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Started by statz22 | | 4 answers
Cooling Power Issue: Fan doesnt start up with PC until i give it a nudge
I have 7 Gentle Typhoon 1850rpm fans connected to a Sunbeam PL-RS-3 Rheosmart 3 Fan Controller 3.5" Bay 3 Channel 30W Fan Controller. Each channel of the controller runs to a 3 pin splitter board (like this).

2 fans are connect to 2 of the boards, the 3rd board has all 3 slots filled for 3 fans on my radiator. (so its 2 fans, 2 fans, and 3 fans, that are connected to each of the 3 splitters)

One of the fans that is on the splitter thats full that doesnt start up. When I turn on my pc all other fans start running normally except for this one, switching it with other pin slots on the splitter (where working fans ran fine) doesnt fix the problem. Note I did not plug back in the 3rd fan so only 2 fans were connected to the splitter (including the bad fan) when i was testing it with other pins.

Only when i tap the fan in the direction it should spin does it immediately pick up speed and then run as normal.

Is this an issue with power, the fan, or something else?

Please let me know if there is any other facts you need.
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May 20, 2014 8:50:06 AM

it was even dumber then i thought. The fan had the yellow and black wires swapped - must have done that awhile ago when sleeving. Regardless I've plugged it directly into the PSU and notice its clearly more powerful - debating whether 1850rpm vs 1400rpm really matters on a rad at the top of my case if heat rises

Best solution chosen by statz22

May 14, 2014 9:28:38 PM

Most fan controllers handle 5 fans max... with 3 or more temperature probe thru a single molex connection. Sooo.. im inclined to say the manufacturer maybe exagerating on their claims.
May 14, 2014 12:03:06 PM

plaintuts said:
did you test the fan to a direct molex plug from the psu or a chassis fan connector on the motherboard?

please check your fan controller's manual for number of supported fans.


Thanks for your reply. I cant find anything about the number of fans it can hangle, all it says is that each of the 3 channels supplies 30W of power. On other forums people have stated that a 120mm fan uses about 4-8w.

So with 7 of these split 2/2/3 across the three channels - each channel can handle 30w but the fans only require 24w (3*8w) (unless they are more then 10w!)

Am i thinking about this right?
May 14, 2014 10:18:49 AM

did you test the fan to a direct molex plug from the psu or a chassis fan connector on the motherboard?

please check your fan controller's manual for number of supported fans.

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