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Nordrack3 heats up enormous these warm days
Posted: 24 Jul 2013, 17:14
by MiKeRoLLe
Hello everyone !
these days i got some time for long sessions with my Nordrack3 - it's also very hot weather here in the middle of germany - and the NR3 heats up enormous while working with it for hours. After 2hours, it's nearly too hot for touching the upper right part around the display. And that makes me sceptical, if the NR doesnt take damage while running it too long under these circumstances. Sofar, everything works as it should, but i dont want to overdue..
..anybody out there got experiences with that or an advice?
best regards
Mike
Re: Nordrack3 heats up enormous these warm days
Posted: 24 Jul 2013, 17:56
by WoutBlommers
This is known about the NL3.
There is a simple conversion possible, but I can't advise you in this.
Better contact Pablo Mastodon about this.
Wout
Re: Nordrack3 heats up enormous these warm days
Posted: 24 Jul 2013, 18:22
by mjbrands
WoutBlommers wrote:This is known about the NL3.
There is a simple conversion possible, but I can't advise you in this.
Better contact Pablo Mastodon about this.
Interesting... My NR3 has the same issue.
Re: Nordrack3 heats up enormous these warm days
Posted: 24 Jul 2013, 21:46
by pablomastodon
I have observed this in the shop and once measured the power supply's transformer temp at a very high number with an IR device, but know nothing about any "simple conversion" procedure. There was a Danish fellow who posted a very detailed post with several photos about adding a cap to one of the voltage regulators for purposes of stabilizing that supply in response to short cycle reboot problems he was having, but this is a quite different issue. In any event, I am not in a position to advise on aftermarket mods to Nord instruments.
The NL3/NR3 models have a great many more LEDs on them than most other Nord instruments. It is reasonable to expect that this will create more current draw and result in more heat. All I can really suggest is directing a cool air supply at the unit's ventilation slots. It is generially a good idea to provide any enclosed rack with its own cool air supply anyway.
Pablo
Re: Nordrack3 heats up enormous these warm days
Posted: 25 Jul 2013, 16:45
by MiKeRoLLe
i putted a simple USB-airfan in front of the ventilation slots and that keeps the temperature at normal rates, as i can say.
so it's possible to work with this great device without making interruptions for hours and hours.
everyone enjoy your summer & your Nord !
Mike
Re: Nordrack3 heats up enormous these warm days
Posted: 25 Jul 2013, 23:17
by mjbrands
Okay. Well, if it bothers me enough I'll see if I can determine what's generating the most heat. Right now I think it is the power supply with the linear power regulators, but if it is actually not the power supply, nothing much could be done about it anyway (short of mounting a fan in the unit).
The most heat sensitive parts in the unit are likely the capacitors in the power supply and those still look fine in my unit.
If they were to go bad, replacing them (or having them replaced) probably wouldn't be that hard (or expensive), so I'm not too worried about the whole thing. My unit works issue-free and I still think it is one of the cleanest sounding VAs available, though that isn't always a good thing (I like a bit of grit and grime)

Re: Nordrack3 heats up enormous these warm days
Posted: 26 Jul 2013, 15:59
by MiKeRoLLe
Wow. you're very into the details of this machine. nice to hear, that in case of there's need to replace the capacitors, it wouldnt be too difficult..
My NL3 also works fine and i hope this wont change forever. I'm glad to have one, a life without the NL3-Sound is surely possible, but meaningless.
Mike
P.S.
for more grit&grime i recommend the NL1