Reducing fan noise on 20 inch screen models

[MaxW]

I´ve been disturbed especially by the high speed/high noise from the fans on the 20 inch screen machines and decided to something about it.

The solution is a VERY cheep one; you just solder a resistor to the fan which then lower the speed and noise.
Then the machines have been left on for 24h to see if they overheats, which they don´t.

Please feel free to comment what you think of this (and also my english maybe...).

Here´s the guide for Popeye, Gamera HGV and Ultraman Club ST:
http://www.sparx.se/Popeye_GameraHGV_Ultraman.doc

and here´s the guide to Onimusha (a bit more work...):
http://www.sparx.se/Onimusha.doc

Max

[alstonj1]

try taking the fan off and installing a thin rubber pad under each mounting hole(the kind the use for feet on a computer item to keep it from scratching your desk) then remount the fan and it should reduce the noise quite a bit .

[Chrisdice]

I just used a piece of match book cover to reduce the noise.

[luckydog]

I just block the sound out while playing

Its like when your wife tells you about her day at the beauty palour

or your kids bouncing a ball against the wall

[bfree]

I just block the sound out while playing

Its like when your wife tells you about her day at the beauty palour

or your kids bouncing a ball against the wall

I haven't quite mastered blocking the kids out yet, but I have a PHD when it comes to the other!!

[Subarubrat]

The right way to test this out is to put a thermometer probe (most multi meters have them) and then run it a few hours play and idle with the fan speed stock and reduced. If the temp looks close, and I think it would be, then go for it. I might have to check this out myself since the fan noise annoys me as well.

[djcasper_bpm]

once i get all my machines up and runnin. its striaght loud.. all those little fans. the nice bulb buzz i get from both my vegas machines. and not to mention the computer i have in the game room has a fan gettin ready to fry.. now thats a sound that cuts right through me. but why not try to make them a little more on the quite side. i'd be game for that.

[MaxW]

Yes, please do a check of the temperature since my multimeter doesn´t have that option. Also interesting to see if the temperature rises when actually playing the machine since I only tested it in idle mode.
Note: The Onimusha sucks air from the top and down through the electronics and therefore you have to measure it below. The other three machines blows out at the top and the measurement should be done on the top.

And if your´re really in to it you could do as I did from the beginning: mount a variable resistor to the fan (avaliable at computer acessories shops, three pin connector type) and try different settings.
I do not recommend trying to find another type of fan because it´s to much work taking everything apart and to put it together again.

Max

[prayerny]

Hi i am a technician by trade. I wouldn't add a resistor to a fan for one reason.
Digital electronics are very sensitive when it comes to power. Resistors first hold back power, increase amperage in some cases, and generate heat. I personally would never add a resistor or any electronic or electrical component unless I carefully researched the circuit. Why not purchase a ball bearing fan instead. They are very quite and cheap. Go to a electronics wholesaler and lookup transformer fans or liquid cooled computer fans. Hope this helps.

[MaxW]

Thanks for your reply "prayerny". Good to have a technicians view as well.
I agree that you should be careful with altering electronics but in this case I just used the old try-and-error method (and some common sense) and it worked perfect this time. As a mather of fact I´ve done this on some ten machines without any problems at all, so I say: go for it.

Max