Case Modding: Enlightening Lighting

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Sharkoon Rainbow Fan: A Class-Act Light Show

The most striking feature of the Rainbow Fan is without doubt the extra board located on the fan's axle. Without power, the design does not appear particularly daring. The 80mm fan features a plastic grille casing that is easy to remove from the rest of the unit. Only after doing so does it become evident that its other function is to conceal a permanent magnet, necessary for induction. Several induction spools are located on the board, which by the way is only attached to the fan by two-sided tape. If you turn the board fast enough inside the permanent magnet, the 5 LEDs will light up dimly. The system fan, turning at 3,000 RPM, has to be on to get the five colored LEDs to really glow. The onboard logic provides for a scintillating spectacle of light.

The black condenser standing off to the side could be a bit smaller, as it is not only unsightly but also makes the fan unbalanced. Even when mounted, the imbalance is clearly noticeable. This flaw is supposed to be eliminated in the final version of the Rainbow. Sharkoon ought to switch the ugly-looking black fan on which the Rainbow unit is located. The company should also reconsider its pricing, as $19 is definitely too much to pay for a piece of plastic with lights on it.