Fan in light fixture making noise - how to fix?

[IPWitan]

It seems the baring in one of the two fans in my light fixture is failing. It is starting to make loud vibration noises. How do I fix this?

The unit is the Current USA Pro T5- 6x54 48 inch fixture. Unfortunately, I gave away my other fixtures, so I cannot use one of those fans. it looks like it just screws in on the frame. Any thoughts on what I would should replace it with? Something from Current, or some aftermarket fish / computer fan? I will gladly pay extra for a quiet fan.

If someone happens to have an old fixture, I am also happy to buy or trade a coral for it. Recommendations requested.

DAG

 

[jason401]

a couple of fans in my current fixture are acting up as well. mine has 5 fans, i have not yet looked into it yet, but it should be a pce of cake. try and track down the info on your fixture and see if you can find some numbers for your fans. that way you can take it apart and replace all at once. rather than taking it apart, getting the fan info, putting it back together, then repeating..i will be doing the same so if you want to bring the fixture by i can help you replace them (just incase they r not plug n play)

this might help too

http://currentusa.zendesk.com/entries/20785543

 

[IPWitan]

Thanks for the info. In researching this I made a mistake - I looked to see if there was something BETTER! Some people seem to suggest that this brand has more air and quieter. Since I (or shall I say my wife) consider my 2 fans quite loud, I was wondering if installing a SilenX computer fan is a better way to go.
for an 80 x 80 x .25 fan
http://www.frozencpu.com/products/7...Fan_IXP-54-14T.html?tl=g36c15s550&id=UFFFqKgn

I haven't determined whether there is an actually DC AC issue or not as the postings I have read aren't clear. If it is just swapping out wires like changing a ballast, i can probably handle it. If there is something else and there is a risk of burning down the house, then I will just go with the stock fan replaces and deal with the noise. I report whatever I end up doing!

The specs show a db rating of 6-14 for the Silenx versus 32-35 db for the stock replacement. That seems like a big difference to me. Also, the stock replacement is 30 bucks, versus 16 for the Silenx. I could replace them both for about the same price as one!

DAG

 

[IPWitan]

Or this one, it has blue LED in it and is 2 bucks cheaper. (14db rating)

http://www.frozencpu.com/products/4...ro_Blue_LED_Fan_IXP-54-14B.html?tl=g36c15s550

 

[The River Reef]

Most fans are connected with a moles plug... Follow the wires and you can figure that out. If it is the case it is pull out and plug new fans in. Even 2 or 3 DB makes a difference, that would be much quieter option. Also you can limit or reduce the input power to the fans which slows them down and greatly reduces the noise.

 

[The River Reef]

Moles.... Molex

 

[Dekon]

I recently did the fans in my Current Sunpod. I went to Radio Shack and purchased some AC powered computer fans. They looked exactly like the ones that came out of it. They were definely quieter than the ones that came in it.

 

[IPWitan]

Ok, going to order the one from the link about. I will report my results and whether it was easy or not...

DAG

 

[sumant19]

I do it old fashioned way.. couple of slaps on the fan fixture.. works 80% of time, rest of the times i just let it make some noise. the fan moves smoothly after some time

 

[diverbh4]

The biggest thing you need to look at is if it is compatible. I bought a cool light up fan and it blew the second I connected the power lol.

You can also try making sure the fans are clean and lubricate the bearings.

 

[IPWitan]

UPDATE - I demonstrated my electrical ability today. I set up the fan and kaboom. Fan died. I used the one from the attached link.

http://www.frozencpu.com/products/7...Fan_IXP-54-14T.html?tl=g36c15s550&id=UFFFqKgn

What are my options? I want something quieter than the existing fan. If I buy the replacement fan, it will be the same and just a loud.

Apart from a radio shack fan which I will investigate, does anyone have any other ideas? Are there quiet separate powered fans that someone can recommend? Oh, and I tried the "smack it approach" and that didn't work

DAG

 

[IPWitan]

This is turning out to be harder than I thought. All the ones I am seeing are as loud as the stock fan (around 32 db). The link below looks promising, although I don't fully understand how the dc converts to an ac. The adapter part is not shown.

http://www.buyextras.com/cafanmokione1.html

 

[stingythingy45]

You need to find out why the new fan died/shorted.
It should be a 12 volt Dc.
I've always used the Radio Shack fans when I replaced fans in my old PC fixture.
I've heard of some folks slowing the fans using a potentiometer.That can make it a lot more quiet.
But,not sure what one as more research would need to be done.

 

[IPWitan]

Ok, I am leaning towards this one - 24 cfm at 19db $20. The stock one is 22 cfm at 32 db for $30.

http://www.buyextras.com/paulsimu80x81.html

 

[IPWitan]

i can only assume the new one died because it was in the same line as the rest of the electrical and therefore needed some sort of voltage limiter. I assumed this was built in, but apparently not.

 

[stingythingy45]

You need to find out of it's 12 volt dc or a 110 volt ac fan.
If it's 110 volt ac than I can see why a 12 volt would fry.
Do you have a meter so you can check?Is there a site that has specs?
Is there a seperate plug that's a dc adaptor for the fans?

 

[stingythingy45]

Everything I'm reading says it should be 12 volt DC.
And that makes it even weirder that it shorted.At best it should have ran backwards or not at all.
Was the fan a 3 wire?

 

[JohnK]

I found this listed as a replacement for that fixture. Assuming this is correct the fixture uses an AC fan and that would be why it blew/shorted the 12V DC fan.
http://www.aquariumpart.com/Orbit_Replacement_Fan_p/rcu01745.htm

You can either replace it with an AC fan, or use another DC fan with a seperate power supply (wall wart).

Also to double check, did the fan wire into the existing wires that power the light (AC style) or did the fan have a seperate power supply (probably would have seemed like a mini in line ballast sort of thing)?

 

[stingythingy45]

Nice find on the AC,John.

 

[IPWitan]

The internal fan did NOT have a separate power supply. It looked like all the electrical components were all plugged into a common source - everything went into 2 separate groupings. I assumed one was power and the other was a ground, but I don't really know. I cannot be certain I matched the right positive to positive sides as I figured that if I got it wrong, the fan would spin backwards. Nope - just poof and smoke.

I hate to ask since you have done so much, but could you comment on whether you think the one here would work. http://www.buyextras.com/paulsimu80x81.html

It is 10 bucks less, but more importantly about 13db quieter with a little more air flow. I don't mind having a separate ac power cord as the lighting power strip has plenty of space.

DAG