This Product Selection Guide contains information to help select products in the AC Fans category on DigiKey.com
AC Fans are cooling devices that are designed to produce a flow of air out of one side or end of the unit. The devices in this family are designed to be used with an alternating current. The characteristics are size/dimension, voltage rated, width, air flow, bearing type, and fan type. The size is rectangular from 103.4mm L x 90mm H to 1100mm L x 175mm H, round ranging from 108mm diameter to 925mm diameter, and square from 60mm L x 60mm H to 1070mm L to 1070mm H.
SelectionCharacteristics
Voltage - Rated: Typically represented by a range, this indicates the low and high voltage limits which one can expect standard operation. Voltages outside this range may damage the device and other system components.
Size/Dimension: The physical dimensions of the device. Typically length by height, or diameter. Diameters in parentheses indicate diameter of the of the fan inside the housing.
Width: Typically this indicates the measurement from the front of the housing to the back of the housing.
Air Flow: Characterizes the air volume flow rate a fan can generate. Usually measured under conditions of rated voltage and zero pressure difference between a device’s inlet and outlet.
Static Pressure: Characterizes the maximum air pressure differential a fan can generate at nominal input voltage and zero flow.
Bearing Type: Indicates the technology used to provide mechanical support for a fan’s moving parts.
Fan Type: Describes a fan’s mechanical form factor.
Features: These are different capabilities or properties of the device such as an alarm or auto restart.
Noise: Characterizes a device’s acoustic emission levels, as measured under manufacturer-defined test conditions.
Power (Watts): Typically this rating indicates the nominal amount of power you would expect the device to consume during normal operation.
RPM: Characterizes the nominal speed at which a device rotates when rated voltage is applied. Actual speed will vary with application conditions.
Termination: Selection of termination style used to connect the device to a system, such as pin, quick connect, or wire leads.
Ingress Protection: IP (Ingress Protection) ratings such as (IP20, IP65, IP67, etc.) define how likely water and dirt will get into the system. The first number represents dirt and solid contaminants while the second represents water and liquids.
IP Ratings
| Solids | Liquids | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Protected against solids larger than 50mm. | Protected against vertically falling drops of water. Limited Ingress permitted. |
| 2 | Protected against solids larger than 12.5mm. | Protected against vertically falling drops of water with the enclosure tilted up to 15 degrees from vertical. Limited ingress permitted. |
| 3 | Protected against solids larger than 2.5mm. | Protected against spraying water up to 60 degrees from vertical. Limited ingress permitted for 3 minutes. |
| 4 | Protected against solids larger than 1mm. | Protected against water splashed from any direction. Limited ingress permitted. |
| 5 | Protected against dust. Limited ingress of dust permitted. | Will not affect operation of equipment 2-8 hours. Protected against jets of water. Limited ingress permitted. |
| 6 | Dust tight. No ingress of dust 2-8 hours. | Protected against powerful jets of water. Limited ingress permitted. |
| 7 | ______________________ | Protected against the effects of immersion in 15cm-1m for 30 minutes. |
| 8 | ______________________ | Continuous immersion in water up to 3m for long periods of time. |
| 9 | ______________________ | Protected against high pressure jets of hot water. (30 seconds) |
| 9K | ______________________ | Protected against high pressure jets of hot water. (2 minutes) |
Operating Temperature: Recommended operating temperature, typically given in a range or as a maximum. Exceeding these temperatures may affect performance or damage the device and other system components.
Approval Agency: An indication that the product meets the minimum safety standards of an approving agency. These agencies are either government entities or private third-party labs that protect consumer safety.
Weight: Indicates the overall weight of the part.
ProductExamples
| MFR PART # | UF12A12-STHR |
|---|---|
| DIGIKEY PART # | 1570-1012-ND |
| MANUFACTURER | Mechatronics Fan Group |
| DESCRIPTION | FAN AXIAL 120X38MM 115VAC |
| DATASHEET | Click Here |
| MFR PART # | 55416.35031 |
|---|---|
| DIGIKEY PART # | 381-2987-ND |
| MANUFACTURER | ebm-papst Inc. |
| DESCRIPTION | FAN BLWR CF 300X108MM 115VAC |
| DATASHEET | Click Here |
| MFR PART # | RG160-28/56S |
|---|---|
| DIGIKEY PART # | 381-3132-ND |
| MANUFACTURER | ebm-papst Inc. |
| DESCRIPTION | FAN BLWR FLATPAK 220X56MM 230VAC |
| DATASHEET | Click Here |
MediaLinks
Videos
Fan Basics - Another Teaching Moment
Articles
Axial and Centrifugal Fan Comparison
Product Training Modules
Moving Air Efficiently - ebm-pabst
TechForum
Fan Types
Calculating Airflow/CFM
Does Stacking Fans Double the CFM?
Picking a Fan Cord for your AC Fan with Terminals