12V DC Cross-Flow Fan for Compact Electronics: LWCD-25190LN-06

What the electronics OEM needed

An OEM building compact climate control systems for telecom cabinets needed a 12V DC cross-flow fan. The target was 21 m3/h at 3300 RPM, and the requirement was a drop-in stock part rather than anything custom.

Consequently the chassis dictated the shape of the answer.

• A total length no greater than 229mm, since the cabinet was fixed.
• Only 35mm of height, which rules out most fan types immediately.
• A native 12V motor, because their power distribution is standardized on 12V.
• 21 m3/h across a 190mm wide electronics board, as an even air curtain.
• Lastly, documented compliance with UL 507 and the CE Low Voltage Directive.

That 12V point matters more than it appears. An AC fan would mean adding an inverter, which costs money, makes heat inside an already warm cabinet, and adds a part that can fail.

Confirming the DC cross-flow fan choice

A 190mm impeller on 12V points straight at our LWCD series. Even so, our engineers first checked the application really suits this fan type.

Why not an axial fan

We considered an axial fan briefly. However, it produces a turbulent, roughly conical airflow, which is the wrong shape for a long, narrow board.

A DC cross-flow fan instead throws a wide, even sheet of air along its full length. Consequently the whole board gets the same treatment, rather than one hot component sitting in a dead spot beside a well-cooled neighbour.

The speed control the customer declined

Initially we proposed a version with our SmartEC controller, giving PWM speed control and some end-of-line flexibility.

After a technical review the OEM decided against it. Their system uses a fixed-speed, always-on cooling strategy, so variable speed had nowhere to go. Choosing a plain 2-wire brushless DC motor instead produced a real cost reduction, which mattered to their pricing.

That is the right outcome. Offering the option was our job, whereas declining it was theirs.

What the specified fan uses

The LWCD-25190LN-06 pairs a light aluminum impeller, which keeps spinning mass low, with dual ball bearings. Together they give a service life suited to commercial electronics.

Meanwhile the housing is SGCC hot-dip galvanized steel, giving rigidity and rust resistance inside the 229 by 35mm envelope available.

Technical Specifications

Note the input power. At 1.44W this DC cross-flow fan draws less than a phone charger on standby, which is what makes always-on cooling affordable.

Technical Documentation

Here the following documents were generated and approved as final deliverables for this project.

LWCD-25190LN-06-00.pdf
The master technical drawing is the primary document for mechanical and electrical engineers, containing all dimensional tolerances, material specifications, and performance data required for system integration.

Here the image provides a comparative view of the LWCD-25190LN-06 within its product family, a useful reference for procurement managers evaluating alternative sizes for future projects.

Why the OEM specified a stock part

For an OEM specifying a standard component, four things counted.

• Stock, not lead time. We hold significant inventory of high-volume models like this one, so shipment runs 1 to 5 days. That removes a supply risk that specialized European components often carry.
• Cost that scales with volume. In high-volume electronics, component cost drives design decisions. Our Ningbo production puts this fan materially below comparable European models, without giving up ball bearings or material quality.
• A drawing with real numbers on it. The customer asked for a specification sheet and got a formal engineering drawing. Furthermore, airflow and pressure data comes from test chambers compliant with AMCA 210/211 and ISO 5801, so their thermal simulation can use it directly.
• Certification groundwork already laid. Their end markets need CE and UL on the finished product. Sourcing a component designed for, and holding, UL 507 and CE LVD shortens their own product-level certification work.

Browse our cross-flow fan range, or the DC cross-flow fan series for other sizes. Electrical safety standards are published by UL Solutions.

Questions about life and variants

What operational life should we expect?

The fan runs dual ball bearings and is designed for continuous duty, with a calculated L10 life above 40,000 hours at a 40C ambient. That suits commercial-grade electronics and compact HVAC equipment, where nobody wants to open the cabinet again.

Are other voltages or speed control available?

Yes. The -06 model is fixed-speed at 12V, though the same series takes a 24V motor, or a SmartEC controller for variable speed through 0-10V or PWM. Custom configurations for qualified OEM projects run through our structured 90-day NPI process.

What are the lead times and MOQs?

Samples of the stock LWCD-25190LN-06 usually ship within five working days. Standard make-to-order batches, typically 100 to 500 units, take 15 to 25 days from purchase order confirmation.

Why does a cross-flow fan suit a 35mm height limit?

Because its impeller is long rather than large. An axial or centrifugal fan needs diameter to move air, and diameter is exactly what a 35mm profile denies you. A DC cross-flow fan gets its airflow from length instead. That is the one dimension a slim chassis has to spare.