ZWO Astronomy Cameras - Fixing the "vibrating fan issue"

[@SimonT65]

You mounted the fan the wrong way. You mounted the fan as extraction rather than blowing directly on to the heat sink. The sticker side is the direction of airflow. ZWO cameras have the fan label pointing inwards/towards the camera as they have been designed to blow air directly on to the heat sink which will be more efficient. If you watch your video back you will see @4:08 the direction of the fan sticker before you dismantled the camera

[@ExoPhotography1]

Yes, I am aware of that, I am plannnig to mount my new fractal R3 fan during the summer, will check both two and three times this time :) /Daniel

[@KenanSatir]

It seems average vibration is same but maximum vibration is higher after modification... Am i false?

[@ExoPhotography1]

My phone can't really measure that small amount of vibrations, so you can be right... This was a test of a test, which might show some positive results, but it has been cloudy for three months now... I have not been able to take on snigle image yet :/

[@julianshaw8032]

Helpful video, thank you. But it's been 6 months now. - Did you replicate Buckeye Stargazer's results? - Did you instal a Fractal fan? - Any effect on your images with either with the Fractal fan or the silicone studs alone?

[@julianshaw8032]

Found the sequel video, kzbin.info/www/bejne/n4ioeYOZfbWBZrc . Sadly inconclusive.

[@ExoPhotography1]

@@julianshaw8032 I have been collecting data for a couple of months now, so i will compare the images taking during 2021/2022 season with the 2022/2023 season, all in all with the old fan installed with silicon mounts. I will later this spring change to the fractal fan (have it on my desk next to me) The test will not how ever be a true A/B test, but i will have approx 200hrs of data to compare, so it will not be affected of one night of bad transparancy etc. /Daniel

[@ExoPhotography1]

@@julianshaw8032 Check my latest videos, I compare the stock fan with the new Fractal R3... And there is a quite clear result.

[@michaelasbury5473]

Did the modification fix the vibration issue? I have the exact same issue with my 2600mm pro. I turn the cooler off and get round stars. I turn the cooler on an immediately get oblong stars. replacing the fan did not fix the issue so I need another alternative. I have ordered those silicone things and will try them.

[@ExoPhotography1]

It has been bad weather so i actually have not been able to test it - but it is a big difference in what vibrations reach to the camera it self - a lot less now.

[@mauriciomorenorivera]

Where did you find those silicon rubbers?

[@ExoPhotography1]

They followed the Noctua fan I bought for the back-cover of my telescope. I have seen rubber grommets like this on amazon though. /Daniel

[@valentinotera3244]

Are you seriouss this ZWO ASI shit costs an eye and we had to fix them? Problems that affect THE STARS?

[@ExoPhotography1]

Yep, it looks like it. There are several reports which clearly shows a difference with old fan compared to new / better isolation. But you get what you pay for. ZWO is a budget brand. My Atik was better built, but the cost for a AA full frame sensor is almost 10.000 USD, and a bit steep.

[@desbarry8414]

Wouldnt buy ZWO. Altair Astro/QHY or Risingcam made by Touptech have no issues with either vibrating fans or thermal paste bleed.

[@ExoPhotography1]

Good to hear they work fine :)

[@fraenker]

I cant be the only one noticing, that he inserted the fan the wrong way, am i? Just because of this, i actually wasted 4 of thode rubber thingies.

[@ExoPhotography1]

You are almost right here, the fan is mounted the right way, but i did mounted the silicon studs the wrong way around at first, which had me to switch the direction of them before i mounted the back plate to the camera. Did you brake your studs because of this? my bad if that is the case. /Daniel

[@fraenker]

@@ExoPhotography1 Nah, it's not. When you detached the fan, the sticker was clearly facing inward to the alluminium headsink (see around minute 4 onward). Which totally makes sense, as it blows the air trough it, not sucking. Beginning on min 7:40'ish to the end it's cleary seen the sticker is facing outward, which would lead to a sucking fan. I didnt checked that part (well, i'm to blame for, not you) otherwise i would've sticked the rubber things in the correct orientation. But i followed your video only on the first half, just to notice somethings off there.. Then i watched the end and came here to "warn" others not doing the same. But your video helped me anyhow, i've gone as far to even replace the fan with the fractual one.. Took some shots last night, and the vibration issue is fixed now. So still, thanks for your heads up!

[@ExoPhotography1]

@@fraenker OMG, you are correct.... i didn't even notice that myself, I haven't noticed any problems cooling my camera to -25 C but will look further into this!

[@fraenker]

@@ExoPhotography1 Well, you're welcome :D I'd assume that you'll notice the difference in summertime, when it's actually a little warm in the night. And it also might be not much of a difference, but my guess would be that it looses around 3-5°C in cooling power then. Especially when capturing exposures around the 300s mark.

[@ExoPhotography1]

@@fraenker Time will tell (and I just ordered a Fractal 50mm fan, so that will surely be mounted the right way) :)