External Caddy - Fan is buzzing a lot

[Ploper001]

Hi, in early December I bought an external caddy (Sumvision "ENCL-35USL-3.5USB", QuickFind: 119512) and a 500GB SATA 3Gbps drive from eBuyer. The caddy was fine, but after a few weeks the fan started buzzing loudly every so often. Usually hitting it or tilting it a bit would fix it, but it's getting worse and harder to fix.

I've unscrewed the case again, but I can't see where the problem is. I also can't unscrew the fan to check as the screws seem really tightly done-up and no screwdriver I have will let me grip enough to undo them!

There's no point RMAing it because it's the best SATA Caddy eBuyer have, and apparently this happens all the time, so it's not a specific fault of this particular caddy.


So since there isn't much else I can do, I was wondering two things:

1) Do I actually need the fan running? I can't find out the temperature of the HDD in any software I've tried, and even if I had a thermometer I wouldn't know where to put it to measure the HDD temperature properly...so has anyone else had experience with this?

2) Alternatively, is there anywhere I can get a decent HDD Caddy for SATA drives, say for under £25?


Thanks for any assistance.

 

[paparazi]

If it has a fan I would say it would be unadvisable to remove it.
I'm guessing this fan is a pretty standard 40mm 12volt two wire type that could be relatively easyily replaced.
Just check the dimensions ie: 40X40X10 (10 being 10mm deep)
For example:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=FG-030-AK

It will probably need soldering into the circuit in the same place as the original, 15minute job.

Martin

We like members to GIVE and not just TAKE.
Participate and help others.

 

[Ploper001]

Well I don't have a solddering iron...but it may not be the actual fan that's vibrating, it might be the position of the fan casing, in which case replacing the fan might not help.

Also, I wouldn't remove the fan, simply unplug it from the circuit board...

 

[Lemon13]

i doubt its the position of the fan, i suspect the bearing. my advise is also, get a replacement, best with ball-bearing.
the screws might be fixed withn "locktight", a little heating up should do the job (i.e with a hairdryer)

 

[wahnula]

Or the screws might actually be Torx or star-tool screws, another way to confound us DIY guys.

As for whether you NEED the fan or not, I would say it depends on how much you use the drive. If it's off most of the time and only comes on for backup, and since the case is aluminum, I would say NO. Every single one of my aluminum external cases noes NOT have a fan. If you leave it on constantly and there is constant I/O then MAYBE/YES.

Try removing the drive and cleaning the fan (outdoors) with canned air...half-second burst..first let the fan spin, then jam it gently or hold it still and give it more bursts.

Tony

 

[Ploper001]

Unfortunately, it is on about 12 hours a day (whenever my laptop is on). I use it as my main drive since my laptop's one is too small.

I have no compressed air either...but I'll see if I can find some.

 

[ArizonaGeek]

You can also try a small amount of graphite to loosen up the spin of the fan. You don't need a whole lot, just a very small amount on the axis of the fan and that could help. If you're brave you could even try a couple of small drops (and I mean small) of WD-40.

As for if it needs a fan, I'd say it would the bigger drives tend to run pretty hot. I run 6 hard drives in my PC with several internal fans but to help out the air flow I also have a desktop fan sitting in front of my PC to blow more air in thru the front. Good luck!

Cheers
Rob

 

[wahnula]

I have no compressed air either...but I'll see if I can find some.

I am talking about the canned air, any decent store will have it. It is a must for DIY.

Tony

 

[Ploper001]

I unscrewed and rescrewed the fan - same problem, it buzzes for about 20s before calming down, and I'm sure it's still louder than it's meant to be for the rest of the time.

It is a 25x25mm fan it seems - not a usual size from what I know, but is it possible to get a replacement cheaply from the internet?

 

[wahnula]

is it possible to get a replacement cheaply from the internet?

Ploper001, you should know by now that you can get ANYTHING on the Internet!!! I am sure there is a UK store with them also.

http://www.directron.com/30mmfans.html

Check your measurements, it's probably a 30 x 30mm.

Tony

 

[Ploper001]

I'm using it right now so can't take it apart again...but looking from where the screws are on the outside, it looks like 25x25mm. I will check for sure later though.

I know you can normally buy everything from the internet, but I looked for 25mm fans and found nothing...hopefully you are right and it's 30mm!

 

[paparazi]

There are definately 25X25X10mm fans out there.
I don't know where you are in the UK but RS Components is Global and Maplins are in most towns:

http://rswww.com/cgi-bin/bv/rswww/home.do?cacheID=ukie&returningUser=N

http://www.maplin.co.uk/

Or any good electronics shop (components)

Infact I'm sure I must have a least one or two of these in my odds and sods drawer lol

Martin

We like members to GIVE and not just TAKE.
Participate and help others.

 

[wahnula]

Martin knows everything!

http://rswww.com/cgi-bin/bv/rswww/s...jmimgdjfcefeceeldgkidhgl.0&cacheID=uknetscape

I am humbled again!

odds and sods drawer

Love those limey expressions!!!

Tony

 

[Ploper001]

I really would prefer to buy it online - wahnula, your link is "timed out", and paprazi, none of those shops seem to have fans with the correct dimension

Any other ideas?