Are all oscilloscopes as noisy as Rigol oscilloscopes?

[eurofox]

Pffff you complain about this little noise when I switch on my microwave frequency/power meter is like a 747 that is taking off  and it is new, seems to be normal 

[XFDDesign]

My TDS5032B sounds like I'm running my Vacuum cleaner is running.

There also needs to be a very important question asked of everyone who is replacing a fan - how equal is the one you're replacing to the replacement? Someone linked this fan from new egg (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835352002&nm_mc=TEMC-RMA-Approvel&cm_mmc=TEMC-RMA-Approvel-_-Content-_-text-_-) and "ooh" it's quiet. Yes, well it also moves almost no air (4.64 Cu. Ft/min). Well you might be replacing it with something like this: http://tinyurl.com/pyq2tng

Yes, the original fan is noisy, but often it's due to having a necessary airflow requirement. Going from 17 CFM to 5CFM might have a lot of very nasty negative consequences on the thermals of the semiconductors. Recall in Dave's TDS3000 series teardown how the converters were running incredibly hot. Now reduce the airflow rate by 1/3 and see how well they perform and how long the instrument lasts.

This isn't to say "never replace," as some fans are just cheap spit and can be replaced with a superior product. I am saying, just be mindful and don't replace things without thinking.

[Lunasix]

Yes, replacing a fan in a computer is not a big risk, and it's easy to verify temperature. But in a scope, smaller and with shielding, it's not obvious to prevent overheating and associated failures. And cost is not the same as for a desktop computer...
In my scope, which already has a fan with variable speed (and I can hear speed variations), I think there's is no hope.
Shame on the designers 

[David Hess]

I have even used old Tektronix Type 547/545 era of scopes and I don't remember it being as annoying as the Rigol. (Again, that might be expectation for what is a near 50 year old scope that rolls on its own massive cart).

I find my 547 quite pleasant, especially as winter approaches, and the fan is very large so it doesn't spin too fast.

It's about like a room fan.

And about like a convective space heater although a 545 works even better for that.

Most of my old analog oscilloscopes and DSOs are quiet enough to get left on if I am not paying enough attention.

With small fans I would be concerned about operating lifetime.

[TonyStewart]

For a thousand dollar scope, one would hope they could use a decent fan. But a few dollars saved is their earnings.


Keep the scope & plea for a replacement with a hydraulic bearing.
Since they have no acoustic spec., they dont have to. Buyer beware.

If you like everything else , change the fan and ask for permision to replace with this fan without trying be sly , yet keep the warranty.  This is good user feedback mechanism. 

If they do not accept , ask for a refund and see what happens.

http://www.silentiumpc.com/zephyr-60/?lang=en

Dont use a cheap fan that sounds quiet. Quality control is critical... even  Nidec can be poor and Hall sensor misalignment, can cause some positions to be a dead spot on start.

[Rene]

By the way, attached is a picture of the oscilloscope fan bay for the Rigol 1000 series. You can see that they placed the USB / Lan connectors right in front of the fan..... Seriously??? Is that supposed to help keep the system cool? No wonder they have to beef up the fan.

[Sembiance]

Was looking for my first scope to be silent and found this thread on Google.

Since the last reply, Rohde & Schwarz have come out with two silent scopes.

The first is the HMO1002 series https://www.rohde-schwarz.com/us/product/hmo1002-productstartpage_63493-61541.html
It has NO FAN and is totally silent.

The second is the HMO1202 series https://www.rohde-schwarz.com/us/product/hmo1202-productstartpage_63493-142720.html
This one has a fan, but it is DEAD SILENT. The EEVblog guy tore one down and was astonished at how silent: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_FBwu2K7j0&feature=youtu.be&t=4m27s

Anyways, since this thread is easy to find on Google for others looking for quiet scopes, I thought I'd reply with some useful new info

[jjoonathan]

There also needs to be a very important question asked of everyone who is replacing a fan - how equal is the one you're replacing to the replacement?

Yes, yes, yes! Also, caveat emptor. I was unable to achieve "equivalent cooling" on my DS4000 with a noctua fan despite the fact that someone else says they did. There's no substitute for measurement.

[Fungus]

I've just ordered a fan for mine. I compared a couple of suggested fans here:

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/rigol-ds1054z-ds1000z-fan-noise/msg1228358/#msg1228358

The Gelid Silent 5 seems to be the closest in spec so that's what I ordered. I hasn't arrived yet though so I can't tell you first hand how much difference it makes. Other people seem happy though.

[Osirison]

Was looking for my first scope to be silent and found this thread on Google.

Since the last reply, Rohde & Schwarz have come out with two silent scopes.

The first is the HMO1002 series https://www.rohde-schwarz.com/us/product/hmo1002-productstartpage_63493-61541.html
It has NO FAN and is totally silent.

The second is the HMO1202 series https://www.rohde-schwarz.com/us/product/hmo1202-productstartpage_63493-142720.html
This one has a fan, but it is DEAD SILENT. The EEVblog guy tore one down and was astonished at how silent: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_FBwu2K7j0&feature=youtu.be&t=4m27s

Anyways, since this thread is easy to find on Google for others looking for quiet scopes, I thought I'd reply with some useful new info

I do own a R&S HMO1202 as well and never heard the fan!

[klaff]

My HP 1725A has no fan at all. That was a nice feature. My new Siglent 1202X-E isn't silent but I don't find it objectionable.