[Elecraft] [K3] K3 fan noise, part XXLIV

[Steve Ellington]

Google brings up many sources for Elina. Here's one:
http://www.myofficesupplyzone.com/2-193870011-B0038OT78G-Elina_HDF6015L12MB__60_x_60_x_15_mm_236_x_236_x_059_inches_12_Volt_Cooling_Fan

Steve
N4LQ
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Joe Planisky" <jplan at jeffnet.org>
To: "Elecraft List" <Elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Thursday, May 27, 2010 2:28 PM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] [K3] K3 fan noise, part XXLIV


> Since the responses to my inquiry about K3 fan brands/models have
> virtually stopped, I thought I'd post the results.  There are indeed
> at least 2 different fans in use in K3s:
>
> Elina HDF6015L-12LB-1 and UTEC AT6015L-12L2B-ND2 and ND5
>
> The Elina fans are made by Inaba Denki Sangyo, a Japanese company.
> You can find specs for this fan at 
> http://www.europeanthermodynamics.com/Fans&Blowers/elina%20fan_eng.pdf
>
> The UTEC fans are made by United Thermal Engineering Corp. Their
> office is in San Jose, CA. but their factories are in Japan, Taiwan,
> and China. 
> http://www.utecusa.com/products/pdffiles/pid_1-45-152_%28SPEC%29AT6015L-12L2B%20ND1%2812-22-08%29.pdf
>
> According to the published specs, the UTEC fans have a slightly higher
> rated speed (3000 rpm vs 2800 rpm), more airflow (15.4 cfm vs 10.6
> cfm), higher static pressure (2.21mm vs 1.5mm),and higher noise (24.8
> dBA vs 21 dBA) than the Elina fans.  They also operate over a wider
> range of voltages than the Elina fans (6-13.8v vs 10.2-13.8v).  Both
> use ball bearings.  Based just on the specs, I would expect the UTEC
> fans to be slightly more powerful and slightly louder.
>
> From the responses I received, it looks like the Elina fans were used
> on earlier K3s with serial numbers < 900 or so.
>
> I received responses from 13 people (including myself), covering 13
> K3s.  If the reporter used words or phrases like "quiet", "silent",
> "never hear them", I counted their response as "quiet".  If they used
> words or phrases like "loud", "annoying", "I can hear them", I counted
> their response as "loud"
>
> UTEC Quiet   3
> UTEC Loud:   4
> Elina Quiet: 6
> Elina Loud:  0
>
> With such a small sample of self-reported anecdotes of a subjective
> perception, the results of this little survey are statistically
> virtually meaningless.  However, they do suggest a direction for
> further research in that no one reported loud Elina fans.
>
> I may have a chance to do some side-by-side comparisons between my K3
> and an earlier SN K3 in a few weeks.  If that turns up anything
> interesting, I'll report it here.
>
> Thanks to everyone who took the time and effort to respond to my
> request.
>
> 73
> --
> Joe KB8AP
>
>
> On May 23, 2010, at 9:19 AM, Joe Planisky wrote:
>
>> The topic of K3 fan noise seems to come up every now and then, and
>> each time it does there's a chorus of people who say the fans in their
>> K3 are absolutely silent, and an equal chorus of people who say the
>> fans are clearly audible.
>>
>> ...
>
>> However, I'm also wondering if Elecraft has changed brands or models
>> of fans from time to time.  It's possible that some brands/models
>> might be quieter than others.
>
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