PC Fans with 12v Solar Panel

chrishan0111
chrishan0111 Registered Users Posts: 1
I am trying to run 3 x 12v DC PC fans with a 12v 20w panel.

The fan specs are;
Operating voltage: 12v
Max input power: 3.6W
Max input current: 0.3A

and the solar specs are;
DC Voltage: 12V
Open circuit voltage: 22V
Short circuit current: 1.21A
Voltage at power max: 17.4V
Current at power max: 1.16A

First of all, would the 12v 20w panel be enough to run 3 of the fans?

Also, I am just worried the high open circuit voltage & voltage at power max would damage the fan.

Do I need to add something else (like solar controller) in between to prevent damaging the fans?

Thank you for your help in advance!

Chris.




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Comments

  • wellbuilt
    wellbuilt Solar Expert Posts: 763 ✭✭✭✭
    I used a flex panel on my sail boat to vent it 12 month of the year . 
    I thin the panel was 35watts it would even run with the tarp covered in snow.
     My worked for ever 
    Out back  flex power one  with out back 3648 inverter fm80 charge controler  flex net  mate 16 gc215 battery’s 4425 Watts solar .
  • mike95490
    mike95490 Solar Expert Posts: 9,583 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Some brushless DC fans will not start with a slowly ramping voltage, some have automatic restart circuit.  You will just have to test it and see.    If they were my fans, I'd get a 14V 50W zener diode & heat sink and wire it in, to clip the panel voltage on the sunniest days
    Powerfab top of pole PV mount | Listeroid 6/1 w/st5 gen head | XW6048 inverter/chgr | Iota 48V/15A charger | Morningstar 60A MPPT | 48V, 800A NiFe Battery (in series)| 15, Evergreen 205w "12V" PV array on pole | Midnight ePanel | Grundfos 10 SO5-9 with 3 wire Franklin Electric motor (1/2hp 240V 1ph ) on a timer for 3 hr noontime run - Runs off PV ||
    || Midnight Classic 200 | 10, Evergreen 200w in a 160VOC array ||
    || VEC1093 12V Charger | Maha C401 aa/aaa Charger | SureSine | Sunsaver MPPT 15A

    solar: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Solar
    gen: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Lister ,