Inverter fan noise solutions?

45 db is silent. I'm near deef...
I've got some Antec fans that are impressive. When I disassembed a HF inverter when I played with the helicopter simulation fan I laughed so hard I damaged something in my rib cage. I have a 12" tubular fan that sounds a lot like a F4 Phantom

BTW what inverter? Does the fan run continuous? Or variable depending on load or heat?

I would just replace the fan over trying to re-lubricate.

You got a couple of bites anyway Roy, but no big fish!

This is the Maintenance Flowchart that most of us RED NECK southern dude's use..



This is the one MEX uses...

In my opinion, 45Db is a hideously loud fan.

I think most inverter fans are 60MM


This one maxes out under 20Db
http://www.noctua.at/main.php?show=productview&products_id=48&lng=en

My fridge came with a loud 120mm 72 CFM, 0.12amp sleeve bearing fan which pulled air through the condenser.

I replaced it with a Noctua NF-f12 fan @~55CFM fan and swapped it to push Air through the condenser.

I can no longer hear the fan 90% of the time, and fridge duty cycle decreased, and the Noctua draw less than half the current as the original. Triple win, and 25$ well spent in my book.

NUMBER ONE
Shot of Jack Daniels

NUMBER TWO
If no improvement see number one


Never have seen a cheap inverter that did not have a laugh-a-minute grade-piece of junk reject fan.

Usually ball bearing fans are a lot quieter than sleeve bushing fans. 45 db is a quiet fan.

The computer muffin fans supplied with most equipment are the cheapest sleeve bearing fans that they could buy in bulk at the time of manufacture.

Yes the sleeve bushings can and should be lubricated, but this is temporary. How temporary? Impossible to say.

Compacted dust on the fan blades is certainly an issue which reduces airflow. If the fan speed is variable with heat, then they will have to run faster and louder for the same level of cooling. My experience is that large dust accumulation slows the fans and makes them quieter. Mostly the quieter is a lower pitch but the measurable DB is likely the same.

Some companies Like Noctua, Silverstone and a few others have taken computer fans to a practically ridiculous level.

I'd Say Noctua is top dog in efficacy for the least amount of noise.

They have a 7 year warranty, if that is the type of thing to float your boat.

I have 3 Noctua fans employed at this moment. 120MM, 80mm and 60MM.

Most will balk at their price. My 120MM Noctua moces 55CFM for very little noise and only 0.05 amp consumption. that is less than half the consumption of other fans moving the same amount of Air.

WD-40 is best used for its designed intention, water displacement. It is a horrible long term lubricant, and in my experience has no ability to prevent rust, and it will eat rubber seals despite the claims on the can.

NinerBikes wrote:

RoyB wrote:
WD40

Never use WD40 on chains, actions, mechanical stuff, etc for lubricating purposes under load. It should only be used for penetrating and leaving a fine coating of fish oil to prevent oxidation of metal surfaces. That is it, that is what it's designed for, nothing else, to prevent oxidation, not to prevent friction.

Or on rubber and certain plastic parts, the solvent part of WD is very crude and caustic. As said, it is a poor lubricant.

I've found that the most fan noise comes from debris on the blades or housing. The bearings on most typical plastic muffin fans can be lubricated with a drop or two of machine oil. I use gun oil since it's easy to apply.

RoyB wrote:
WD40

Never use WD40 on chains, actions, mechanical stuff, etc for lubricating purposes under load. It should only be used for penetrating and leaving a fine coating of fish oil to prevent oxidation of metal surfaces. That is it, that is what it's designed for, nothing else, to prevent oxidation, not to prevent friction.

Blow it clean with compressed air if it's dirty. Probably a variable speed temperature controlled fan. Dust inhibits cooling, unit heats up, fan runs faster.

Clean it out and the fan will slow.