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noisy fans??

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K5SM

noisy fans??

I just finished assembling my new K3, and all is working well....except
that the PA fans are very noisy. Actually, the normal fan noise is not
bad unless you set the fans to PA Fn3 or 4. However, even at the lowest
setting, they make a kind of clicking or buzzing sound that is very
annoying. I originally thought it might have been one of the fans
lightly touching one of the wires or cables near them, but I took the
top off and checked and that was not the case. I don't think they made
this noise when I did the fan test. Any suggestions?

--
73, Bob K5SM

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Joe Planisky

Re: noisy fans??

Hi Bob,

This is a subject that comes up on the reflector from time to time and
elicits a whole range of responses; from "my fans are totally silent",
to "my fans are really loud". Intrigued by the range of opinions, I
did some research on this topic earlier this year. It turns out that
there were two different brands of fans used in the K3. Early units
used "Elina" brand fans, and later units used fans from "UTEC". Spec-
wise, they are similar. Practically, however, all the reports of loud
fans came from units with the "UTEC" fans. If you're interested in
the details, you can search the archives for my email with the subject
"K3 fan noise, part XXLIV" on May 27, 2010. Later, I was able to
compare rigs with both brands of fans side-by-side and confirmed that
the Elina fans were quieter. (Search the archives for my email with
the subject "[K3] fan noise: new info" on July 2, 2010.)

But none of that is any immediate help to you.

Make sure the fans and their mounting plate sit flush and aren't
warped. I.e. check that you didn't inadvertently install a washer
where there shouldn't be one, and that the countersunk heads of the
long screws that hold the fans on are seated properly. If everything
looks good there and you've carefully checked and confirmed that the
fan blades aren't touching anything as they turn (which you say you
have), it sounds like you might have one or two defective fans. In
that case, a call to Elecraft or an email to [hidden email]
seems in order.

I consider the fans in my K3 to be moderately noisy, but they don't
make what I would call a "clicking" or "buzzing" sound. The noise I
hear is a combination of a siren-like whine and a sound I can only
describe as "rough bearings".

73
--
Joe KB8AP

On Nov 21, 2010, at 10:25 AM, Robert Redmon wrote:

> I just finished assembling my new K3, and all is working
> well....except
> that the PA fans are very noisy. Actually, the normal fan noise is not
> bad unless you set the fans to PA Fn3 or 4. However, even at the
> lowest
> setting, they make a kind of clicking or buzzing sound that is very
> annoying. I originally thought it might have been one of the fans
> lightly touching one of the wires or cables near them, but I took the
> top off and checked and that was not the case. I don't think they made
> this noise when I did the fan test. Any suggestions?
>
> --
> 73, Bob K5SM

______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

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n0tt1

Re: noisy fans??

In reply to this post by K5SM

I've also experienced the noisy fans. The original fans
were replaced by Elecraft, twice, but they were all the same Utec brand
and still have the same "whiney, rough bearing" type of noise.
(Yes, they were all installed properly.)

I also have fan noise from an amplifier I occasionally use. So,
my ultimate solution was to purchase a good pair of noise cancelling
headphones. Noise problems "solved".

73,
Charlie, N0TT
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
---
> I just finished assembling my new K3, and all is working
> well....except
> that the PA fans are very noisy. /snip/

> 73, Bob K5SM
>
> Hi Bob,
>
> This is a subject that comes up on the reflector from time to time
> and
> elicits a whole range of responses; from "my fans are totally
> silent",
> to "my fans are really loud". /snip/

If you're interested in

>
> the details, you can search the archives for my email with the
> subject
> "K3 fan noise, part XXLIV" on May 27, 2010. Later, I was able to
> compare rigs with both brands of fans side-by-side and confirmed
> that
> the Elina fans were quieter. (Search the archives for my email with
>
> the subject "[K3] fan noise: new info" on July 2, 2010.)
>
> But none of that is any immediate help to you.
>
> Make sure the fans and their mounting plate sit flush and aren't
> warped. I.e. check that you didn't inadvertently install a washer
> where there shouldn't be one, and that the countersunk heads of the
>
> long screws that hold the fans on are seated properly. If
> everything
> looks good there and you've carefully checked and confirmed that the
>
> fan blades aren't touching anything as they turn (which you say you
>
> have), it sounds like you might have one or two defective fans. In
>
> that case, a call to Elecraft or an email to [hidden email]
>
> seems in order.
>
> I consider the fans in my K3 to be moderately noisy, but they don't
>
> make what I would call a "clicking" or "buzzing" sound. The noise I
>
> hear is a combination of a siren-like whine and a sound I can only
>
> describe as "rough bearings".
>
> 73
> --
> Joe KB8AP