New Furuno DRS6A-NXT noise

[trawler guy]

Just had the new DRS6A-NXT installed on my vessel and notice that if I leave the power to it on (meaning circuit breaker), the radar unit emits a constant high pitch sound. Anyone else notice this? Is it normal or should I be concerned.
Thank you,
Roberto

 

[Johnny Electron]

If you got good ears, you might be able to hear the power board caps but normally a unit isn't close enough to the operator to hear what little sound is made. If yours is really that loud, I would discuss it with your dealer.

 

[richhenry]

I have the same sound emitting from my DRS6A-NXT. As described here, the MFD does not turn off the radar if the electronics are directly connected to a battery source, as mine is now. The humming noise is loud enough that I can hear it in the cabin. It almost sounds like a bilge pump running dry. The advice I received is that I recheck the length of the power cable. If the connection from radar to power source is greater than 10 meters, this radar unit must be connected to 24v power source. My furuno techs had to add an extension and the run is greater than 10m. So the noise may be due to the low voltage to the radar unit. My tech will add a 24v converter to see if this stops the fairly loud hum.

 

[Stickman]

Hey guys. I wouldn't worry about the noise. What you are hearing is the internal cooling fan found in the new Furuno NXT and AX series gearboxes. As soon as power is applied the fan kicks on. Here is a picture of its location.

Stickman

 

[Rhenry]

Thanks for the information about the radar motor fan in gearbox. Do you know if the fan is constant running when connected to the power supply or does it run intermittently? It seems mine continues to run day and night. I pulled the circuit breaker to cut the power until I know more about it.

 

[richhenry]

Thanks for the explanation and picture of the DRS6a-NXT gearbox interior. Do you know if that fan runs 24h/day as long as the radar has a direct uninterrupted connection to the ship's battery? I hear the constant hum, it never stops as long as power is supplied. Thanks again.
RichHenry