Arrgggg bloomin electronics

[PeteStewardson]

After salvaging some MeanWell PSU's I've discovered they do all work, but only with a working fan. Two of the three have fans don't work, seized. So onto the tinternet I o and find a place in china selling them. Only now the PSU doesn't power up again, the fan spins fine but no power. So I'm guessing the taco signal is somehow different even though they're the same model of fan. Argggg.

Looking into them the pcb in the fan is different but it's the same damn model of fan. Looks like I'll have to check the taco output on a scope at work tomorrow.

[PeteStewardson]

Damn it, these fans are faulty

Taco signal is crap coming out of them. So they're goosed...

Contacted the company in question pchub.com and they're basically refusing to refund shipping to me, and I have to return them within 7 days of receipt for a refund. So by the time I send them back and get a refund I'll have lost most of my money anyway as express shipping is expensive. Should have known dealing with a company in china was not going to end well.

So looks like a paypal dispute in the offing.

So I'd avoid pchub.com in future guys.

[Vikki]

Sorry to hear of your problems, Peter. I hope you manage to resolve it.

Vikki.

[Mark_T]

Not surprised to hear the fans are faulty, it is a very common failure mode for this type of PSU as it is the only moving part.

I would not regard the one that is working as 'OK' though, just that you've not found the reason it was removed from use so proceed with caution as it may only fail when under load.

[PeteStewardson]

Not surprised to hear the fans are faulty, it is a very common failure mode for this type of PSU as it is the only moving part.

I would not regard the one that is working as 'OK' though, just that you've not found the reason it was removed from use so proceed with caution as it may only fail when under load.

Oh absolutley Mark, I'm not using them in any way until I can get working fans in there. I'm only counting this on fan as 'working' as I can test to see what the PSU is needing to see. I can hear the bearings are on the way out so I wouldn't trust it in use.

The problem I'm having is finding similar fans to replace them with. They use NMB-MAT 3110KL-04W-B79 fans which are high flow rate 4000rpm 12v fans. I'm finding it near impossible to find anything the same. I'm guessing the PSU will be expecting the PSU's to run at that speed so can't pick anything slower.

Maybe I'll have to try Meanwell direct.

[Mark_T]

Could try talking to these guys : PC Computer Repair and IT Maintenance in Reading, Berkshire : ASAP Computer Services, Reading

They may not be willing to supply parts for obvious reasons, but it can't hurt to ask as I bet they will know where to get the right fans.

[PeteStewardson]

Thanks Mark, will give them a try. Also dropped an email to the meanwell UK dealer/ditributor to see if they can help.

[st200ol]

I suppose it was too good to be true finding these expensive PSU's in a skip, hope you get them working soon.

I might be missing a vital compatibility item, but would these not work:

Edit: Ignore the link, they seem to be two wire only...

BP802512HL-03-W - BISONIC - FAN, SLIMLINE, 80MM | Farnell United Kingdom

[PeteStewardson]

yeah they're only 2 wire. They say the output is an option, not sure if that means they have a place to solder the output wire to or if they mean there is a version with the output on.

[st200ol]

An idea, why not use a 40mm 4000 rpm fan for the fan signal, mount this inside the case somewhere.

Then use a two wire high flow rate 80mm fan, like the one in my link above for the real cooling.

You would loose fan failure detection on the main fan, but I would think the PSU's are thermally protected anyway and you won't be leaving it unattended in any case as you are using it to charge Lipos.

[PeteStewardson]

May have to look into something along those lines. Probably end up sounding like a jet engine though which is not something I want to happen lol

[Mark_T]

Given the relatively low cost of suitable server PSU on ebay, you are in danger of spending more money and time getting these working than they are worth.

It would have been great if they were not faulty but need to avoid the slippery slope now you know they are ...

[PeteStewardson]

I know. But hey it's keeping me busy lol

[PeteStewardson]

Haaaaa harrrrrr as Alan Partridge would say

One fixed fan, only 2 more to go

I decided to take apart one of the fans that wasn't working and sure enough it's the bearings, one's exploded pretty much. So after figuring out how to take it apart I took apart one of the dodgy new fans. Took out the shiny new bearings and used the fan with the clean magnets for the motor and re-assembled. Hey presto a fan running smooth as silk with a taco output that should work perfectly

Feel like doing a little dance now

[Delarado]

nice, smart work peter!

I was going to say that RS components do an absoloutely baffling range of fans. I needed a 50mm (i think, may even have been 40) high flow 12v 3 pin fan that i just couldnt find anywhere to go in my PC.

Went into RS and after looking through the 10 or so pages of different 12v fans they have I found a suitable one which still works to this day. And it runs at 4000rpm!

Carl