BitFenix Recon Internet-Connected Fan Controller

jimhaumman · 15 Aug 2012 at 01:38

Hi purchase one of this from overclockers yesterday.
Connect it all up today,but there is few problems I'm having with it.
1.Fans I connected all 5(one 120mm case fan),4 noiseblocker 140mm pk2(nosie the make now is higher than it was one they were connected to 3 way fan controller which I had with the case Fractal design f3)
What is even more strange for me sometimes fan which was working louder(strange noise) is working all right and problem moves to different fan,but always one is doing unusual nosie.
2.In manul mode I set rpm,but one fan which is playing at the moment is going from 1300rpm to complete standstill and back again in circle.
There are two usb 2.0 headers.I connected just one?do I need connect them both?
Is the item faulty one?

Are fan controllers as a rule make fans work louder than when they are conneceted to mobo and control through bios?

thanks

MaxP779 · 15 Aug 2012 at 03:15

PICNIC

Apem · 15 Aug 2012 at 07:17

Seen a few people complain about the Bitfenix controllers I would get something else m8 tbh.

jimhaumman · 15 Aug 2012 at 08:03

yes that's what I'm going to do.
I bought fan controller to have control over fans and there rpm,but you can't have it with that one I assume.I set one of those fans for 600rpm on manual,and range of rpm goes from 500-1300rpm,later set it for 700rpm +-100rpm on value but constant.
I don't now if display shows value +-100rpm,or it actually change rpm of the fans as well?!
for the noiseblocker the lowest value I can set is 600rpm,500 and they switch off,but voltage on the box of fans says they operate 4-13,8V so surely I should have better control options of them?

Lamptron FC Touch Fan Controller how good is that one?is twice more expensive.
no so many gadgets?any idea what's the lowest rpm i could run mine nb?

Tealc · 15 Aug 2012 at 08:09

I had a strange issue with one of my fans on my Recon. It was a PWM fan and would change between 600 and 900 RPM, up and down, up and down, and you could hear it. It wasn't all the time but just some of the time and it happened in both Manual and Auto modes. I ran a wire from the tach wire to a motherboard header to verify that as I don't really trust the Recon's RPM readout, with it being graduated in 100 RPM.

I'm not sure why it does this, and it only did it with that single fan. I've put the PWM back on PWM now anyway so it's not an issue for me.

The USB headers are a bit of a fail. Only the middle one is used. Without plugging in the middle one the end one is useless.

Bitfenix could have done so much here but I can't help but feel they skimped in places to reduce costs.

My Recon runs my front case fans more or less where I tell them to be with minimal variation. I have them on Auto but their base speed is about the same as I had with my previous controller.

If Recon drives your fans too fast in Auto you can dial up the temperature setting so they react slower to rises in temperatures.

jimhaumman · 15 Aug 2012 at 09:32

Tealc said:
I had a strange issue with one of my fans on my Recon. It was a PWM fan and would change between 600 and 900 RPM, up and down, up and down, and you could hear it. It wasn't all the time but just some of the time and it happened in both Manual and Auto modes. I ran a wire from the tach wire to a motherboard header to verify that as I don't really trust the Recon's RPM readout, with it being graduated in 100 RPM.

I'm not sure why it does this, and it only did it with that single fan. I've put the PWM back on PWM now anyway so it's not an issue for me.

The USB headers are a bit of a fail. Only the middle one is used. Without plugging in the middle one the end one is useless.

Bitfenix could have done so much here but I can't help but feel they skimped in places to reduce costs.

I agree with that,I could pay extra for all this features say 10£,just if they make sure it actually works.

My Recon runs my front case fans more or less where I tell them to be with minimal variation. I have them on Auto but their base speed is about the same as I had with my previous controller.

If Recon drives your fans too fast in Auto you can dial up the temperature setting so they react slower to rises in temperatures.

I'm setting this up well over an hour now,why the same fun can run constant for 600rpm with 5,5v but under can't?

i set on the internet settings with max rpm for all fans 1300rpm,and 600rpm.
when i load settings from max to min and vice versa,nothing happens?I'm doing something wrong or this just doesn't work?

BrianB · 15 Aug 2012 at 18:56

It works but it's awkward. I only use the web interface. Would love to have dials but have a case door so it's not an option. Looks good though! (behind the door -.-)

MaxP779 · 15 Aug 2012 at 20:28

Tealc said:
If Recon drives your fans too fast in Auto you can dial up the temperature setting so they react slower to rises in temperatures.

Pretty sure it dosent work like that unfortunately, the fan speed curve on auto cannot be altered. At 30*C the controller sets the fan to a 40% duty cycle regardless of what temperature you have set in the software, the temperature only alters when the warning alarm comes on and when the fan whacks up to 100%, it dosent actually allow for a more gradual fan speed increase by altering the fan speed curve.

Setting it at 31*C for example will make the following happen, the fan will go to 40% when 30*C is detected, it will then go to 100% when 31*C is detected, it dosent give it a steeper speed curve at all. A bit poor IMO but lamptron does the same balls with their auto setting :rolleyes:

xbournex · 15 Aug 2012 at 21:11

If the fan is spinning at a voltage under the fan can handle, it will ramp back up.

jimhaumman · 15 Aug 2012 at 21:39

I love the look of that fan controller but responsiveness when going to my preset 600rpm from 900rpm is bad,fans switch of and start up again,so I need to interfere and set some of them to 700rpm and leter back to 600rpm.
I decide to send BitFenix Recon back and get Lamptron FC Touch Fan Controller - Black [LAMP-FC0092Hl.
Will I be able with that one to control operating voltage in range of 4-13,8v?
400rpm to 1300rpm.
Lamptron FC Touch is for faster fans with range control from 1000rpm to 5000rpm?

xbournex · 15 Aug 2012 at 21:41

You won't get over 12V without hacking any fan controller. 4V is too low for your fan.

jimhaumman · 16 Aug 2012 at 01:05

xbournex said:
You won't get over 12V without hacking any fan controller. 4V is too low for your fan.

that what it's says on the box of nb pwk2 operating voltage 4v-13,8v.
so will I get 4,5v to 12v with lamprtron fan touch controller?

jimhaumman · 16 Aug 2012 at 01:10

BitFenix Hydra Fan/LED Controller-is that one better than recon?is it more responsive?
will it keep rpm stable ?

Tealc · 16 Aug 2012 at 01:40

MaxP779 said:
Pretty sure it dosent work like that unfortunately, the fan speed curve on auto cannot be altered. At 30*C the controller sets the fan to a 40% duty cycle regardless of what temperature you have set in the software, the temperature only alters when the warning alarm comes on and when the fan whacks up to 100%, it dosent actually allow for a more gradual fan speed increase by altering the fan speed curve.

Setting it at 31*C for example will make the following happen, the fan will go to 40% when 30*C is detected, it will then go to 100% when 31*C is detected, it dosent give it a steeper speed curve at all. A bit poor IMO but lamptron does the same balls with their auto setting

Oh I hadn't noticed that. To be honest I've only fiddled briefly with the temperature value and not really taken much notice of the changes.

And as for fans spinning up because it's lower than the fan can handle, well I'm not sure about that as the problem fan I had easily goes down to 400, yet varied by 600 to almost 900 under Recon's control.

I don't understand how it varies though. Surely once the controller sets say 40% duty cycle then it should remain there until the temperature rises and not vary by 15-20% just by itself.