Immersun Fan Fault

[linesrg]

Good Morning All,

The cooling fan on my Immersun had been sounding increasingly rough of recent culminating in the unit going into a fault mode. The fault code was No. 13 and identified as 'Fan Fault'.

As there is only the one fan it isn't rocket science as to the culprit.

The fan is secured by two Torx headed screws to the heatsink.

Removing was straight forward and there was nothing obviously wrong mechanically. I blew all the dust off it and on the second restart the Immersun is now running again.

The fan is a 5V brushless 3 wire type and is identical in appearance to this eBay item (and I do mean identical even down to the label) - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1Pcs-DC-Brushless-Cooling-PC-Computer-Fan-5V-5010-50x50x10mm-0-16A-3-Pin-Wire/142756538281?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

I've just ordered 2off, really I should have ordered more and just stuck them on the shelf. My own experience is that this fan has lasted about 15 months.

Regards

Richard

[dan_b]

Is yours a Mk1 or Mk2 ImmerSUN? 

[Westie]

I'd spend a little more and make sure it's has ball bearings. More of the cheapies that don't mention the bearing type usually have sleeve bearings which with continuous use seize up in a year or so.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1Pcs-50mm-x-10mm-5010B-DC-12V-0-1A-2-Pin-Brushless-Cooling-Fan-Ball-Bearing-B2/322974253057?hash=item4b32c40001:g:RD4AAOSwxzdaS5DG

[Philip R]

£1.56 ea, if if is that cheap then there is a good reason why?
You should heed Westies advice an go for a fan with  ball bearings fitted. After all, you could be away on a job, and your immersun fails again for the same reason, and end up degrading components inside the immersun because it is running hotter than it needs to.
I was taught that an 8 degree increase in temperature, halves the life. Hence importance of cool running electronics, electrical machines etc.

Philip R

[TT]

The high temps of Aberdeen!
It's just as hot in Fife too, I may go and check the inverter in the loft as I don't have any monitoring equipment.
Export meter at the front door electricity cupboard

[linesrg]

Westie,

Presumably the S suffix stands for sleeve and B for bearing? I take your point but the current fan is 5V and your quoting a 12V replacement with only two wires. Currently trying to a find a 5V fan with a bearing and 3 wires.......... and struggling.

Regards

Richard

[Westie]

Westie,

Presumably the S suffix stands for sleeve and B for bearing? I take your point but the current fan is 5V and your quoting a 12V replacement with only two wires. Currently trying to a find a 5V fan with a bearing and 3 wires.......... and struggling.

Regards

Richard

Yep, it can be an issue, try CPC.  I've had to go up or down in size to get the right fan but it's easy enough to bodgeneer it,  trhe point is you'll only have to do it once.

http://www.easyflip.co.uk/CPC_Digital_Catalogue/?page=3513

[nowty]

Mine is also on its last legs, still works but occasionally makes a horrid rasping sound, then I give it a good whack and its ok again.

I also agree about getting a ball bearing one, but I cannot find one with 3 wires either so two off the sleeve ones is ordered from China.

Mine has lasted about 3 years, although it has occasionally been making that orrid sound for over a year now.

[TT]

Don't know what the 3rd wire is for, but could you use a larger fan and use the existing 5volt supply to energise the coil of a suitable relay and switch a larger fan on/off via an external power supply

[Westie]

Don't know what the 3rd wire is for, but could you use a larger fan and use the existing 5volt supply to energise the coil of a suitable relay and switch a larger fan on/off via an external power supply

The third wire is the speed ref from a hall effect sensor, it outputs a signal at the rotation speed of the fan, if you use a two wire fan you'll get a fan failure warning.

[Antman]

Try http://uk.farnell.com/sepa/mfb50e05a-4-tray/fan-dc-axial-miniature-tc/dp/1217973?st=5V%20fan but only 14 left and discontinued line.

Antman

[knighty]

it's hard to find a high end 50mm fan - if it was 40mm there's be hundreds to pick from because they're used in computers

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/310763921175

this is the only brand I can see that I've heard of

[linesrg]

Antman,

Good find although not exactly cheap.

Difficult to bodge engineer there really isn’t a great deal of room. I’ll provide a picture later.

I've ordered one as an existing trade customer (saving £3.95 + VAT on P&P) so the fan comes to £10.34 including VAT.

Regards

Richard

[regen]

I may live to regret this! My mk 1 has been running for nearly 5 years and just passed the 10,000 kwh into the tank.
So far no strange noises.

Regen

[ny]

Don't think there is a fan in the mk1.