Control a fan using arduino nano. 5v or 12v?

Official Hardware Nano Family Classic Nano
1

Hi, I need to control a fan using arduino nano for a project but I'm a beginner so I need help. I have to decide which fan to buy and I found the Noctua 40 mm fans but there are 4 models.
Model 1: 5v 3 pin
Model 2: 5v 4 pin (PWM)
Model 3: 12v 3 pin
Model 4: 12v 4 pin (PWM)

The first problem is if I can use the 5v of arduino to run the 5v models or I need external power supply. The second problem is if it's better a 3 pin model or a 4 pin model for a beginner, which is easier to program?
Thanks a lot if someone will help me!

2

this one
no need second power supply
no need additional transistor

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3

Hello!

What´s the scope of your control? Just turning it on/off? Controlling it´s speed?
The 3 pin is on/off kind. The 4 pin allows you to control the speed.

Let us remind at first that Arduino is not a power source, so it´s recommended to provide separate power to actuators, motors in special.

If you consider the 3 pin model NF-A4x20 5V, the specifications that I´ve found
here says its Max. input current is 0.1A (100 mA). It would be possible to plug it into 5V of Arduino Nano, but doing so the fan would be always on. The digital pins of Nano that you can program to turn the fan on/off can only provide 20mA. So, you can´t connect the fan directly on them.

3 pin is surely easier to program but you´ll need external elements to feed the fan. The PWM version requires some more skills, but you can plug it on the Nano 5V and let the PWM stop it when you want it off.

So, I vote with @kolaha

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Thanks!!

5

Thanks for your answer!
The scope is to change the speed of the fan as the temperature changes measured by a termoresistor. If it's too difficult form me plan B is to turn on the fan when temperature reaches a certain value.
The fans I'm considering are the 40x40x10 models and the 5v 4 pin model (NF-A4x10 5V PWM) max imput is 0,07 A.
I need to put all the elements in a very small box (an ssd enclosure) so the best option form me should be to use only one source of power.
So do you think this one (5v 4 pin) is the best form me?

6

There are some tutorials regarding this same project on the internet. If you can execute plan B, you´ll be able to execute plan A as well. They´re almost the same.

Start learning how to get the measures from the termoresistor only. Then how to turn on and control the speed of the fan only. Put them together only when you master each of them alone. :wink:

Yes, I do.

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I still have to learn a lot make this project. Now I order the fan and I get to work.

Thank you very much!

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