ZFC39 PWM Fan controller

I bought a ZFC39 PWM Fan controller for a project but found little information, this is my experience with this device and hopefully it will give some help for others who are using it. Links below for the pulse width modulation controller and 4 pin Fan as used in this video.
Fan : rebrand.ly/8ff7e
ZFC39 : rebrand.ly/wql

[@SimonBrunton]

You absolute legend. Thank you for taking the time to make this video 🙌

[@vijayakumarantony4155]

Thanks a lot for the well articulated video.I just bought this item to control the fan which I am planning to use to cool my hot running AV Reciever and I was also not very clear about the operational instructions given by the merchant. This video is a God send. Thanks again!!!

[@arioch2004]

Thank you, I picked one up on a whim, and your video was the first I find when I started looking for a manual to figure out the dip switches.

[@ClosestNearUtopia]

This is awesome bro! I have ordered did from grandado a few weeks back. Could not find anything else themprature steered pwm controllers with a normal 12v connector. I am actually impressed by the functionality, I ordered it for a cabinet fan which I use Noctua for. Good to see this product already revieuwd

[@bellonwheels726]

I have this fan controller board and had no idea how to use it. Now I do! Thank you.

[@revo91pl]

Very useful video, I've been looking for pwm controller for pc fan out of case use, and not only I've found it here but yet for everything explained... Hard to find any information on web... Keep doing your work mate, thank you

[@7dzman-musicfromthepast944]

Thanks very much! Well done on explaining this fan controller.

[@Ockhamcool]

Great helpful video! Well done. The manufacturer should pay you a stipend for helping them!

[@KarlA-vk4kn]

Great video! I've just received mine and this tutorial will be invaluable 👍👍

[@anthonychallis2472]

Thank you very much for this video, you’ve really cleared up how this works.

[@borsi99]

Thank you very much for this Video it helps me actually very much‼️ All the best, Boris🇨🇭

[@PaulLemars01]

Thanks for the tutorial. My application is shoehorning an EVGA GTX 1080ti FTW3 heat monster into an old Z420 workstation. I'm 3D printing some parts to duct 3 fans to force-cool onto the CPU and the GPU and this controller will fit the bill. I was hoping all the fans were temp controlled but I think it's still going to work in the confined case. Once again thanks for the video.

[@DesmondsDonders]

Nice one Dan. I went through similar when I built one for our last caravan. Only a twin fan board but very similar otherwise.

[@hectorbuenaventura5399]

Very helpful indeed! Well done and very clear explanation too.

[@thimothelamoureux5718]

Thanks for the video and description. Much appreciated!

[@eynshamyman3403]

Thank you for making vid,I found it very helpful.

[@csoky8721]

Great video, it was very useful, now i can cool down my amplifier thanks for explaining

[@920PC]

IMMENSELY helpful video. Thank you so much!

[@jensohlsson]

Great, informative video. Thanks!

[@MRPtech]

2024 Just received this board and if not this video .... You helped me A LOT with this video!!!

[@mpcaz]

Thank you.. fantastic review and explanation!

[@MrAdeptius]

The only good explanation in whole internet

[@aikafuwa7177]

The Arctice cooling fans are good fans. You picked a good one for a good price!

[@harnacopb]

Thank you for your video, you saved me a lot of time,

[@loopedron3173]

thank you! very helpful, just what needed

[@ZuckerbergDaReptilian]

Great video, thanks!

[@aldoguzman7376]

Thanks buddy! Helped a lot!

[@rpsproject5349]

Nice video. I suspect that the IC is actually designed for a single fan but the board was adapted for it to run three fans. I've been investigating the TC647 PWM Fan Controller which is a single fan controller for the 2pin or 3pin fans. It would be nice to get hold of the main chip for this unit and build my own circuit.

[@crankshaft007]

Great info

[@Thrill98]

thanks for clear explanation

[@Joop3000]

Thanks. Very helpful.

[@sreekumarUSA]

Greetings from California.Thank you for the instructions. Once I received the above item, I was like what are those DIP switches, until I viewed your video. Bless you, buddy. Have a nice day. 93s.

[@PrinceOfEville]

You're the real mvp 👏

[@tekkamanblade2244]

Great vid! Thank you!

[@TheConquesttintin]

Thank you for this!

[@williamhine487]

william Hine 9 minutes ago I have been doing some experimentation for cooling the fins on the back of a thetford motorhome fridge/freezer using one of these modules and an arctic P14 fan ( more efficient and quieter than the F range fan used in the video ). Found the fan to be noisy a lower speeds, I think due to the 'pulsing' of the PWM causing vibration. I think the PWM signal is perhaps based on a low frequency based signal ?. I was about to abandon this module when I tried fan 2 port and turned up the speed to full, then lowered the power supply voltage down to 6 - 8v and found the fan to be absolutely silent at these lower voltages with no vibration at all !. Also found even at 6v -8v the fan still has surprising torque at very low speed and easily kickstarts itself if stalled manually. Perhaps the answer is to regulate the speed by changing the supply voltage but I dont know how to regulate the voltage automatically depending on temperature ? Any ideas anyone ?. One thing I forgot to mention is that I use a small buck module to regulate the supply voltage to 12v ( adjustable ) as the motorhome '12v ' supply varies quite a lot from 12v to 14.8v .

[@natewillis448]

What did you use as a power supply? A simple wall wart or a switching power supply/something more substantial? Would you recommend a wall wart for it?

[@MrDjRayner]

Thank you for this informative video. One question, what kind of a DC power supply did you use?

[@paddyg454]

Thank you Sir!

[@iainmcfadyen4097]

CONFIRMED!! ZFC39 Version 2 will control all 3 fans based on the thermocouple temperature, if pads SY are soldered or bridged. Note also that in Version 2.0 the 'Fan Stall' alarm is disabled during startup, eliminating that annoying beep during startup. I am also experimenting with adjusting the 'Accelerating temp' and 'Full Speed Temp' values by placing resistors across the thermocouple.

[@avabro]

Exactly the information I was looking for! Thank you so much

[@benbirdsinging3275]

("CONFIRMED!! ZFC39 Version 2 will control all 3 fans based on the thermocouple temperature, if pads SY are soldered or bridged.") As indicated on the bottom of the PCB. But I am very interested in whether it is possible to operate the device at a Temp of 25 degrees to 30 degrees Celsius.

[@extrememod_ahu]

Confirming as well

[@Chris_In_Texas]

Any idea where you can find a version 2 board? I keep finding all the 1.x series boards.

[@xfg3227]

Just adding my "Thanks!" for making this video...

[@beedude99]

You daa man... thank you.

[@prpheizungsanitar6050]

Thanks very much!

[@aneikei]

Thank you!

[@tobuyornottobuy7291]

Nice, thank you

[@mrj4264]

Thanks for the video, I'm planning on buying one but wasn't sure about it. How do you power your one?

[@Eejit011]

Great video. I'm just waiting for my parts to be delivered to add cooling fans to my Dometic fridge. Based on the supplied thermistor characteristics, by adding a 500k multiturn pot in parallel to the thermistor you should be able to bring down the "starting" temperature. I've calculated that a resistance of 91k should effectively give you a temperature range of 25 - 38 degrees C or 68k to give 20-36 Degrees C. My reasoning regarding using a 500K is that if it doesn't work, 500k would bring the curve characteristics almost back in line (if that makes any sense)

[@williamhine487]

I have been doing some experimentation for cooling the fins on the back of a thetford motorhome fridge/freezer using one of these modules and an arctic P14 fan ( more efficient and quieter than the F range fan used in the video ). Found the fan to be noisy a lower speeds, I think due to the 'pulsing' of the PWM causing vibration. I think the PWM signal is perhaps based on a low frequency based signal ?. I was about to abandon this module when I tried fan 2 port and turned up the speed to full, then lowered the power supply voltage down to 6 - 8v and found the fan to be absolutely silent at these lower voltages with no vibration at all !. Also found even at 6v -8v the fan still has surprising torque at very low speed and easily kickstarts itself if stalled manually. Perhaps the answer is to regulate the speed by changing the supply voltage but I dont know how to regulate the voltage automatically depending on temperature ? Any ideas anyone ?. One thing I forgot to mention is that I use a small buck module to regulate the supply voltage to 12v ( adjustable ) as the motorhome '12v ' supply varies quite a lot from 12v to 14.8v .

[@MrLiquidArrogance]

Your 25-38 range is exactly what I'm aiming for. Did you have any success with this and would you be willing to provide any details?

[@akhmadkai2189]

Actually, you can jumper signal pwm pin from fan 1 and cut the connection to potentiometer on fan 2 and 3.

[@imadzed7985]

can i plug a fan with 2 pin ? thanks

[@ttomkins4867]

@@imadzed7985 Only 4pin pwm fans will get speed control. 2 and 3 pin fans will always run full speed. A 3 or 4 pin fan is required for the stall detection (headers 1&2 only) If your already using the board to control/monitor another fan and just want to use it to supply power, a 2pin fan would be fine.

[@SG42]

Thankyou!!

[@SubversionGarage]

Doing God’s work

[@didiersee]

Thanks for sharing but how to do with a 12v fan that only has two wires?

[@superveloce9807]

Great and very informative video! My question is - would Fan 1 turn itself off automatically should the temperature drop below the set value or will it still be spinning at its lowest speed until the circuit is powered off? Looking to use it as my AV cabinet extractor vent and it would be ideal if fans only came on when something is in use rather than spin all the time. Cheers.

[@edwinburggraaf8224]

As far as I can tell the fan will not turn of but keeps spinning at the set duty cycle. I have the same idea to use it as a cooler for my AV cabinet end I think I'm going to use the switched AC-outlet of my amplifier to switch the power supply on and off for the temperature control whenever the amp is switched on.

[@bloodcarver913]

Thanks.

[@kurtumlauf5823]

Is it clear which pins on the connector are for sensing, 12v+, 12v- and other...?

[@Neustart2023]

Thanks for this video. Today they sell V2.0 and still no docu except printing of the backside of the board. Have you any idea how to change the NTC to reduce temperature for full speed of the fan? Have I to increase resistence or to reduce resistance of that NTC? Thanks for answering and stay happy in this dark times. 😉

[@ganjafield]

nice video

[@vijayakumarantony4155]

Hi I just realised that the max rpm of my Noctua 200mm fan is only 800rpm and the stall alarm minimum speed on the module is 700-800rpm.Can you kindly share your thoughts on how to go about setting up .Thanks Heaps

[@extrememod_ahu]

Big thanks for this video. Perhaps you can update it with the "SY hack" for version 2 boards.

[@gd5625]

Is it possible to modify the temp sensor to allow the trigger to start a something like 88° C and be full speed at something 100°C ?

[@user-zc3nf4wo7m]

Where do the 12v power supply come from I have a HP all in one with the CPU fan is always running flat out this would probably work well with this PC. Regards Ed

[@jeffeisenzapf4131]

How do u get it to shut off..can I hook up a remote line or a toggle switch

[@bencook8258]

Can someone tell me the value of the potentiometers for fan 2 an 3? I would want to replace them with pots that I could mount in a project case and put knobs on them. I want an easily adjusted variable speed fan. I care nothing about thermal control.

[@racehans8142]

Very nice video. Can the board only be used for PWM controlled fans or also for voltage regulated (3-pin fan)?

[@grantogilvie3458]

No just pwm 4pin

[@iainmcfadyen4097]

Thanks for the video! I am tinkering with a board right now. Note that my board is ZFC39 Version 2.0. This board has a couple of extra shortable pads. The first is called PF, and the screen-printed information on the underside of the board says "PF=Reverse Voltage" (I have no clue yet what that means! Maybe as the thermocouple gets hotter the fans run slower?) The second pad is labelled SY, and the information next to it says "SY short: Fan3=Fan2=Fan1" I am going to short SY and experiment with fans on ports 1 and 2, and see if both are speed controlled.

[@ColdestMoon_Channel]

Hi Iain, thanks for the heads up can you put a link to where I can purchase these from so i can have a play also. thanks

[@iainmcfadyen4097]

@@ColdestMoon_Channel Try this link: www.amazon.co.uk/WODE-Temperature-Control-Controller-Module/dp/B019OWYFI2

[@ColdestMoon_Channel]

Hi Iain, sadly this is the same unit as the one I have, and does not have the functions you mention. Thanks anyway.

[@iainmcfadyen4097]

@@ColdestMoon_Channel I can send you one. However that doesn't help you, or others, find a way to specifically get the newer version boards from suppliers...Where are you located?

[@iainmcfadyen4097]

@@ColdestMoon_Channel Please contact me. I have another V2 board here and will send or deliver to you if you wish. ( I have sent email and tweets to you also).

[@desislavkanev9613]

Can i use this controller to control a speed of a 12v water pump/ 2 wires/ or i should search another controller?

[@nsashby]

Brilliant, thanks. Turning off my PC to wire mine in now 🙂

[@graemewoods8151]

Hi ! I'm looking to use this in a set up at the back of my fridge in my caravan. Can anyone tell me what switch set up they use ? I'm using fans on a splitter & connecting it to the fan1. Any help would be much appreciated ? Thanks in advance

[@christianmettler5064]

How does the alarm work if hooking 2 fans with a splitter to FAN1? It would beep only if both fans are not running, correct? Thanks for your input, great video, very easy to understand and straight forward.

[@macoloco]

i am guessing....but alarms depends on fan running below 100 rpm, that signals is read throgh 3rd pin...splitter usally have all four pins connector....PWM is sent to all fans through 4th pin......bun only one connector send back tack signal....if this fan fail, then it will beep...if other fan fail..nothing happen

[@harrisongd5518]

Hii great video, follow your other channel, im about to do the fan upgrade on my caravan could i keep the thermal probe that comes on the board and maby exstend the wire as everywhere is out of stock of the thermostat switch you suggested, i understand that it would run at at least 20% all the time but that shouldn't do any harm should it :) thanks in advance

[@vahagnmelikyan2906]

Can this be used to control 12v dc car air conditioner compressor for variable speed?

[@imadzed7985]

can i plug a fan with 2 pin only ? thanks

[@jaisavidhan9515]

Input ampere recruitment this zfc39 temperature controller circuit?

[@bowling6535]

What is the heat sensor on. Website

[@javiles2331]

Awesome thank you 🙏🏼, I have a question there’s any differences between a 4 pin fan and a 3 pin fan using this board? Thank you for your video it just resolved a lot of question.

[@felixmohr57]

Julian Aviles Same question here ☝🏻

[@cboy6060]

To my knowledge the 4th pin is the PWM pin so you can put a 3 pin fan on this board but it will most likely run at full speed an you would not be able to take advantage of the PWM speed change ability of this board.

[@benbirdsinging3275]

The device does not work with a 3 pin fan. It will then continue to run at full speed.

[@bummers]

Just the video I am looking for. Can this control the speed of 3 pin fans? Have been looking for pwm control for 3 pin fans. I mean, 4pin pwm fans basically have the pwm controller onboard right? So I am looking for a pwm generator with temp control to output pwm power to the 3 pin fans.

[@macoloco]

no but yes....on fan1 speed is controlled by pwm pulse...fan2 and fan3 is just a resistor....if you plug a 3pin fan, then ...the fan will work with higher o lower amperage.....its simple. It works on a fixed speed

[@macoloco]

can this board drive 5v fans instead 12v??

[@pranjalvishwakarma1243]

My Controller is working inversely, fan slows down as the temperature increase, why is that so? I have check thermistor is NTC 50kOmhs.

[@ttomkins4867]

I believe what they are trying to say about the current capabilities is; each fan header can handle 5 amps, but the maximum the board can handle is 9 amps.

[@leocosta4704]

thanks for the info. this item look perfect for cooling my 48 volt inverter...my problemis is the 48 volts. is there a way to upgrade this unit to 48v? thanks in advance

[@benbirdsinging3275]

You can use a Voltage divider.

[@Seadogstudio]

Easy to use DC-DC stepdown converter.

[@Autotrope]

How did you get Clive Owen to narrate this

[@lazzer408]

Don't you mean TP2 and TP3 in your chart? Thank you for your video.

[@edwinburggraaf8224]

Haha, you're right. In his defense I must say that the switch numbers are very confusing and this video really helped me to understand the settings!

[@user-vi5dr2lw1s]

I wonder how slow the fan can be if the second port is used. Can the fan blade be identified by naked eyes?

[@ColdestMoon_Channel]

if FAN2 is used, the fan speed will be 10% of the fans full speed. So, if you buy a slow RPM fan, yu may be able to see teh fan blades, but i would doubt it tbh.

[@user-vi5dr2lw1s]

@@ColdestMoon_Channel Thanks for your reply. I did try a few low speed fans under this controller later.finally found arctic p12pwm is slow enough .I can see the fan blade.

[@iainmcfadyen4097]

In my case, I found that a 140mm F12PWM on port 2 with the control reduced to minimum resulted in 4 revs per second. With 9 blades, this produced an almost imperceptible sound spike at 36 Hertz, measured using a sound spectrum analyser App. But still not slow enough to see the blades. A pen mark on the hub was easily detected at 4 revs per second.

[@benbirdsinging3275]

I bought this thing from Aliexpress. 1.86 euros, so very cheap. I have also found this effect after some thought. For me, the fact that it only starts at a minimum of 35 degrees Celsius turned out to be insufficient. I would like to have an effect between 25 degrees and 30 degrees Celsius. Would there be an opportunity to build in this ratio? As an alternative I keep construction with an Arduino microcontroller at hand.

[@user93237]

Just a guess, but it might be possible to bias the thermistor temperature probe with an additional resistor in series? This board appears to come with a 50 KOhms thermistor with a B-value (bias?) of 3950 K (Ohms?). If you search for "50K B = 3950 pdf" you will find a datasheet. According to that you'd need to bias it by 17.41 KOhms, to get the minimum temperature from 35°C to 25°C. Edit: I was wrong of course. Adding resistance will require the temperature to be even higher as it makes it read a lower temperature. A solution would then be to wire an appropriate resistor in parallel.

[@user93237]

I figured a 90 KOhms resistor in parallel would change the 35°C-45°C activation interval to ~25°C-38°C. It would be easiest to add an e.g. 100K Ohm 3296W-1-104 multiturn trimming potentiometer in parallel and adjust it as needed, though a precise 25°C-35°C is not feasible with such a simple change.

[@marekc8654]

@@user93237 adding resistor in series would increase overall resistance. That should trick processor to read that temperature is higher than it really is. That in effect would make fan come on earlier. I think you first thought was correct.

[@ifarotht5149]

I bought a pwm controller but it makes so much coil noise in my fan..

[@sitgesvillaapartmentneilsc7924]

Can you extend the leads on the thermistor please do you think,? great video

[@jfairplane8520]

Hards.. after 7 different unit.. Yes this one do work easy ! But The best is to get a ATTiny85 and put a pot on it and it work direct. But this board do work direct.

[@mertsamet2953]

hello . can we use ATTiny85 for speed adjustment of fan with pwm ?

[@jfairplane8520]

@@mertsamet2953 in fact, this is the second best option to go. and bit less cheaper. But for a ready to used and ready to ctrl 2 fan. This unit is perfect.

[@sitgesvillaapartmentneilsc7924]

Hi there, Brilliant Video thank you for the explanation, I would like to ask some questions please, I am making a cnc cooling system in a closed loop using either 1 or 2 fans, i havent decided yet but I can only get black fans , the old type without decent CFM, the 3 and 4 pin fans seem to give out more CFM , also the important bit for me is white! Do you think that I would be able to run 2 fans off this and use it to control them direct on my 2 fan radiator,? Could you extend the wires on the thermal detector so I could bury that inside the radiator for emergency heating in case the water gets hotter so run both fans of pin 1 ? I have a sealed coolant tank 3 litres in a pure copper cylinder I have made and had sprayed pure white , A lovely expensive all copper white two fan radiator and white silicone tubing. and white pump all filled with special coolants and silver for bacterial issues. You see the theme going on here, slight OTC Finally could you run RGB fans off this and use the remote that comes with them to change colour if needed?. Thanks, Im not a pc guy just a cnc guy looking to build a decent closed loop cooling system to avoid emptying a bucket of filthy water every week. thank you very much, a well explained video and the first I have seen on how to use 4 pin fans directly off 12 volts. If you could find time to answer my questions that would be brilliant thanks.....thanks. Neil

[@Murlock2000]

THANKS. How ever - you have the fan on the table AND it's pointed towards the table and not you so you can't feel the real air flow even though you try

[@LIN72R]

Como podría "engañarlo" y hacer que funcione en un rango de temperatura 20°c/ 30° c ??

[@LIN72R]

50k???

[@grizewald]

Thank you! Nearly three years later and Amazon still has only incomplete and badly translated instructions. 🙄

[@OpenEmoto]

May not clear enough: This device can't control speed of 3 & 2 pin fans.

[@llem346]

Спасибо. Теперь я понял как это работает. Инструкция на китайском сайте да еще через автоматический переводчик не совсем понятна. Они продают 2 контролера, 1 такой как вы показали: aliexpress.ru/item/32831677682.html?spm=a2g0o.detail.1000060.1.40027c0fUZ8Jz7&gps-id=pcDetailBottomMoreThisSeller&scm=1007.13339.128609.0&scm_id=1007.13339.128609.0&scm-url=1007.13339.128609.0&pvid=111d1983-d39a-428a-be2d-c58e7c2c2d09 есть еще один: aliexpress.ru/item/32947601592.html?spm=a2g0s.8937460.0.0.5d3a2e0e1vDpMx Вы не тестировали второй контролер?

[@Tjup]

2 bucks on Aliexpress