Miscelleneous by stefan @ 2011-06-14
The FC5V2 fan controller comes with an improved LCD screen compared to the previous version, has the unique feature of being able to change the screen colour to one of the 7 available choices and provides more than enough power for each of the four channels (up to 30W).
At first I would like to thank Lamptron for offering me a sample of their FC5V2 Fan Controller for reviewing.
"Lamptron develops and markets the next generation of high performance computer peripherals using the latest technology that enables a new level of interaction between the end-user and their personal computer. Products developed are through a combination of proprietary technology, innovation and ergonomic industrial design. There are three principal business sectors:
PC Gaming products
PC Silence products
PC Modding products
Products are designed and developed by our experienced Reseach and Development Department.Our engineering and R&D staffs specialize in user analysis, material control and industry design. Lamptron not only has expertise in product easy-to-use and product design, but we also plays a vital role in the enhancement of production efficiency and marketing analysis. We are constantly developing new products and technology to meet market demands and to generate new markets for our innovation products.
Our Global success is attributed to three basic visionary attributes:
-Continue to offer innovation products which means the products are in the highest quality and innovation.
-Providing our global partners with a level of service that is consistent with our premium product range.
-Helping our global partners grow, through reliable service, quality products, flexibility and co-operation
This simple philosophy has allowed us to build long standing relationships with global distributors."
New and Improved LCD!
CNC milled face plate from blocks of 3/4" thick soild aluminium
Bring out that full aesthetic appeal you always wanted in the 5.25 inch Bay
Four knobs to control four 3pin channels
User's choice of displaying Celsius, Fahrenheit, or Voltages for the bottom line readout
Dimensions: 5.25" bay
Power Output: Up to 30w per Channel
Face Plate Color Available: Black Anodized/Silver Aluminium
DC Input: +12v (Standard 4-Pin Connector)
DC Output: 0-12v
Changeable Display Color: Red, Yellow, Green, Cyan, Blue, Purple, White
Control Channels: 4
The FC5 fan controller packaging has been sightly changed from the V1 version; the V2 comes fully sealed and on the frontal side of the box we can find the specification that this is the “V2” version, with a “New and Improved LCD”; also here we can locate a photo with the main product:
One of the package laterals contains a product description, along with the list of components:
The full list of specifications is located on the opposite side, along with the features and fan controller color (in this case the sample was “silver aluminum”):
After removing the outer packaging, we can find another box inside, with the Lamptron logo on top:
The box has two compartments, separated by protective foam:
Besides the controller, in the box we can find one extra jumper, 4 black screws, one power cable, 4 fan extension cables, the instruction manual and 4 temperature probes:
The fan controller can be powered up directly from the power supply, by using one MOLEX cable, or we can use the MOLEX extension cable that was supplied by the manufacturer:
The fan cable extensions are 3-wire and they are not sleeved:
Four temperature probes are supplied along with the product, which are very responsive:
In the instruction manual, we are shown the product components, how to connect the fan/fan extension cables, how to operate the different jumpers or how to use the alarm function:
The “Silver Aluminum” version has a clean look and it looks best when installed on white/metallic gray cases; initially, the screen is covered by a transparent plastic protective screen:
Each channel comes with its own dial:
While looking from the top of the controller, we can locate two sandwiched PCBs, one for the LCD display and the other one for the power channels:
On the back, we can see the fan channels with the respective connectors and some other jumpers, headers:
On the right side, we can find the temperature probes headers, noted with JS1 to JS4, the alarm header and the select jumpers, which change the display modes (temperature displayed in degrees Celsius, Fahrenheit or voltage display mode):
By making combinations with the B(blue), G(green), R(red) jumpers, we can obtain different colors on the display:
The MOLEX connector can be found in the top right corner of the PCB:
In the middle, we can find the alarm buzzer; the alarm is turned on in case one of the recorded temperature passes over 70 degrees Celsius or when one of the fans does not rotate when powered by a voltage higher than 6.5V:
Here are the different colors that we can obtained by playing with the jumpers:
If we modify the position of the “Select” jumpers, we can tell the controller to display the temperature in Celsius instead of the voltage:
When a probe is connected, the controller will display right away the respective temperature:
As expected, the product installation can be done in a snap; however, if we want to make changes to the display color or the other settings, we must be sure to mount the controller in a bay where the back PCB is accessible.
The main highlights of the FC5 are the high power output per channel (up to 30W) and the possibility to change the LCD display color. By changing the color we can match the display theme with the rest of the case. Another useful feature is the fact that we can bring the fans to a full stop when needed.
The temperature values update quickly on the display when the probes are installed; this is useful because some of the components heat up quickly right after the computer was turned on.
If we decide not to use the temperature probes that came with the device, we can always switch to the voltage display mode.
I would really like to see on the next Lamptron fan controller revisions sleeved extension fan cables to minimize the cable clutter inside the case; also, the functions that are available by operating the jumpers in the back could be modified by including a button on the frontal side of the unit. Since each of the four channels has a high power output, it would have been nice to see some included adapters for connecting multiple fans on the same channel.
The FC5V2 Fan Controller from Lamptron can be found in shops for about 39,90 Euros.
I would like to thank again to Lamptron for making this review possible!