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 venture—easy, enjoyable, and purposeful. However the considered 3D designing a correct housing all the time held me again. Apparently, DarwinFPV had the identical thought—they usually beat me to it. Enter the DarwinFPV Turbo Fan, a purpose-built, ready-to-use resolution that faucets into the identical parts 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 choose up the DarwinFPV Turbo Fan at:
A number of shade 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 normal FPV drone LiPo battery (4S or 6S). DarwinFPV claims it will possibly 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 Pace: 77,000 rpm
- Noise Degree (at most pace): 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 mechanically (there’s no on/off swap). You’ll hear the acquainted ESC initialization beeps similar 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 presents 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 value would possibly elevate eyebrows, it’s clear DarwinFPV put lots of effort into the design and execution. Certain, you may cobble collectively one thing comparable if you have already got the elements, however for most individuals, shopping for a well-designed, absolutely purposeful 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 nearly 8A at 25.2V, so I’m sure the fan is far more highly effective than that. In line with DarwinFPV, the fan can pull as much as 40A at 6S (1000W), which is effectively throughout the ESC’s limits by the way in which (at 80A). Nonetheless, you’ll want a strong battery—at the very 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 severe thrust in a compact type issue.
Potential Purposes
So what can you utilize this fan for? Surprisingly, quite a bit:
- Utilizing it similar to a leaf blower – blow issues off any floor, like leaves off your driveway, or water/snow off your automobile 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 software
- For FPV pilots, you should utilize it for clearing any particles off the bottom earlier than takeoff.
Instructed Enhancements
The DarwinFPV Turbo Fan is a reasonably intelligent thought, however there’s room to make it even higher:
- Pace Ranges: Could be good to have buttons for choosing fixed pace 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 permit for precision airflow—very best for cleansing electronics.
Closing Ideas
The DarwinFPV Turbo Fan is an attention-grabbing gadget. It’s a bit dear 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 in search of an excuse to repurpose your drone batteries, this fan delivers highly effective efficiency in a smooth, transportable bundle.
