Which side of the fan is the exhaust?!

[MakeYourslf2012]

Hey guys --

I've always been really confused trying to figure this out --

Is there any method/guildline to help you remember?

[doctorgonzo]

Plug it in and see which way the wind blows.

Or look for a little arrow somewhere on the fan enclosure.

[rspassey]

Some fans have a little arrow - but others you just gotta find out through experience

[Cricket]

The side with the bracing/supports that holds the motor is the exhaust side. The side without the bracing/supports is the intake side.

:) Cricket

[MakeYourslf2012]

Thanks guys!

In the past - I've always had to plug the PC in and test it (no arrows on these fans) - which can get very annoying.

Also:

Is there only supposed to be one exhaust fan? If so, my case came pre-assembled with 2 fans in it. The fan at the top is blowing air out, and i can't switch it around because its inaccessable. Will it affect my cooling overall?

[jfk]

Sounds like a blowhole fan at the top. They are supposed to exhaust air. Hot air rises to the top of the case where it is exhausted out of the case by this fan.

[QuickSilver]

Easy. The side with the sticker in the middle of the fan is the exhaust. :)

[Cricket]

Easy. The side with the sticker in the middle of the fan is the exhaust. :)But some fans come with stickers on both sides...the one on the motor side and another on the fan blade hub.

:) Cricket

[juppy]

The side with the bracing/supports that holds the motor is the exhaust side. The side without the bracing/supports is the intake side.

:) CricketThat would really be the best way to tell, if it holds true for all brands. I checked on 3 or 4 spare fans I've got here and it was true on all of those. Cool tip if all brands are like this. Thanks Cricket! :)

[Cricket]

Over the years I've bought lots and lots of fans (lots of different brands too) and as far as I know all of the fans were the same...the fan blew towards the bracing/supports strut side. The only fans this might not hold true with are the TMD (Tip-Magnetic Driving) fans...and the blowers (but I don't think most folks would use this type of fan for case cooling).

:) Cricket

[blue60007]

Yeah, I haven't seen them otherwise either. As always, the sure fire way is to plug it in and see which way it's blowing. If it's the wrong way, turn it off, and switch it around.

[catacon]

I just plug it in and check. I hate looking for that little arrow.