Ampeg Micro-VR fan whine - any mod ideas?

[YoMomma]

So yeah, as expected (based on comments I've seen), my new Ampeg Micro-VR has a fan that "whines". I don't mind the fan, just the high pitched whine. Otherwise, very happy with the little thing.

Has anyone tried swapping that fan unit for another one that's either quieter or less annoying?

 

[waleross]

I bought the micro head and (2) 210 micro cabs. I had no use for the micro head (kept the micro cabs) ,so I traded it in for cash at a Local Chain Music Store. The fan is loud true but as a back -up head it really puts out for its size. I easliy powered (2) 8 Ohm 410 Ampeg cabs. If you are trying to quiet the fan ,look up some of the old threads on the topic at this site. The thing is the fans are not defective they are just loud like Honda Generators. I have other Ampegs and most of them have louder fans than they should its just goes with the territory. Best of luck ,

 

[PhiDeck]

Manufacturers in competitive markets rarely use the best available fans (or adaptive control of the speed of fans).
Replacing a fan is not rocket science (but does void a warranty). Fans made by Papst and Panasonic are quieter than most.

 

[YoMomma]

I wonder if a computer type fan would work....

 

[PhiDeck]

1) Read the manufacturer and part number from the fan's label.
2) Find its specs on the Internet.
3) Search for fans with identical or similar specs, except for being less noisy.

If you have a problem beyond step 1, PM me, including what you found in step 1.

 

[YoMomma]

Well, I took the amp out of the cab (it's 1/2 the cab size! Tiny little sucker!). The fan seems smaller than the "standard" computer type fan. But the real thing is that it's in there real tight - right next to (almost touching) the first heatsink - such that I'd have to disassemble the entire thing just to swap out that @#$%^&* fan! Perhaps some WD40...

 

[PhiDeck]

What used to be called a standard computer fan was 80 mm square. Nowadays they use all sizes from 40 mm (1U rack-mount) to 120 mm (and occasionally larger). Laptops use even smaller ones.

The smaller fans have to spin at high RPM in order to move any air and are, therefore, noisier than the big ones. Since you can't change the fan's size, all you can do is replace it with the quietest one of the same size that you can find.

Fans are usually easy to replace as they are often screwed to the cover of the enclosure. So you just take the cover off, unplug the fan, and unscrew the fan from the cover. If you're lucky, the manufacturer used one of a few standard fan connectors, in which case you'll be able to buy the new fan with the same connector type already installed.

If the fan is installed as an exhaust fan (pushes hot air out of the enclosure), you have the option of installing a thermally controlled fan. It senses the temperature of the air it is exhausting, and adjusts its speed accordingly.