Silly Little Fan question...

[Eelskraps]

Just kinda curious. I was looking through my old parts boxs for some case fans for a buddy at work and noticed that most of them have cute little arrows on them showing air flow direction.

Most, but not all. Then I got to looking at all my fans in my case and noticed that even some of my more expensive fans (Like an ANTEC 120mm I just bought) do not. Wierd. I always assumed that the intake of fans are blade side and the output side is the motor support side.

Can anyone confirm that? A couple google searches and I couldn't really find anything other than how to direct the flow through your case.

[jlreich]

All the fans I have used have the arrows. They are often easy to miss but they are there. Sometime they are right on top, and sometimes they are kind of hidden down in the curve at the corner. Either way the "out" side has always been the side with the brand label on it.

[saphalline]

Most fans have arrows, as you have observed. 99% of all fans follow the conventions you have outlined. But, I have seen some that defy explanation. When in doubt, examine the fins.

[jlreich]

There's always someone that has to be the oddball huh? :)

[mjc]

I've had a couple were the arrows were pointing in the wrong direction...basically, I like the 'plug it in; turn it on; see which way it blows' method...real hard to screw that one up.

[saphalline]

Haha! Good point.

[Fred_Flintstone]

.basically, I like the 'plug it in; turn it on; see which way it blows' method...real hard to screw that one up.

Otherwise known as the "Finger in the air method"

See which way the wind is blowing!!.. never fails!:D :D