Uses for powerful fans
 

I've been given some nice 24V 1.0A DC ball-bearing fans, which move about 11L/second. I'm able to run these of SLA 12V batteries in series, which provide about 24.3V DC.

They are built like a tank with metal frames. The only down-side is the amount of noise they make which is significant.

One use I have, is when soldering, as I hate solder fumes, and I'm sure they're no good, to vent those through a tube outside.

Can anyone think up other crafty uses for these? If I attach a suitable potentiometer I should be able to vary the speed also right?


SPECIFICATIONS:-
Manufacturer: ROTRON
Mfg Part #: PQ24B6QDNX
Tedss Item ID: 2031000143
METAL FRAME. 7 BLADE. 24VDC. 1A. POLARY PROTECTED. SIZE 171.5 MM / 6.75 IN.
Diameter 6.75" 171.4mm
Height 2" 50.8mm
SPECIFICATIONS
supply voltage: 24 VDC (MAX)
supply current: 1.00 A (MAX at 24VDC)
power rating: 24.00 W (MAX RATING)
flow rate: 235.0 CFM (NICE) 11.090825 L/second?
connection type: WIRES

Re: Uses for powerful fans
 

I'd put classified ads in off grid forums. My cieling fans are designed to operate either on 12 VDC or 24 VDC without any modifications. Hook up 12 VDC to one of them and see how it works.
They might make good bathroom fans or stove vent hood fans.
They also might make good cooling fans for ATV's. Many ATV's are air-cooled but when the ATV is used for weed spraying when it doesn't get much air flow, or slowly going up a steep mountain they overheat. I bought a 8" fan for mine.

235 CFM is a LOT for a little fan like that. No wonder they're loud.

Re: Uses for powerful fans
 

They'll run on 12V, but a lot quieter. In computers, we frequently downgrunge fans by connecting them to the +12v and +5V taps instead of +12V and ground. That gives them 7V to work with. Here's the thing. Most small fans are overpowered. The noise they make is caused by cavitation, a vacuum 'hole' produced behind the blades when air can't move in as fast as it's moved out the front. By slowing it down, the noise level drops dramatically, but usually the temp of whatever's being cooled isn't significantly effected. On most old computer power supplies, you can find -12V, -5V, +5V and +12V taps. Play around with them to see what works best. Remember with non-switching power supplies to keep a load on it at all times, or it'll blow.

Re: Uses for powerful fans
 

Thanks, I dropped them back to 12V and apart from some initial bearing startup noise, they are much more bearable. I still might go for a potentiometer to vary the speed as desired.

Re: Uses for powerful fans
 

Yeah it's a SIGNIFICANT amount of air they move, they were designed for a cooling tray for a large router unit, which when fully populated with cards would require such cooling in a computer room. Very overspecced.

I might get hold of a 12V 0.5A or similar DC plug adaptor and utilise them in the bathroom or stove area as you have suggested, as they are ideal for that. Being ball bearing fans they could run all day, but in this short-cycle type use they'll last 20 years and move all the necessary air required.

The ATV thing is interesting, I didn't know they had heating problems going up-hill, but I guess it's similar to a motorbike idling, they hate it on a warm day, and air-cooled or liquid cooled, they still need the airflow with their small radiators etc. to prevent overheating. I've changed a few radiators on motorbikes so I'm pretty familiar with those fans and how they cool themselves. My water-cooled bikes will even run the fans after shutdown for a while to cool off.

Re: Uses for powerful fans
 

I was confused about the CFM's in my earlier post. My 8" fan puts out 800 CFM. http://www.alamomotorsports.com/pmc/Cat_page18.html

When I built this cabin I couldn't find any suitable DC fans and had to double up 4" computer fans for the vent hood and fartfan. Although I didn't, some off grid people who have wood heat use DC fans to circulate warm air thruout the house. I just use the cieling fans.

Re: Uses for powerful fans
 

Frankly, I think fans blow.

Re: Uses for powerful fans
 

When I put the wood floor over the slab in the basement, I installed a few fans like that here and there to push air under the plywood to keep it drier.

Re: Uses for powerful fans
 

Another use might be as a blower to feed air into a small refractory furnace for smelting stuff... Not feasible where I am here though.

Re: Uses for powerful fans
 

Have used the exhaust from old vacuum cleaners to do
just that..

Works on vacuum cleaners that you can hook up
the hose to the exhaust instead of the input.

Also works great burning big pine needle piles ,
hook vac hose to a pipe and place end of pipe
in bottom of leaf pile and let it rip...:yes:
(Anyone that has burned pine needles know it
takes forever because they pack down)

Takes way way less time to burn a bunch of pine needles!

Re: Uses for powerful fans
 

Yeah, but you get the FD on the run with the 30 foot tall flames.

Re: Uses for powerful fans
 

Just depends on how you do it....:coolbeer:

It does take hours off the job...:biggrin:

Re: Uses for powerful fans
 

I saw on a forum where a Man took a squirle cage fan and blew it through---or sucked it through a 50 Cal ammo can full of activated charcoal for over pressureizing a room in case on NBC hazard.

E-A

Re: Uses for powerful fans
 

run 2 in series at 12 volts so each runs at 6 volts and see how quiet they are