CW 80 Fan Noise

Hope you get an answer to this problem. I use a CW 80 to power my switches and it's making noise for a few minutes after I turn it on.  It quiets down but I can't believe the noise is heralding good news.

The fan in the CW-80 uses cheap sleeve bearings and they fail rather quickly.  When mine start making noise I replace them with quality ball bearing fans and have not had any problem after years of service on the new, better fans. 

Any 40x40x10mm case fan for computers will fit.  Some will have three wires instead of the two on the original, that is not a problem.  Just use the red and black wires.

I have personally used Evercool brand fans.

Remember that the fan is a 12V fan, there are 5V computer fans of similar size, they won't work.

So the power to the fan is 12v. DC, is this correct?

Pete

Yes, get the 12v fan.  Thank you John for adding that!

Also, the screws on the bottom of the CW-80 are of the "tamper proof" triangle design.  You can file a junk screwdriver to fit, find a flat blade that is just the right size, or buy a TA27 screwdriver. 

According to this diagram, yes.

All you have to do is get inside and lube it and the noise will disappear.

Actually, lubing these little sleeve bearing fans is a short term fix.  Once the bearings have worn to the point the fan is making noise, the damage is done.  I've tried that with a number of these fans in computer applications, but now I just replace them.

Take note of which direction is exhaust before you remove the old fan. Check the blade tilt if it's not marked on the case of the old.

I use an automotive interior tool to pry off the handle. They are a hard plastic.

The direction of airflow and fan rotation should be molded onto the fan housing.  Normally, if you put the label on the same side, it all works out.