shadowfish]

The FC2 can be adjusted from 0-12V including all the fans. Cause the different starting Voltage of fan has different revolving angle. So the starting Voltage lower and the revolve angle will be small.