60HZ v 50HZ PC fans

[eyec]

what effects from running 60HZ fans on a 50HZ system; motor or air flow degradation? Anything else?

TIA

 

[G0AOZ]

My guess would be they'd run slightly slower (giving less airflow) and get marginally hotter. This is assuming identical AC voltages. However, you very rarely see 60Hz units rated for 230 volt working, or 50Hz at 115 volts.

What are these fans out of? Most fans used in computers these days are low voltage DC units, usually 12vdc, although I've occasionally seen 5vdc motors.

If you're talking about low voltage DC fans, then the frequency rating won't come into it...

ROGER - G0AOZ.

 

[edfair]

Suspect that he is dealing with the 5" muffin fans like they put in cabinets.

 

[eyec]

edfair, you are correct. yes, they are AC rated.

 

[ngxGraz]

Suffered performance

 

[BionicJohn]

I moved UK PCs to the US and back a few times.

There was no problem with most monitors - you just plugged then in and away they went.

For PC Power supplies, most if not all had a switch to select the frequency and voltage, usually easily accessible on the back panel.

It was necessary to buy country specific external power supplies for peripherals, e.g. some HP printers, scanners, routers.

Liverpool: Capital of Culture 2008
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Iechyd da! John
Glannau Mersi, Lloegr.

 

[G0AOZ]

Virtually all PCs these days use switching mode power supplies. This does away with the great fat transformers that used to be employed to obtain low voltage feeds from 115/230vAC. Hence the little voltage switch on the back of many computer PSU's which allow them to run on either type of supply. Transformers and other inductive devices like mains operated fan motors are designed specifically to run at a particular frequency of alternating current (AC).

So, yes, if the fans are of the correct voltage then you'll probably get away with either 50Hz or 60Hz, but check them to see that the motors are not getting too hot.

ROGER - G0AOZ.