what is the advantage of computer fans

F

Fman

Well-Known Member
My question is about fans . I have built a room on the patio its 4x8x7. Im going to need intake and exhaust fans. I see a lot of people talking about computer fans. What ,if any, advantage is there to using a pc fan over say one of those 4'' ecoplus fans.
 
If you have a small space that doesn't have heat issues, it is cheaper and pretty easy to use computer fans. What kind of light do you plan on using?
 
Fman said:
When you say "cheaper", do you mean the cost to buy them or the cost to run them?
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both. PC fans are cheaper to buy and cheaper to run but they do not move a lot of air around.

If you are using CFLs, you might get away with using PC fans but if you are using HIDs in that size space (about 224 cubic feet) - I would get a vortex-style fan that is rated at least 3 times the cubic feet of your room (another words a 672 CFM rated fan or more).

In my opinion, that is far too large a space to circulate air using PC fans. And I wouldn't even consider using PC fans if you're using HID lights in any size area.
 
I thought they might be cheaper to run, because they are 12v. What about a blower fan for a boat? Those have good flow, 100 to 300 cfm, depending on the one you get, and those are 12v.
 
Fman said:
I thought they might be cheaper to run, because they are 12v. What about a blower fan for a boat? Those have good flow, 100 to 300 cfm, depending on the one you get, and those are 12v.
Click to expand...

considering your space will require HIDs the cost of the fan is going to be a drop in the bucket.... just something to consider.
 
Fman said:
I thought they would be cheaper to run cause of they'r 12v. What about a boat blower? They are about 150cfm and are 12v also.
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What i'm saying is the cost of the fans will be insignificant when compared to the cost of running the lights.
 
On that big of a space Im sure it would be better not to use computer fans. You would have to rig up more then one and it would be a ton of work and I think a waste of your time. Just get the right fan for your space in my opinion.
 
The cost to buy the fans is not as important to me as the cost to run them. Dont get me wrong, I cant afford those $300 super blowers, but the cost of running them day in and day out could really add up. 12v fans seem like they woul be cheaper in the long run. Assuming they'r enough air flow.
 
I use a 3 speed ~18" dia. fan from sears to blow on my light, then a 120v fan from radioshack for a dyi carbon filter and I'm good.
 
know I havent talked about my lights. My room is diveded into 2 areas 1for veg 1 for bloom. the veg space is 3x4x7 with a 8 2L soda bottles garden with a drip system ,the lights are 1 200w cfl in the middle and 6 42w cfls in a circle around the garden. Then I have 2' of walking space, then a wall, the last 3x4x7 space is where i will bloom, that area will get a 400hps. Yesterday with just the cfl's, the room temp got up to 80 degrees and it was about 90 or 95 outside. I leave the back door of the house open, and the door to the room cracked , the air from the air conditoner blows from the house into the room keeping it nice in there. My grow is only 8 days old,I know when the plants are bigger, and when I start blooms Iwill not be able to keep the door open. The temp will also go up because of the hps, and its going to smell, I know I will have to add intake and exhaust, plus a cooling fan for the hps. I figure 6 .1 veg intake 1veg ex. 1bloom in 1 bloom ex and 1 hps cooling,and 1 just for circulation. Thats a lot of fans to be running, Im just looking for ways to keep the cost of electricty down.
 
I think what were saying is PC fans are inadequate for your space. And the consolation is the fans are a small cost when it comes to HIDs.
 
Try and get some focus on the airconditioning into the room, then try to seal it around the door so none of your cold air escapes. I don't vent my room out. Airconditioning in and a carbon filter in the room scrubing the air with the one fan blowing on my 400w bulb to disipate the heat away from my plants.
 
you gotta realize though, those blowers are probably not using that many watts, it prob isnt gonna be more expensive to run them
 
Fman said:
I thought they might be cheaper to run, because they are 12v. What about a blower fan for a boat? Those have good flow, 100 to 300 cfm, depending on the one you get, and those are 12v.
Click to expand...

12v isn't cheaper to run. watts used for the device will determine what it costs to run. watts / volts = amps. a low voltage device will draw more amps to get the same ammt of watts.
 
kingpapawawa said:
12v isn't cheaper to run. watts used for the device will determine what it costs to run. watts / volts = amps. a low voltage device will draw more amps to get the same ammt of watts.
Click to expand...

Also have the overhead of the power supply. Most smaller use a linear voltage regulator (poor efficiency then cell phone charger/wall-wart) while the bigger and more pricey use switching power supplies (better efficiency)

For a room as opposed to a grow box, get a real fan.
 
I think Im going to try the 4" inline type. I found one online it is only $26. It draws 0.30amp (36w i think) and blows 65 to 80 cfms. I think that will exchange the air in my room in about 3 to 4 mins. 224cf/60cfm=3.73. That should work shouldnt it
 
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