Extremely noisy fan inside 3Com gigabit switch...can I disable the fan and run it passive?

[Qianglong]

I recently purchased a 16 port gigabit switch that is made by 3com. It is the managed switch here: http://www.3com.com/products/e...=purchase&sku=3CBLSG16"]http://www.3com.com/products/en_US/detail.jsp?tab=features&pathtype=purchase&sku=3CBLSG16[/URL]

Unfortunately, it comes with 2 super loud sunon fan and there is no way I can disable it unless i open the switch which voids the warranty. Now, I can jam the fans by using various items. This switch will be used at home and in no way I will utilize the full switching capacity so i figure it should run pretty cool. From the spec sheet, the heat output is only 58watts/hour in maximum load. So do you guys think running this switch w/o fans will damage it?

 

[mcmilljb]

Overkill. That switch belongs in wiring closest for a reason.

 

[kevnich2]

You need a desktop or SOHO switch. Do you need 16 ports or will 8-12 ports suffice? Netgear makes a fanless 16 port gig switch as well as an 8 port smaller version

 

[NickOlsen8390]

If you have the money, the HP Procurve 1800-24G is nice.
I have one, its managed, 24 port, Gigabit.
And fanless.

 

[alevasseur14]

I'd put money on jamming things in the fans voiding your warranty as well...

I think you'd be further ahead to either find a different, fanless switch or put it somewhere the noise won't bother you.

 

[QuixoticOne]

You're talking about a mass produced consumer / business IT device. They basically NEVER over-engineer such things. Even from China those fans have to cost at least like $0.25 a piece. $0.25 * 100,000 units or more = $25,000 or more profits if they left them out, and probably a lot less warranty service when the fans stop working also.

Believe me, if they COULD leave them out and have the thing even remotely work within specification they WOULD have left them out. They are NOT optional, if anything they probably are BARELY good enough to cool the thing in a warm room / rack. If you disable them, expect something along the lines of smoke, flames, burning plastic smell, and failing electronics.

If the noise / power consumption bothers you, get a newer technology unit that can safely / reliably run fanless.

 

[Modelworks]

If you jam the fans you most likely will end up with smoke coming from the fans.
Personally I use a 16 port switch made by allied telesyn that has no fans at all.
http://www.alliedtelesyn.com/p...il.aspx?pid=185&lid=58