[TenTec] Centaur cooling mod for lower noise?

[Carl Moreschi]

I added a 100 ohm 5 watt resistor in series with the fan motor.  I also
removed the cover grating bars that were in front of the fan to increase the
amount of air flow.  These 2 changes quieted my centaur down a lot.

Carl Moreschi N4PY
121 Little Bell Drive
Bell Mountain
Hays, NC 28635
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jerry Volpe" <kg6tt at arrl.net>
To: <tentec at contesting.com>
Sent: Sunday, June 18, 2006 5:38 PM
Subject: [TenTec] Centaur cooling mod for lower noise?


> Have you found a way to quiet down your Centaur?
>
> I have probably used my Centaur 5 hours in the past year. Not that it is
> a bad amp. It is a NOISY amp. I'd love an opportunity to quiet it down.
> But as I look at the physical layout I can see that simply going to a
> 'softer' cooling fan is not a viable answer as the fan must push
> sufficient quantities of air over one tube to the next and then finally
> to the last tube. Too bad Ten-Tec didn't put three small fans on the
> rear panel each pushing air over its own tube and then exhausting thru
> the top cover. Well it is what it is.
>
> On the other hand placing a temperature sensor near the final tube and
> using that sensor to 'spin up' the existing fan only as needed  but keep
> that fan in a much slower mode the rest of the time might be the answer.
> I am sure that I am not the first to consider this. Rather than
> re-invent an existing wheel I am seeking others who have successfully
> modified a Centaur. Did you keep the details? Willing to share them?
>
> I have only found one reference to this type of Centaur mod on the web
> and it is a French site. Somewhat useful nevertheless.
>
> 73,
> Jerry, KG6TT
> Fairfield
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