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G8MNY  > TECH     27.01.26 10:34l 64 Lines 2531 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 50728_GB7CIP
Read: DJ6UX GUEST
Subj: Variable Speed Thermal Fan
Path: DB0FHN<DB0RKB<DK0WUE<PD0LPM<VE3CGR<GB7OSW<GB7BED<GB7YEW<GB7CIP
Sent: 260127/0750Z @:GB7CIP.#32.GBR.EURO #:50728 [Caterham Surrey GBR]
From: G8MNY@GB7CIP.#32.GBR.EURO
To  : TECH@WW

By G8MNY                                   (Updated Jul 15)
(8 Bit ASCII graphics use code page 437 or 850, Terminal Font)

I have often been annoyed by fan noise from over powerful fans in gear. Here is
a solution I adopted for a 12V PSUs & 400W HF PAs. Small 12V fans can be found
in a scrap PCs etc. and draw about 70-100mA depending on speed & size.

2x PNP CIRCUIT (Germanium NPN can be used E-C reversed)
   use idiot diode & fuse if fan manually wired up.
   旼컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴�<쳐o-o컴 +12V
   e\쿞ilicon
  PNP쳐커                                                 FANS
    /�  e\쿛NP Small                           旼컴컴컴컴컴컫컴컴컴컴컴컴�
   �      � Germanium              Sponge fill �        Tab�~�           �
   �     /쿫etween fins            gap so fan..읕컴컴컴컴컴탠탠컴컴컴컴컴�.
   쳐컴켸                          blades kept � � � � � � 頻� � � � � � �
  _�_                              away from   � � � � � � 殯� � � � � � �
 / + \  For a quieter fan,         fins for    栢栢栢栢栢栢栢栢栢栢栢栢栢�
� 12V � try 2 in series,           min noise.  �                         �
 \FAN/  or use a 24V one!                      �     P A   /   P S U     �
  ~�~                                          �                         �
   읕컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� 0V          읕컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴�
It uses a high gain (x100) tab silicon NPN or PNP controlled by a leaky
Germanium PNP or NPN placed between the hot heatsink fins (test a germanium
with a soldering iron for resistance change and Fans on/off). I used an all
plasic Tab silicon cable tied to the fans, with the insulated geramanium
transistor E & C leads twisted (make sure it's case is isolated or insulate)
and exposed connections in heat shrink etc.

Fan operation is typically from @ 50�C with a slow variable speed action until
cool!

The fan can be in the earth path or +12V side...

Silicon NPN & Germanium PNP CIRCUIT
   旼컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴�<쳐o-o컴 +12V
  _�_
 / + \  For a quieter fan,
� 12V � try using 2 in series,
 \FAN/  or use a 24V one!
  ~�~
   쳐컴커
   �    e\쿛NP Small
   �      � Germanium
    \�   /쿫etweens fins
  NPN쳐켸
   e/쿞ilicon
   읕컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� 0V

RESULT
In high use (waffle mode with processing on or a pile up) the fan starts up and
runs very quietly from about 5V across it, and gently runs faster if the
heatsink gets hotter.


See TECH bul "PA & PSU Fan Noise"

Why Don't U send an interesting bul?

73 De John, G8MNY @ GB7CIP


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