I'm stuck in a project and was looking for some help. The task is to connect multiple DC cooling fans together around (12-20 say) and control them using PWM signal (same power for all fans). I need little help and insights on how can I connect them together and then power them? I got to know about 16 channel PWM driver or Adafruit 16-Channel interface, but I am not sure if it would work for 12V supply.
I am new to electronics, so any help and suggestions would be highly appreciated!
I am using low voltage DC Cooling fans (12V DC) with dimensions as 40,40,28 mm (Height * width * depth) with wire leads and current rating of 0.56A, and I want to connect them together with same power, and pwm.
If I take 20 fans about the size you mention I would guess that 500 mA per fan is more than enough. You make absolutely no mention of fan current? My read is all fans will use the same PWM (run same speed). You also made no mention of how you want to control the PWM? Based on temperature? Based on a thermal rise? Less knowing more I would just use a single N channel MOSFET configured like this with a 10K resistor MOSFET Gate to ground and a 220 Ohm resistor in the gate path. Similar to this:
Hi,
So you do not need a separate PWM pin for each fan.
In fact you could group fans in sets of 5 or 6in parallel and control each set with a MOSFET.
The MOSFET gate would then be connected to one or two controller outputs.
Both outputs programmed with the same PWM.
Is this a school/college/university project?
Thanks.. Tom...
PS. I'm off to bed, its 2:00am here...
Thanks a lot for your suggestions!
The current rating of each fan is 0.56A, as I told previously. I have few doubts:
Which kind of MOSFET should I use for connecting 16 fans together, each of 12V supply and 0.56A current rating?
Just to clarify, I intend to give PWM signals through the Arduino, and control the speed of the fans (all fans together connected in parallel), so will Arduino UNO work?
How should I power them, what would be the most used method?
The fans are identical and the model is: Low-Voltage Equipment-Cooling Fan, 12V DC with Wire Leads, 1.57" Square x 1.11" Deep Overall, 22 CFM. I have not yet tested them, but I guess it should work. Welcome to any suggestions!
Your schematic will work fine. Note in my drawing, as I pointed out, you want a 10 K resistor on MOSFET Gate to Gnd and about a 220 R resistor in series with the MOSFET Gate. I suggested a FQP30N06L but any similar logic level MOSFET will work and make sure your 12 VDC supply can handle the current. You have 0.560 Amp per fan times a max of 20 fans so 11.2 Amps max load. Next allow for locked rotor on any fan and start current plus allow some overhead so roughly about a 20 Amp supply.
I suggested a FQP30N06L but any similar logic level MOSFET will work and make sure your 12 VDC supply can handle the current. You have 0.560 Amp per fan times a max of 20 fans so 11.2 Amps max load. Next allow for locked rotor on any fan and start current plus allow some overhead so roughly about a 20 Amp supply.