Why are these fans so Freaking Noisy?

[Lt.Dan]

My SolArk 12k definitely does not do that. It's a very slow ramp up, and I've only heard the fans full bore a handful of times.

The 12k at full speed is about the same volume as my LV6548s at idle/20% load

 

[JRH]

I found the same with my Growatt SPF 3500ES - the fans in this AIO are high performance models, however most of their energy is spent just holding high static pressure inside the chassis, trying to squeeze a bit of air through the tiny set of exhaust holes at the top. This higher static pressure increases turbulence around the fan blades, and therefore noise.
I've since replaced them with nearly silent fans, the unit is now whisper quiet with only a minor increase to internal temperatures. Definitely a worthwhile upgrade.

I installed two super quiet whisper fans

My point though was that if a $1000 PC can constantly check temp and adjust the fan as needed, why can't these units?

i guess they don’t appropriate the money as wisely when building the thing… i agree ..it is odd… but why do they write everything in somewhat broken English in the manuals .? . why is the print so small I need my jeweler glasses to even read the instructions….? why do they not ever answer the phone with an English Voice….? Better yet ,why do they never answer the phone at all.?
im a hillbilly … what do I know…?
im just telling you what I experience……

 

[SilverbackMP]

My point though was that if a $1000 PC can constantly check temp and adjust the fan as needed, why can't these units?

Is you PC messing with 6000 watts? With very little in the way of heat sinks? In the smallest enclosure they can fit it in? You got server type fan(s) spinning at high RPM. And the quiet Noctua and similar fans aren’t going to flow as much air. Noctua does make continuous duty rated server fans, but they are still noisy and higher RPM.

And these cheaper AIOs aren’t all that efficient consuming something like 60 watts just from being on with no load. That translates to heat energy.

 

[Tulex]

Is you PC messing with 6000 watts? With very little in the way of heat sinks? In the smallest enclosure they can fit it in? You got server type fan(s) spinning at high RPM. And the quiet Noctua and similar fans aren’t going to flow as much air. Noctua does make continuous duty rated server fans, but they are still noisy and higher RPM.

And these cheaper AIOs aren’t all that efficient consuming something like 60 watts just from being on with no load. That translates to heat energy.

I could put 6 of my pcs in the space of my Sol-Ark, and the Sol-Ark has massive heat sinks. None of that matters. It's a simple case of hardware and programming. I can buy a temp driven fan board for $15. Simply put, my guess, for Sol-Ark at least, is that they don't expect the noise level to matter for most people. But, it's not that hard to drive the fan via temp, many other types of hardware do just that.

 

[Crowz]

My sungold tp6048 doesn't seem that loud to me even when its 90 degrees in the room its in and loaded down. I can hear it and all but its not as loud as my alienware notebook computer while gaming.

I need to install the air conditioner in that room soon to get the temps back under 80 degrees but all in all the noise part isn't really that bad.

Maybe the fans aren't as large as the ones in other units.

 

[JRH]

My sungold tp6048 doesn't seem that loud to me even when its 90 degrees in the room its in and loaded down. I can hear it and all but its not as loud as my alienware notebook computer while gaming.

I need to install the air conditioner in that room soon to get the temps back under 80 degrees but all in all the noise part isn't really that bad.

Maybe the fans aren't as large as the ones in other units.

I like the sound of fans… they are calming…I have a 42 inch floor shop fan in my bedroom.. it will put you out in 5 min listening to that lovely ( shop fan sound) … what man hasn’t felt that attraction to the sound of one waiting for his car to get repaired…..?

 

[SilverbackMP]

I could put 6 of my pcs in the space of my Sol-Ark, and the Sol-Ark has massive heat sinks. None of that matters. It's a simple case of hardware and programming. I can buy a temp driven fan board for $15. Simply put, my guess, for Sol-Ark at least, is that they don't expect the noise level to matter for most people. But, it's not that hard to drive the fan via temp, many other types of hardware do just that.

Yep and people have been buying rack mounted Synologies cause rack mounting is the “in” thing and putting them in their living spaces. Finding they are loud AF and swapping out the fans for regular Noctuas. And then swapping back once they start over heating (and that’s with an extremely low power processor). Same same.

The comparison with PCs is kinda moot. Anyone building a gaming PC is watching their temps and fine tuning their curves.

These things have to existing in various unknown conditions and have to be made at the lowest price as they are marketed at that price level. So no (or very little) heat sinks, no big assed copper windings that act as heat sinks, no premium fans and customized fan curves, unknown life expectancy as compared to tier one products, etc.

It’s like buying a Ford Escort and then comparing it to a BMW.

I am not even sh!tting on the product. They are what they are. I just wouldn’t have them in an attached structure nor would I have any of it (tier one included) in an important building if I could avoid it.

My mom has burn marks in her battery box from an old system that was located in her house (ran the generator too much during a heat wave, boiled out the acid of one battery).

Risk assessment can be move from high to low with a relocation to an outside structure. Even if it’s a used big box shed from FB market place. Folks are watching David Poz and saying “hold my beer” without thinking through things IMHO. Risk mitigation. Seen too many folks die and be maimed by preventable accidents or actions (not solar related).

 

[Tulex]

Yep and people have been buying rack mounted Synologies cause rack mounting is the “in” thing and putting them in their living spaces. Finding they are loud AF and swapping out the fans for regular Noctuas. And then swapping back once they start over heating (and that’s with an extremely low power processor). Same same.

The comparison with PCs is kinda moot. Anyone building a gaming PC is watching their temps and fine tuning their curves.

These things have to existing in various unknown conditions and have to be made at the lowest price as they are marketed at that price level. So no (or very little) heat sinks, no big assed copper windings that act as heat sinks, no premium fans and customized fan curves, unknown life expectancy as compared to tier one products, etc.

It’s like buying a Ford Escort and then comparing it to a BMW.

I am not even sh!tting on the product. They are what they are. I just wouldn’t have them in an attached structure nor would I have any of it (tier one included) in an important building if I could avoid it.

My mom has burn marks in her battery box from an old system that was located in her house (ran the generator too much during a heat wave, boiled out the acid of one battery).

Risk assessment can be move from high to low with a relocation to an outside structure. Even if it’s a used big box shed from FB market place. Folks are watching David Poz and saying “hold my beer” without thinking through things IMHO. Risk mitigation. Seen too many folks die and be maimed by preventable accidents or actions (not solar related).

I don't think you get it. It's nothing more than not a priority for the builders. A temp controlled fan is just that. Simply set stages for the fan to kick on and kick up. A $15 board for a DIY project. My grow tent vent has one. My PC has it. Both my oven and my stove vent have it. When I had my machine shop, many of my cnc machines had them. All of these run the fan in stages. It has nothing to do with all the other hardware. If the fan they install kicking on at full throttle can do the job, for next to nothing more, they could temp control it. I would dare say it would even be better for the inverter, because with full on and off, you have a larger range of temperature change. And lowest cost? Sol-Ark charged me a pretty penny for my unit, I'm thinking they can afford it. My pc isn't a gaming pc, but it does run my media in the house, and sits in my living room. That's why I wanted the fans to be quiet. I'm not fine tuning it, I just wanted the fans to run as soon and as quiet as possible. And yes, the Sol-Ark does have a massive heat sink, Will even mentioned it.

You can argue all you want, but the simple fact is that for little cost, they could quiet these inverters down. It's not rocket science, it's just not a priority for them at this point.

 

[SilverbackMP]

I don't think you get it. It's nothing more than not a priority for the builders. A temp controlled fan is just that. Simply set stages for the fan to kick on and kick up. A $15 board for a DIY project. My grow tent vent has one. My PC has it. Both my oven and my stove vent have it. When I had my machine shop, many of my cnc machines had them. All of these run the fan in stages. It has nothing to do with all the other hardware. If the fan they install kicking on at full throttle can do the job, for next to nothing more, they could temp control it. I would dare say it would even be better for the inverter, because with full on and off, you have a larger range of temperature change. And lowest cost? Sol-Ark charged me a pretty penny for my unit, I'm thinking they can afford it. My pc isn't a gaming pc, but it does run my media in the house, and sits in my living room. That's why I wanted the fans to be quiet. I'm not fine tuning it, I just wanted the fans to run as soon and as quiet as possible.

You can argue all you want, but the simple fact is that for little cost, they could quiet these inverters down. It's not rocket science, it's just not a priority for them at this point.

And again, none of those products have 6000 watts going through them and subjected to use in varied environmental conditions by the lowest common denominator (such as the afore mentioned “influencer”).

And I don’t think you get it. My point is that the noise would be a non issue by removing the sparky burny thing from your living space where you, your spouse, and children sleep.

 

[Tulex]

And again, none of those products have 6000 watts going through them and subjected to use in varied environmental conditions by the lowest common denominator (such as the afore mentioned “influencer”).

And I don’t think you get it. My point is that the noise would be a non issue by removing the sparky burny thing from your living space where you, your spouse, and children sleep.

Explain to me what watts has to do with it. It's a machine that makes heat. The fan removes the heat. You can scale anything. More heat, bigger fan. Inside or outside, it's all the same. It's not a difficult concept. They've already covered the "unique inverter issues" by sizing the fan. The fan comes on at some max temperature and runs until it's at some low enough temperature. Absolutely nothing about the "unique inverter issues" prevents them from staging that fan. It's not like they are using "special" fans for these "unique inverter issues". They simple don't stage the fans because they look at it like you do, get it out of your house and it doesn't matter. As I said, it's not a priority, nothing more. Now you watch. The competition at the higher end is building. All these manufacturers are going to be looking for ways to stand out, and I would bet big money that "Whisper Quiet" is right around the corner.

 

[SilverbackMP]

Explain to me what watts has to do with it. It's a machine that makes heat. The fan removes the heat. You can scale anything. More heat, bigger fan. Inside or outside, it's all the same. It's not a difficult concept. They've already covered the "unique inverter issues" by sizing the fan. The fan comes on at some max temperature and runs until it's at some low enough temperature. Absolutely nothing about the "unique inverter issues" prevents them from staging that fan. It's not like they are using "special" fans for these "unique inverter issues". They simple don't stage the fans because they look at it like you do, get it out of your house and it doesn't matter. As I said, it's not a priority, nothing more. Now you watch. The competition at the higher end is building. All these manufacturers are going to be looking for ways to stand out, and I would bet big money that "Whisper Quiet" is right around the corner.

ONCE AGAIN. The damned inverter should not be installed in your living room/shitter/bedroom. At the very least, in the garage (or room with fire door) with 5/8th Type X Sheetrock…better yet two layers of Type C drywall with overlapping seams over the top of 3/4 plywood with mineral wool insulation (North America). Best…in its own outbuilding. My argument isn’t hard to understand unless one routinely gets their tongue stuck to metal objects during the winter.

I really shouldn’t be arguing this though. Best just to be quiet and let Darwin work.

 

[John.DS99]

I think the guy that designed these worked for Greyhound Bus in the 1970's. You could hear them coming from a mile away.

 

[John.DS99]

Explain to me what watts has to do with it.

I miss Tina Turner too.

 

[John.DS99]

I know why. It is because everything is made in China.

Nothing against the Chinese population, but if they live in an environment where noise and annoyance are routine, they wouldn't sense the point of this discussion.

Stand by for political correctness.

 

[SilverbackMP]

I know why. It is because everything is made in China.

Nothing against the Chinese population, but if they live in an environment where noise and annoyance are routine, they wouldn't sense the point of this discussion.

Stand by for political correctness.

Astute observation. Many Chinese and Koreans have zero situational awareness. I’ve always said that’s because of density and if they don’t tune out much of the environment, they would go nuts. They have severe tunnel vision. Even when driving (though that has improved immensely in Korea).

 

[John.DS99]

Outback, possibly MidNite. Schneider for a quality product but Asian manufactured. Victron same same. And SMA for a Herr DeSantis version.

I have SMA. Still put it in a shed.

This is a very good point. I bought a powerstation a month ago made by Vanpowers.net (same as Zendure). I put it in my home office and have let it charge and discharge daily in concert with a pair of 360 watt PV panels.

After observing its behavior and evaluating it, I have reached the conclusion that the engineering in this $1250 device is on the high school level. More like Beavis & Butthead than the gifted class. So here is this piece of crap, pathetically engineered and produced by the crowdfunded immature and mediocre quick buck types that sits in my home (which I can scarcely afford by working full time) which has the potential to unleash 7200 kilojoules of energy at a moment's notice.

Hmmm, let's see, if I were an evil genius, someone like Bill Yates (rhymes with), I would sell these on a massive scale to a nation that I wanted to destroy. I would put an ignition source hidden in it, and sell them by the millions as cheap as possible. I would make it impossible not to purchase one. Then, when convenient to me, I would push the button.

 

[peufeu]

The Solis has a huge fanless heatsink. I noticed the internal temperature reported via modbus was too hot for my tastes. I simply mounted two Arctic P12 PC fans on each side of the inverter mounting bracket, blowing on the heat sink :



The board the inverters are mounted on is about 1" away from the wall, so cool air enters behind the board and is blown on the heat sinks byt the fans.

The Orange Pi that logs inverter data queries inverter temperature via modbus and turns on the fans when needed.

This reduced temperature peaks spectacularly, from 70°C peaks to barely 40°C. The noisy internal fan turns on much less often. These fans make a quiet "woooshhh" sound.

 

[robby]

Sol-Ark 12k is fairly quiet. The fan ramps up and down depending on the temperature.
Most high powered products face an issue of either spending more cash on larger heat sinks or using smaller ones and compensating with Fans that have higher CFM rates that are loud.
Fans are cheap so guess which one typically wins out When penny pinching is involved.

 

[Tulex]

Sol-Ark 12k is fairly quiet. The fan ramps up and down depending on the temperature.
Most high powered products face an issue of either spending more cash on larger heat sinks or using smaller ones and compensating with Fans that have higher CFM rates are loud.
Fans are cheap so guess which one typically wins out When penny pinching is involved.

The 15k, at least mine, comes on at what sounds like full throttle and then drops a bit within seconds but holds steady until it goes off.

 

[RCinFLA]

Fan noise is primarily the air vortices from the tips of the blades.

Air flow dynamics is quite complex and most cheap fans have little attention paid to this blade tip noise, other than copying someone else's cut and try attempt at reducing noise. Common used method is the 'S' tipped blades.

A lot of recent 'buzz' in the tech world has been over 'toroidal' propeller design. There is a big effort to reduce the noise of drone quad copters blades. You can design for reduced noise or improved thrust efficiency. Perimeter cowling design is also part of the design effort.