This way, you’ll know exactly which to use, and when.

When learning how to construct a pwm fan controller, it helps to understand or learn how to execute the various technologies/methods as well as their merits and disadvantages. I used the TI Launchpad RM57L MCU development kit to construct this fan controller (thanks to TI for sending it), but this code can be easily modified to run on the cheaper Launchpad TMS57012, or the Launchpad TMS57004 Launchpads as well. Key reasons for PWM motor controllers include improving the efficiency of appliances, as well as reducing noise levels by operating them at low speeds whenever feasible. Pulse width modulation is a far more complex, superior, and an increasingly common current control method which facilitates the control of motor speeds, lamp brightness, among other things in an energy-efficient manner. The transistor will still waste some electricity, but not as much. PWM on the other hand, pulses the full current on and off many times per second.

The former technology is extremely easy to build, but causes the transistor to burn off quite a bit of the current passing through it. This can be done using a combination of a potentiometer and transistor, or another varistor circuit. Resistive speed controllers control a given fan motor’s speed by resisting the flow of current from the power source to the motor. I will explain two key technologies: Resistive speed controllers and PWM fan controllers. Below is a demo of the fan controller in use on a desktop CPU cooler.īefore learning how to build a fan speed controller, it helps to learn how the various speed control methods work.

This project automatically monitors the temperature of the object the temperature sensor is attached to (in this case, a CPU heat sink used to cool a small thermoelectric module), and controls the fan speed accordingly to minimize noise output, as well as power consumption. It enables users to efficiently vary the speed of PWM fans to reduce noise levels, and power consumption. In this article, I’ll show you how to build a pwm fan controller (DC) using a brief C program, and a few parts including the Launchpad RM57L microcontroller development kit. The RM57L-based PWM fan controller - internal view.

Usb fan controller