BLDC cooling fans are among the cooling industry’s most necessary and crucial items. They are part and parcel of almost every electronic device and electrical equipment. For instance, power supply equipment produces a lot of heat. Hence, it is important to maintain the temperature of the equipment if you want them to operate for a longer duration. Therefore, it is impossible to deny the importance of these cooling fans.
There are hundreds of thousands of BLDC cooling fan manufacturers across the globe. However, they all vary in price, and most often, the price differences are huge. The BLDC cooling fan price varies depending upon multiple factors.
Moreover, every supplier worldwide claims to be the best in terms of price while offering their BLDC cooling fans. We will look into the details of the fluctuation of BLDC cooling fan prices from different suppliers. The reasons will provide concrete knowledge to the readers as to why the BLDC cooling fan price varies when purchasing from different manufacturers.
Following are the five reasons for the huge difference in the price of BLDC cooling fans from various manufacturers across the globe:
- Scheming (PCBA Parts)
- Fan Parts and Material
- Production Technique
- Management Cost
- Services Variation
These are the reasons that play their part in determining the price of a cooling fan. We will discuss and illustrate the impact of each reason briefly as follows:
1. Scheming Of BLDC Cooling Fan
The term “scheming” illustrates the customization of any product as per customers’ requirements. Many suppliers of BLDC cooling fans only manufacture the standard variations. Similarly, they do not offer any change in design per the customer’s request.
The scheming is the property that determines the control of the fan and its starting operation. It is the major and deciding factor of the cooling fans’ cost. The major variation of the initial operation of fans from different suppliers causes a price difference. One is the soft-start, and the other is the lead wire.
The soft-start is a rather safer way to start the fan. The current increases gradually until it reaches the rated fan current. It is a protective approach in the initial operation of a fan and the device the fan is embedded in. Any sudden change in current can damage these devices. Therefore, the soft-start of the cooling fans considers any current change to avoid damage and maintain the current.
Some suppliers do not offer a soft-start feature in their BLDC cooling fans, and the addition of this feature requires more cost in production. Therefore, you may witness a huge difference in the price of BLDC cooling fans from different manufacturers.
The lead wire has different functionalities in the fan, and one can choose the fan as per their requirement. The most common lead wires, along with their functionality, are as follows:
- 2-wire (having only negative and positive wire)
- 3-wire (normally comes with FG and may have RD wire sometimes)
- 4-wire (normally has FG along with PWM control functionality)
The FG wire is the frequency generator of the cooling fan, and its color is yellow. Moreover, some BLDC cooling fans having 3-wire and 4-wire scheming patterns comprise RD functionality. RD is the rotation detection function that keeps the output signal low when rotating the fan. However, the signal is high when the fan is powered off. RD wire color is grey to distinguish it from other wires.
The 4-wire has a unique feature of the PWM control mechanism. PWM is pulse width modulation that controls the rotational speed of a fan. A person can increase or decrease the fan’s speed per requirement using PWM wire functionality, and the color of this wire is blue.
Every customer can select a different wiring mechanism for their BLDC cooling fans. Some may use 2-wire while others may choose 3-wire and 4-wire fans for better control of the cooling fan. Therefore, the chip, PCB and lead wire used corresponding to the scheming patterns impact the cost of the fan. Hence, one may find a noticeable difference in the price of cooling fans from different manufacturers.
Other control can also be customized as per customers’ requirements and then decide the chip and PCB used for the fan.
Different wire patterns will have different PCBs (Printed Circuit Board). Every type of wire discussed above have their own specific printed circuit board for the fan, moreover, they can come with a variable of connectors. Therefore, they will have price variations, and one may see different prices from different suppliers based on specific PCB in the cooling fan.
2. Fan Parts Selection
The BLDC cooling fan manufacturer has the opportunity to choose from different types of raw materials to create the product. The fan comprises of following basic parts:
- Impeller
- Copper Wire Motor
- Case and Magnet
- Tower Spring
- Ball Bearing
- PCB
- Silicon Steel
The selection of the above materials will directly impact the performance and cost of the fan. For instance, Aluminum is effective in terms of fan structure reliability and heat ventilation, but it is more costly. On the other hand, plastic material in a fan decreases its durability and is low-cost.
- The fan frame and fan blade material: there are different raw materials that can be used to manufacture fan frames and fan blades. Some are flame retardant, and some are not. Moreover, ROHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) compliance in machinery is of sheer importance. Cooling fans which are ROHS compliant are more expensive. Take a look at the table to get a better idea regarding price fluctuation with material type:
Material | Flame-Retardant | ROHS Compliant | Cost |
Plastic (PBT) | No | No | Low |
Plastic (PBT) | No | Yes | Low |
Plastic (PBT) | Yes | No | Low |
Plastic (PBT) | Yes | Yes | Medium |
Aluminum | Yes | Yes | High |
The Impact of Fan Bearings
In addition, bearings are also an important component of the cooling fan manufacturing process. There are two general types of bearings for use in fans production. One is the ball bearing, and the second is the sleeve bearing. Both of these types are further categorized as follows:
Each type of bearing has its pros and cons. Bearings create a certain noise in the fan operation, and they also have a significant role in determining the fan’s life span. Every bearing type exhibits a different noise and has a different life span. Similarly, the bearings require periodic maintenance to ensure the smooth functioning of the fan.
All these factors pertaining to the type of bearing will decide the price of the fan, and every manufacturer uses a different type or brand of bearing. Hence, there will be a significant difference in the cost of fans from various manufacturers. To illustrate the impact of bearing type on the cost of the fan, we have presented the below tables to help you understand the price difference better.
Ball Bearing Types and Comparison:
Ball Bearing Types | Noise | Maintenance | Lifespan | Cost |
Single Ball Bearing | Low and Smooth | Yes | Greater than 40,000 hours at 600C temperature | Medium |
2-Piece Bearing | Low and Smooth | Yes | More than 60,000 hours at an environment temperature of 600C | High |
Sleeve Bearing Types and Comparison:
Sleeve Bearing Types | Noise | Maintenance | Lifespan | Cost |
Normal Sleeve Bearing | Low in the beginning but gets louder with the age of the fan | Grease or oil-based maintenance is essential | 30,000 hours at 600C operational environment | Low |
Hydraulic Bearing | Silent | Oil-based | 40,000 hours at 600C operational environment | Medium |
Fluid Dynamic Bearing | Low and Smooth | Oil-based periodic maintenance | More than 50,000 hours at 600C operational environment | High |
3. Production Technique
The fan impeller of the cooling fan requires balancing to minimize the vibration frequency. Most efficient fans are those that have zero to minimum vibration frequency. However, balancing the impeller is not necessary for every manufacturer’s production process.
Moreover, balancing requires experienced labor, and it is time taking process. Practically, an experienced worker can balance 6 impellers of fans in 1 hour. Hence, it is indeed a difficult and time taking task. Not every manufacturer will deploy extra labor to minimize the vibration of impellers.
However, our production team utilizes the best labor to make them of minimum vibration. The vibration of the impeller will disrupt the working environment. Some products like baby equipment, humidifiers, and air purifiers need to be silent in operation. Therefore, the balancing of impellers of the fan is of sheer importance.
Moreover, high rpm fans with high input amps will require better ventilation for themselves to cool down the high-speed rotating motors and remove the heat from the friction between the ball bearing and the shaft. Then we will add riveting to mount the fan impeller and use the copper bushing instead of the plastic bushing for better ventilation. If this won’t help much, we will have to use an aluminum fan impeller or aluminum fan frame.
Cooling Fan Copper Bushing for Heat Ventilation From Frictions | Cooling Fan Riveting for Higher Durability |
Every manufacturer does not follow these production techniques. However, our production team makes sure that there is minimum vibration in the impeller and good ventilation of our cooling fan itself. It also increases the fan price since there is a significant increase in the labor cost. Consequently, it creates a huge difference in the price of BLDC cooling fans from different manufacturers.
4. Management Cost
Every BLDC cooling fan manufacturer has different modes of management. Different departments in management add up to the cost of the final product. Following are the key departments:
- Research and Development Department
- Quality Control Department
The cost of running these departments also acts as a decisive factor in determining the price of an cooling fan. The core purpose of the research and development department is to keep the business at par with the changes in the market. It means that the R&D department will update the fan per the customer’s requirements and market trends.
We have separately designated the R&D department to maximize the design innovation for our customers. Ultimately, it will also impact the final price of the fan. It will create a difference in prices from the different manufacturers since not all of them feature the R&D department.
Quality control is an expensive part of management. Quality control incorporates the most experienced professionals from the industry who can detect any lag in the product during the production phase. These quality experts will ensure the best results for the cooling fan by checking the quality through multiple testing. The aim is to increase the stability of the cooling fans and smooth operation.
We pay special attention to our quality parameters. Not every manufacturer devises a separate department to ensure quality. Meanwhile, every batch of cooling fans undergoes quality compliance. Therefore, it increases the overall cost of the fan.
Moreover, not every manufacturer has a quality control mechanism. Some do not even have an on-site expert to check the quality of the raw materials or review the quality patterns of cooling fan production. The consequences are that these brands are low in quality, and their price is also lower. Quality enhancement ensures customer satisfaction and low maintenance cost.
Moving forward, every manufacturer has an operational zone consisting of a factory to carry out the production process. Our production facility has experienced professionals with perfect product knowledge in the production of fans. The customers will get top-quality products, and they will be lifelong with a low maintenance cost. We pay special heed to the skillful workforce while most manufacturers do not consider this.
The result is that it causes a huge difference in the cost of the fans from different customers. Our workforce ensures that the customer gets the best product without fault in the production and operational zone. All this adds up to the final cost of the fan.
All these departments have a role in the decision-making process of BLDC cooling fan prices. Every single department has its significant importance. Therefore, we must understand that this is a decisive factor, and it causes variability in the price of cooling fans from different manufacturers.
5. Services Variability
The services along with the fan are also an integral part of its price. Therefore, the better the services, the more the cost of the product and vice versa. For instance, the fan will be less costly if the delivery time is longer and there are no after-sale services.
In contrast, the sellers who provide fast pace delivery with top-notch post-sale maintenance services will make the fan costly to cover up these constraints. Fast delivery services of order require more investment to control the supply chain and the production schedule.
The lead time of our manufacturing unit is as short as 20 days. The shorter lead time leads to faster delivery to our customers. Lead time is the time to complete the manufacturing process of a fan. Therefore, a shorter lead time will need more skillful labor to accomplish the task. Hence, the cost of production will increase, and there will be a significant difference in the price of fans from other manufacturers.
Moreover, customs duty is also a variable governing the price of a product. Our factory takes care of the custom clearance processes at the customer’s request. However, that will ultimately increase the upfront cost of the final delivered product.
Some manufacturers do not provide these additional services. Therefore, we see a huge difference in the price of fans from various manufacturers.
Our fan manufacturing firm offers the following key services:
- Sample product delivery time is within 1 week.
- Order delivery time is within 20 days regardless of the quantity of the order.
- We take care of the transportation and custom duty costs to reduce customers’ effort.
- Our fans carry a full-fledge warranty of one year.
- The customer support department operates 24/7 to resolve any issue regarding the product.
These services will benefit the customers and will give them a wonderful experience. These services add up the additional costs, and resultantly, it causes the difference in the price of BLDC cooling fans from different manufacturers.
The customer will benefit from our always ready-to-assist customer service team. No matter the severity of the issue you are facing, our team has sufficient product knowledge to resolve your issues. Hence, it will increase the overall cost of the product due to these top-notch services.
Last but not least, our product comes with a one-year warranty. That means our customers can claim any damaged part within one year of purchase and we will replace it happily. Most of the manufacturers do not give that much length of the warranty, and therefore, you will see a difference in the prices of cooling fans.
Final Word
The bottom line is that multiple factors determine the cooling fan price. However, the points discussed above influence the decision-making of the final cost. Every BLDC cooling fan manufacturer has a different set of parameters and operational methodology. Therefore, owing to these reasons, the price of cooling fans varies among different manufacturers.
However, those factors are neglected when purchasing fans, and while you can always find a low offer for cooling fans in the market, finding a reliable manufacturer who can solve your problem efficiently, and spending a few extra dollars for that will definitely be worth it, you will eventually save more money in the long run with cooling fans of longer lifespan and more stable performance.