I have a 12vdc computer fan. It is being turned on for about 5 seconds every 25 seconds, so the duty cycle is about 17%. Is the fan's life expectancy longer or shorter than if it ran continuously?

Thanks.

 

Modern fans usually have electronic drives so it is not just a mechanical mtbf issue. There is a fair bit of reliability data and reports around on tubeaxial fan bearings and life - as this has been the part that has received huge focus over the last 2-3 decades wrt modern high-density power supplies. Usually that data is for continuous rated and 'lower' operating speed conditions. Milspec HDBK-217 is usually referred to for reliability issues and may have some recommended mtbf factors for duty-cycle operation.

Ciao, Tim

 

Although MTTF hours are reported for continuous use and one would assume that running it non-continuously would increase its lifespan, turning it on and off may be detrimental to its health. I believe the OP is asking which has more effect: lifespan gain from lower duty cycle (5X more) or lifespan loss from in-rush current (unknown). I'm not sure. I would guess that inrush current is negligible in comparison to flyback suppression, conductor reliability at higher power, and mechanical reliability, such that lifespan is increased overall.

 

Yes it's a tricky call, and given the high reliability of good quality fans (assuming we are not talking about low quality stuff) then I doubt there is a definitive answer - which is why I suggested the OP look for any substantiating data.

 

Although anecdote is not particularly useful, my oscilloscopes' fan has been in use for almost 17 years - it's not on all the time, of course.

One of the most common failures I've seen with fans is them getting clogged with dust, followed by stalling and overheating, usually over a long period of time. On the computer side, I've also had more catastrophic failures. A small screw or something fell into a case fan. This promptly caused the fan to destroy itself, losing two blades. It still worked, but it was very noisy and vibrated a lot, because it was out of balance. It's a catastrophic failure, but not likely to happen. And it's very obvious when it does happen.

 

Takes a heavy duty fan to be able to lose a blade! Wouldn't stick my finger in that one...

 

Takes a heavy duty fan to be able to lose a blade! Wouldn't stick my finger in that one...

Any fan going at 2000 RPM doesn't like a piece of metal stopping it almost instantly. If the blade doesn't break entirely, it will probably crack. (I used to experiment with old computer fans. They go really fast on 30V.)

 

Most solid state fans (brushless) are constant speed. Varying voltage does not speed them up or down. Older models, the ones that use brushes, can be varied.

It is basically the same reason solid state fans burn out more or less instantly if spun up with compressed air. The counter EMF zaps the electronics.

 

Most solid state fans (brushless) are constant speed. Varying voltage does not speed them up or down.

Sorry - this isn't the case.

Brushless DC computer fans can and do change speed with the voltage applied across them, and the load of stuff on their blades.

I made a temperature-regulated fan speed control using a thermistor in the feedback loop of an LT1171 wired as a flyback regulator. It works quite nicely; a 12v fan that is noisy as the dickens (85 CFM) when powered by 12v alone is nice and quiet when its' full capacity is not required to keep the computer guts cool.

 

It was designed for it then. Ever take one apart? A chip (8 pin SMT DIP), resistor, capacitor, and 6 coils. Most RC oscillators don't very a lot with power supply variations.

 

Most are designed to vary with applied voltage; the computer uses PWM, which effectively modulates the voltage to the fan.

 

CPU fans nowdays yes, but not standard units like what is in a power supply. PWM will not work on a fan that uses the arrangement I just described (the RC oscillator). The chip sequences between the 6 coils.

 

CPU fans nowdays yes, but not standard units like what is in a power supply. PWM will not work on a fan that uses the arrangement I just described (the RC oscillator). The chip sequences between the 6 coils.

Generally, 3 wire fans are PWM capable, while some 2 wire small fans aren't good at variable speed or reversal.

Dust is the biggest killer, followed by heat, which causes the oil in the sintered bearings to seep out too fast.

If you have a ball bearing fan, and not in a dusty environment, they can run forever if kept oiled. Sintered bearings (oil "smashed in" with ceramics for a sleeve bearing) are catching up and even surpassing ball bearings in computer sized fans, though.

 

CPU fans nowdays yes, but not standard units like what is in a power supply. PWM will not work on a fan that uses the arrangement I just described (the RC oscillator). The chip sequences between the 6 coils.

Bill, I'm sorry, but I have to disagree with your assertion that an RC oscillator keeps a stable frequency over voltage. That feature is unique to 555's and some forms of relaxation oscillators built around comparators. It is likely just using a Schmitt inverter internal to the chip to generate the oscillations; and the frequency increases as voltage increases. I have found 90% of modern power supplies include a fan regulator which runs the fan slowly under low load and fast under high load. It is done using PWM.

 

Bill,
Yes, I've dissected more than a few fans.

The 6-pole fan you've taken apart seems to be a somewhat unique case. Most computer fans nowadays have four coils and two transistors, driven by a Hall-effect sensor, providing the motive force.

I can only suggest that each fan needs to have its' performance evaluated on a case-by-case basis; as no single solution will work in every case.

 

Bill, I'm sorry, but I have to disagree with your assertion that an RC oscillator keeps a stable frequency over voltage. That feature is unique to 555's and some forms of relaxation oscillators built around comparators. It is likely just using a Schmitt inverter internal to the chip to generate the oscillations; and the frequency increases as voltage increases. I have found 90% of modern power supplies include a fan regulator which runs the fan slowly under low load and fast under high load. It is done using PWM.

As Wookie just mentioned, there are other methods. As for RC circuits being stable, look again. The charge curves are in percentages. Where the variations come in are from fixed voltages from junctions. Stable is relative. You will not get a 50% change from a simple RC circuit.

Can't argue with thatoneguy either, I've blown a lot of dust out of equipment over the years.

 

As Wookie just mentioned, there are other methods. As for RC circuits being stable, look again. The charge curves are in percentages. Where the variations come in are from fixed voltages from junctions. Stable is relative. You will not get a 50% change from a simple RC circuit.

But it's not just ratios - for most simple oscillators, the on and off thresholds are not ratiometric to the supply voltage. So they may be 2.8V and 2.0V at 5V, but 1.5V and 1.2V at 3.3V. Try it - you'll find that a Schmitt oscillator will vary considerably. In my case, from 2V to 6V, I got it to go from a few kHz to about 40 kHz - that's a massive variation.

 

I have a 12vdc computer fan. It is being turned on for about 5 seconds every 25 seconds, so the duty cycle is about 17%. Is the fan's life expectancy longer or shorter than if it ran continuously?

Thanks.

So, after all this, is there an answer to my question?

 

So, after all this, is there an answer to my question?

Two sides to the issue.

First: Electronics HATE being switched on and off. Example: Hard Disk Drives left running will work for 7 years or more, while those turned off each day die within 3-4 years. Incandescent light bulbs will burn out sooner due to the rapid temperature changes.

Second: "Mean Time Between Failures" is rated at continual duty. each time the fan turns, a tiny amount of the shaft and oil are "used". The fewer revolutions, the less wear.

The answer is a combination of the two. Which failure mode is more likely? I'm sure you've had fans that didn't run, but if you "helped" them get spinning, they would run fine until powered off again.

Is the main goal extending the lifetime of the fan, saving power, or reducing noise?

Longest lifetime is a combination of running cool and at a lower RPM.

Saving power is means waiting until the fan needs to move hotter air, and adds to the electronic stress of the off/on temp cycles.

Reducing noise means lowering the RPM or a better blade design.

Typically, "Power Saving" kills electronics faster than leaving them run continually, IF they are run under the maximum limits. Heat stress/shock damages both mechanical and electrical devices. There is no answer without contacting the manufacturer, as some fans are designed for optimal lifetime in one "mode" of operation, and using that fan in a different mode will shorten the lifetime a good deal.

 

I've had fans die just from handling them. They were super cheap units, but the bearings can wear out and still work until the hub of the fan is moved.

It's like a lot of things, you spend the money, you get the quality.