115V AC Backward Centrifugal Fan for Electronics Cooling: 504 m3/h

What the North American OEM needed

A North American OEM wanted a second source for a backward-curved AC centrifugal fan already in one of its products. They sent a rival spec sheet, model B2E175-063A-AA0A. That sheet set both the performance and the physical baseline.

Second-sourcing an AC centrifugal fan has one rule above all others. Namely, the replacement must drop straight in. Otherwise it is not a second source at all.

• 110V AC at 60Hz, because that rail already exists.
• A 175mm impeller, with mounting depth no greater than 68.5mm.
• At least 490 m3/h free air, and enough pressure for impedance up to 300 Pa.
• No more than 66 dB(A), measured as before.
• An operating range from -30C to +60C, at both ends.
• Lastly, CE and RoHS certification for the finished product.

The application follows from those figures. Basically it is forced-air cooling for a power electronics cabinet or compact HVAC kit, where the fan sits behind a tight path and has to push.

Matching the AC centrifugal fan one for one

There was a real decision at the start. In fact it was commercial as much as technical.

The EC upgrade we deliberately did not push

Admittedly we could have offered an EC fan instead, with better efficiency and smart control through the SmartEC platform.

We did not, and the brief is the reason. The customer wants a one-for-one swap, with no redesign and no change in cost. An EC fan would force changes to their control system and their pricing. In short, it would answer a question nobody asked.

The platform that fits

The LWBA2E series was the right family. This AC centrifugal fan pairs a compact external rotor motor with a backward-curved impeller.

Our engineers chose PA66 glass-filled plastic for the wheel. It balances stability, low spinning mass and long life. Furthermore it holds its shape better than a thin steel pressing across a -30C to +60C range.

What the numbers came out at

So the proposed model, LWBA2E175-092NS-03 in its 115V form, matches every physical limit. That includes the 175mm impeller and the 68.5mm depth.

On performance, however, it does better than match. At 60Hz it gives 504 m3/h and 386 Pa peak pressure, comfortably above the baseline. Consequently there is real margin, should the system prove tighter than the drawings suggested.

Meanwhile its 99 to 121V window covers a nominal 115V supply with room at both ends. That matters, since mains voltage in real buildings wanders.

Technical Specifications

Compare the pressure row against the customer 300 Pa figure. That gap is exactly why this AC centrifugal fan was chosen.

Technical Documentation

LWBA2E175-092NS-03(115V) Specification Sheet
The document provides a complete summary of the fan’s electrical and aerodynamic performance data for engineering review and qualification.

Performance Curve (P-Q)
Here the pDF contains the detailed P-Q curve, which system designers use to map the fan’s performance against their system’s impedance curve.

The mechanical drawing provides all critical dimensions, mounting hole patterns, and material specifications needed by mechanical engineers for CAD integration.

Specification Sheet Source File (.docx)
This source file is provided for procurement teams to easily integrate technical data into their internal systems or request for quotation (RFQ) documents.

Why the second source came here

For a customer sourcing an alternative, four things counted.

• A datasheet in days. The customer needed a fast alternative rather than a development project. Our application engineers identified an equivalent model and issued a complete datasheet quickly, which accelerated their evaluation.
• More performance, less cost. This model gives roughly 3% more airflow and 28% more peak pressure than the incumbent. Meanwhile the price point sits materially below comparable European fans.
• A shorter route to UL. The fan ships CE and RoHS compliant. We also hold UL 507 and UL 1004-1 component files, and our China-local TUV NORD partnership shortens a new UL project considerably.
• Consistency between batches. We build the external rotor motor and the PA66 impeller ourselves, then balance every AC centrifugal fan to G6.3. Consequently make-to-order lead times hold at 15 to 25 days.

Browse our backward-curved centrifugal fan range, or the centrifugal fan section generally. Balance grades are defined in ISO 21940.

Questions about voltage and certification

What is the standard lead time?

Make-to-order runs 15 to 25 days at quantities between 100 and 500 units. For ongoing production, meanwhile, we set up a frame agreement with a forecast-based schedule. That secures continuity rather than relying on each order.

Is a 110V fan really fine on 115V?

Yes. The nominal rating is 110V AC, and the fan is engineered for 99V to 121V. That window safely covers the 115V and 120V 60Hz supplies common across North America, including the variation real buildings produce.

Can you supply a UL-certified version?

Yes. This variant ships CE certified, and we run UL certification projects for OEM partners regularly. We hold UL 507 and UL 1004-1 component files, and our local TUV NORD partnership as a notified body shortens the timeline substantially against a standard application.

Why was the EC version not recommended?

Because the requirement was a drop-in replacement. An EC fan needs a control signal the existing system never produces. Consequently adopting one means changing the control board as well as the fan. Where the goal is second-sourcing rather than redesign, matching the incumbent is the right answer.