I’ve all the time had a pile of spare motors and ESCs sitting round, and for the longest time, I toyed with the concept of constructing a handheld fan. It simply appeared like a no brainer mission—easy, enjoyable, and practical. However the considered 3D designing a correct housing all the time 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 coloration choices can be found, and it may be bundled with a 6S 1300mAh LiPo battery.
What Is the DarwinFPV Turbo Fan?
In essence, it is a ducted fan constructed utilizing a brushless motor and propeller inside a 3D-printed housing. It’s powered instantly by a typical FPV drone LiPo battery (4S or 6S). DarwinFPV claims it could actually 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 Identify: 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
- Beneficial Battery: 6S 1300–8000mAh (XT60)
- Dimensions: 72 × 97 × 200 mm
- Weight: 217.8 g
Design & Construct
The fan is absolutely easy—only a motor, prop, ESC, and a 3D-printed ergonomic housing.
Plug in a battery into the XT60 connector, and it powers on robotically (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 supplied 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 sooner it spins.
It additionally options an LED ring across the nozzle, which will get brighter as you enhance throttle.
The nozzle itself is extensive, just like a hair dryer. So as a substitute of focusing airflow like an air compressor, it capabilities extra like a miniature leaf blower—broad and forceful.
Whereas the worth would possibly elevate eyebrows, it’s clear DarwinFPV put lots of effort into the design and execution. Certain, you might cobble collectively one thing related if you have already got the elements, 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 response to DarwinFPV, the fan can pull as much as 40A at 6S (1000W), which is nicely inside the ESC’s limits by the best way (at 80A). Nevertheless, you’ll want a stable battery—at the least a 30C for a 6S 1300mAh pack—to unlock its full potential.
Airflow is spectacular: the fan was capable of transfer the curtains and leaves on the plant from over 5 meters (15 toes) away. That’s critical thrust in a compact type issue.
Potential Purposes
So what can you employ 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 unbelievable for getting coals going shortly
- PC cleansing – way more highly effective than canned air, although it lacks a centered nozzle for exact utility
- For FPV pilots, you need to use it for clearing any particles off the bottom earlier than takeoff.
Advised Enhancements
The DarwinFPV Turbo Fan is a fairly intelligent concept, however there’s room to make it even higher:
- Velocity Ranges: Can 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 part throughout testing).
- Adjustable Tilt & Stand: Add a tiltable stand for hands-free operation.
- Battery Voltage Show: A easy voltage readout would assist forestall over-discharge.
- Energy Change: An on/off button is a should for security and battery administration.
- Interchangeable Nozzles: A narrower, detachable nozzle would enable for precision airflow—excellent for cleansing electronics.
Ultimate Ideas
The DarwinFPV Turbo Fan is an fascinating gadget. It’s a bit expensive for what it’s, however for many who want a robust fan for no matter cause, now you can purchase it off the shelf. Whether or not you’re cleansing your PC, blowing mud off your workbench, or simply searching for an excuse to repurpose your drone batteries, this fan delivers highly effective efficiency in a modern, moveable bundle.
