12v PC fans in vehicles?

[damienperu]

has anyone ever installed in a vehicle those low amperage fans used in computer desktops? do they survive the vibrations? they are so cheap i could handle replacing them every 6 months, but replacing them every month is a little too disposable for my liking.

i am planning on using a number of them to circulate the air around my 12v fridge under the bed in the back of the cruiser. when touring tropical areas they'll probably be on permanently (they'll be temperature controlled) so larger more robust fans won't be feasible due to their higher amperage. i will probably mount them in foam.

any experiences with them in relation to longevity before i install them will be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

 

[keezer37]

Bet they'll last for years. They survive on shaking, rattling Navy ships with no issues. I'd install the connectors to make changing them out quick and easy just in case.

 

[JIMBO]

:sombrero: Mine's a little different-it's a 3 fan USB port powered Notebook cool pad and it goes under the laptop on my RAM jeep mount-

Works fine after two years-

I think you'd be better off using an electric radiator fan (12" dia.)/w switch--more air, better cooling-

Good luck

:costumed-smiley-007:wings: JIMBO

 

[doug720]

I have used PC fans for many years to circulate air around the cooling fins of fridges in our class A motorhomes. They work great and have never had one fail! I used a small, dedicated solar panel to power them so they ran during the day. A switch was used just to turn it off for winter use.

Good option in my experience.

Doug

 

[damienperu]

thanks for the quick replies. I have a fairly elaborate plan. With a climatological background, I have at my disposition a programmable sensor datalogger/controller (model also race car proven), so i plan to use 8 low amperage fans with vent pipes. when the temperature around the fridge reaches 25C, two fans will switch on automatically, one pushing out the vehicle side vent from the top of the fridge area, one pulling up from intake under the vehicle blowing in under and around the bottom of the fridge. At 30C another pair will switch on... same again at 35C and then at 40C. will ultimately be able to set the relay switch temperatures at whatever works best. the idea is keep amperage use to the minimum required for different conditions, especially when the vehicles parked and locked up in the sun.

 

[6x6pinz]

We use the 24v versions in our military trucks to move air. Very efficient and low amp draw makes them a great choice.

 

[thejj]

i have used them for yr they r gr8 the 4 iam running now i have had 3 maybe 4 yrs now no probs

 

[damienperu]

awesome, thanks for all the confirmations, looks like I have a plan!

Cheers,

 

[Black Dog]

You could probably get blowers used in servers and copiers to have more airflow too.

 

[bfdiesel]

louder also

 

[inthedirtagain]

I used a couple 5v versions to cool the radiators of my CRF450R, with switch on the handle bars run to a battery (size of a deck of cards) mounted behind the number plate. I got over 3hrs of constant run time off that 1800mah battery pack. Depending on the volume of air that you wanted to push, you might get away with a standard case fan. For my application, CFM was important. I bought a couple of fans from Amazon.com that were rated for 145cfm. When they were on, they were noisy, but pushed a great deal of air. You can submerge a case fan in a bucket of water and it will continue to run. Food for thought.

 

[dwh]

http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/78706-Muffin-fan-for-internal-air-movement

 

[98 SNAKE EATER]

I use a pair of CPU Blower style fans to cool my OBA compressor in a suck-n-blow configuration and they've been working great for years

The top mounted fan sucks in cold air from the round port on the bottom of the box and blows it across the head of the compressor.

The tall tunnel eliminates sucking in any rain water and lower mounted fan sucks out the hot air and blows it out a rectangle port.

Both fans keep circulating fresh air and the system works so well with the lid closed that the head stays cool to the touch even after filling TWICE the volume it's rated for :Wow1:

Try that with the box open and no airflow and you'd be able to spit on the head after filling one tank and watch it sizzle :smilies27

Because of this, ViAir let me keep the warranty on the compressor even though I'm pushing well beyond their suggested use

Surprisingly, the fans have held up through Summer heat waves as well as heavy snow storms without issue

And nothing shakes more than an OBA compressor, so I wouldn't worry much about vibrations killing them

 

[damienperu]

I use a pair of CPU Blower style fans to cool my OBA compressor in a suck-n-blow configuration and they've been working great for years

thanks heaps for that. i hadn't come across that type that isn't just straight through from one side to another. should make for easier vent tube connections.

 

[verdesardog]

When buying those little muffin fans make sure of the quality, they are not all the same even if they look the same. Some are pure junk and will fail after very little use while some will go for years of continual use. Make sure they have ball bearings not just sleeve bearings.