I’ve at all times had a pile of spare motors and ESCs sitting round, and for the longest time, I toyed with the thought of constructing a handheld fan. It simply appeared like a no brainer undertaking—easy, enjoyable, and practical. However the considered 3D designing a correct housing at all times held me again. Apparently, DarwinFPV had the identical concept—they usually beat me to it. Enter the DarwinFPV Turbo Fan, a purpose-built, ready-to-use resolution that faucets into the identical elements we use in FPV drones. However is it only a gimmick, or is it genuinely helpful? Let’s dive in.
The place to Purchase
You possibly can decide up the DarwinFPV Turbo Fan at:
A number of colour choices can be found, and it may be bundled with a 6S 1300mAh LiPo battery.
What Is the DarwinFPV Turbo Fan?
In essence, this can be a ducted fan constructed utilizing a brushless motor and propeller inside a 3D-printed housing. It’s powered straight by a regular FPV drone LiPo battery (4S or 6S). DarwinFPV claims it could push as much as 1.3kg of thrust, pulling as much as 1000W of energy—and from my expertise, that quantity appears plausible.
Specs
- Product Title: DARWIN X5 50mm Turbo JET Highly effective Violent Fan
- Working Voltage: 4–6S
- Working Present: 80A
- Most Present: 120A
- Most Wind Stress: 1300g
- Most Velocity: 77,000 rpm
- Noise Stage (at most velocity): 114 dB
- Motor (Moor): 2627–3700KV
- Propeller: D50-12 (50mm diameter 12-blade)
- Battery Life (with a 6S 5000mAh Battery):
- 8 minutes at most air quantity
- 60 minutes at minimal air quantity
- Really useful Battery: 6S 1300–8000mAh (XT60)
- Dimensions: 72 × 97 × 200 mm
- Weight: 217.8 g
Design & Construct
The fan is admittedly easy—only a motor, prop, ESC, and a 3D-printed ergonomic housing.
Plug in a battery into the XT60 connector, and it powers on routinely (there’s no on/off swap). You’ll hear the acquainted ESC initialization beeps identical to plugging in an FPV drone.
You possibly can safe the battery with a strap utilizing the offered slots. The ESC is rated for 80A steady and 120A burst, which gives a beneficiant security margin.
A variable-speed set off enables you to management the fan’s output—the extra you squeeze, the quicker it spins.
It additionally options an LED ring across the nozzle, which will get brighter as you improve throttle.
The nozzle itself is huge, much like a hair dryer. So as an alternative of focusing airflow like an air compressor, it capabilities extra like a miniature leaf blower—broad and forceful.
Whereas the value may elevate eyebrows, it’s clear DarwinFPV put numerous effort into the design and execution. Certain, you would cobble collectively one thing related if you have already got the components, however for most individuals, shopping for a well-designed, totally practical unit off the shelf is the higher use of money and time.
Efficiency Testing
As soon as powered by a 4S or 6S LiPo, the fan attracts round 0.02–0.03A of present (even when the motor isn’t spinning), so it’s important to unplug the battery after use to keep away from over-discharging.
When testing the fan, it maxes out my 200W bench energy provide at solely half throttle—drawing virtually 8A at 25.2V, so I’m sure the fan is far more highly effective than that. In keeping with DarwinFPV, the fan can pull as much as 40A at 6S (1000W), which is properly throughout the ESC’s limits by the way in which (at 80A). Nonetheless, you’ll want a stable battery—no less than a 30C for a 6S 1300mAh pack—to unlock its full potential.
Airflow is spectacular: the fan was in a position to transfer the curtains and leaves on the plant from over 5 meters (15 toes) away. That’s severe thrust in a compact type issue.
Potential Functions
So what can you utilize this fan for? Surprisingly, quite a bit:
- Utilizing it identical to a leaf blower – blow issues off any floor, like leaves off your driveway, or water/snow off your automotive windshield.
- BBQing– it’s incredible for getting coals going rapidly
- PC cleansing – much more highly effective than canned air, although it lacks a centered nozzle for exact utility
- For FPV pilots, you should use it for clearing any particles off the bottom earlier than takeoff.
Recommended Enhancements
The DarwinFPV Turbo Fan is a reasonably intelligent concept, however there’s room to make it even higher:
- Velocity Ranges: Could be good to have buttons for choosing fixed velocity ranges, particularly for bench use (e.g., as a desktop fan in the summertime, or cooling element throughout testing).
- Adjustable Tilt & Stand: Add a tiltable stand for hands-free operation.
- Battery Voltage Show: A easy voltage readout would assist stop over-discharge.
- Energy Swap: An on/off button is a should for security and battery administration.
- Interchangeable Nozzles: A narrower, detachable nozzle would enable for precision airflow—perfect for cleansing electronics.
Remaining Ideas
The DarwinFPV Turbo Fan is an attention-grabbing gadget. It’s a bit expensive for what it’s, however for individuals who want a strong fan for no matter motive, now you can purchase it off the shelf. Whether or not you’re cleansing your PC, blowing mud off your workbench, or simply in search of an excuse to repurpose your drone batteries, this fan delivers highly effective efficiency in a modern, moveable package deal.
