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Forum Discussion
Fan problems on the Ultra 6
I bought an Ultra 6 in January of last year. I just scheduled what is either its fourth or fifth RMA replacement, all on issues involving a fan. The current replacement, like two in the past, stems from a fast clicking sound, as if the fan is out of alignment and brushing against its enclosure. Other times it's been a high-pitched oscillating whine. Once, the fan noises started right after I first turned the unit on, and generally otherwise after a few weeks. In one case, it was a few months. Once they start, they remain persistent, never going away for longer than a few minutes.
In the current case, the clicking is audible from two rooms away, so I don't think the fact that I have it in the living room is making me unusually sensitive. Here's some sample audio: http://cl.ly/1L2a080P3W0t0M1q2k1T
ReadyNAS support has been flexible about sending me replacement units, but as soon as I explain to them that the drives are not implicated (all of these problems have remained when I removed all the drives and booted it up both empty and cold), they can't do anything for me except order up another replacement chassis.
I'm at a loss to think of anything I'm doing that might have contributed. The device is plugged into a pretty beefy UPS (support had me plug it into a wall to see if it made any difference). It lives on a media center, but it's not enclosed. It's not subject to any unusual levels of dust or temperature fluctuations (I live in Seattle, and keep the temperature on the low side of comfortable). Normal RPM is between 850-950, at about 90°. It has three drives installed, all on the list; firmware is current. None of the other gear in the media cabinet, like a Tivo, a PS3, a Zvox slab speaker, a router and cable modem, and an old Mac mini, have experienced any issues for years.
Does anyone have thoughts about what might be causing this? I've got another couple years on the warranty, but I went with the Ultra 6 in large part because it was quiet.
In the current case, the clicking is audible from two rooms away, so I don't think the fact that I have it in the living room is making me unusually sensitive. Here's some sample audio: http://cl.ly/1L2a080P3W0t0M1q2k1T
ReadyNAS support has been flexible about sending me replacement units, but as soon as I explain to them that the drives are not implicated (all of these problems have remained when I removed all the drives and booted it up both empty and cold), they can't do anything for me except order up another replacement chassis.
I'm at a loss to think of anything I'm doing that might have contributed. The device is plugged into a pretty beefy UPS (support had me plug it into a wall to see if it made any difference). It lives on a media center, but it's not enclosed. It's not subject to any unusual levels of dust or temperature fluctuations (I live in Seattle, and keep the temperature on the low side of comfortable). Normal RPM is between 850-950, at about 90°. It has three drives installed, all on the list; firmware is current. None of the other gear in the media cabinet, like a Tivo, a PS3, a Zvox slab speaker, a router and cable modem, and an old Mac mini, have experienced any issues for years.
Does anyone have thoughts about what might be causing this? I've got another couple years on the warranty, but I went with the Ultra 6 in large part because it was quiet.
1 Reply
- It sounds to me as if a blade or blades are hitting one of the wires. I have that that problem on occasion when building a PC and one of the wires comes in contact with the blades of the CPU fan. I would simply reposition the wire and the noise would go away.
I would open the case (will not void your warranty as long as you do not remove the sticker covering one of the screws on the PSU). There could also be something on the inside of the left (when looking at the front) side panel contacting the CPU fan, especially if there are any stickers on the inside of the side panel. I do know from postings that there is very little clearance between the side pane and the CPU fan. You might try just removing the side panel and then turning on the NAS (it won't hurt it). Note: I do not have a 6 bay chassis, so I am basing my post on what I know of the 4 bay unit and the photos on the Newegg website showing the rear of the Ultra 6/Plus/Pro 6.
If that is not it, remove the other side pane and the top. That will allow you to remove the upper rear panel with the large fan. Check to see if a wire is contacting the fan. The lower fan can be checked by looking down at it. A squeal or rumble to me would be a fan bearing. But the tick tick tick sound sounds to me as if something barely touching a plastic fan blade as the fan rotates.
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