UniFi Switch 16 XG fan modification

Table of Contents

My new 16 port 10G switch was too loud for my taste. So I fit Noctua NF-A4x20 FLX fans instead.

everything closed again

After the modification, the switch looks the same on the outside.

Original Fans

picture of the factory shipped fans I removed from my my US-16-XG

SUNON MC30151V2-0000-G99

NOTE: The switch is of course operated with the lid back on after the modification.

Are SUNON MC30151V2-0000-G99. This post, I found while searching, says 4.8 CFM @ 7000RPM, 27 dbA (8.2 m³/h).

FWIW, the closest specs I found were for 000U-A99 those say 10.2 m³/h.

Note when replacing, air is blown out by the original 12V fans.

picture of the factory shipped fans inside my US-16-XG

note the embossed arrows on the fans

The depicted low noise adapters are from an earlier modification, when I switched to 40mm fans I removed them.

40mm Fan Adapters

picture of the 3D print by Andreas Bleischwitz

3D print by Andreas Bleischwitz

Since the UniFi Switch 16 XG comes with 30mm fans, a physical adapter was needed.

Andreas Bleischwitz was kind enough to print me these adapters from David Butler.

40mm Replacement Fans

I chose Noctua NF-A4x20 FLX fans. It should be OK to use these (9.4 m³/h, 14.9 dBA) with LNA NA-RC10 (8.3 m³/h, 12.2 dbA) but I’m unsure about the ULNA NA-RC12 (6.9 m³/h, 8.5 dbA). In any case, temperature needs to be monitored, no matter if factory fans or replacement fans.

I used the provided screws for attaching them to the adapters and the screws that held the factory fans to attach the adapter to the case.

Using the NA-AV3 silicone anti-vibration mounts had the fans against the PCB and I did not want that.

For now no Low-Noise Adaptors are fitted, I might change that though.

Finished State

Stupidly I forgot to take a picture before closing the switch again and I am loathe to reopen it just for that since David Butler has a very nice picture linked from here.

picture by David Butler

Temperature without LNA

Network Connections in Use

So far it runs well below the Alert Temp of 75°C with

UniFi Measurements After 4 Hours, no LNA

In UniFi Controller it reports

  • Temperature 64℃
  • Fan Level 74
  • Uptime 3h 56m 40s

Details After 4 Hours, no LNA

sw-10g-US.v4.0.80# swctrl env show
General Temperature (C): 64
Temp Sensor      Temp (C)     State            Max Temp (C)  Alert Temp (C)
===============  ===========  ===============  ============  ==============
PHY              64           Normal           64            75
REAR             47           Normal           48            75
CPU              48           Normal           48            75

Fan Duty Level: 74
Fan              Speed       Duty level  State
===============  ==========  ==========  ===============
FAN-1            5973        74          Operational
FAN-2            5818        74          Operational

Details After 4 Hours and 30 Minutes, no LNA

sw-10g-US.v4.0.80# swctrl env show
General Temperature (C): 60
Temp Sensor      Temp (C)     State            Max Temp (C)  Alert Temp (C)
===============  ===========  ===============  ============  ==============
PHY              60           Normal           64            75
REAR             48           Normal           48            75
CPU              50           Normal           50            75

Fan Duty Level: 69
Fan              Speed       Duty level  State
===============  ==========  ==========  ===============
FAN-1            5947        69          Operational
FAN-2            5800        69          Operational

Details After 15 Hours, no LNA

sw-10g-US.v4.0.80# swctrl env show
General Temperature (C): 61
Temp Sensor      Temp (C)     State            Max Temp (C)  Alert Temp (C)
===============  ===========  ===============  ============  ==============
PHY              61           Normal           64            75
REAR             50           Normal           50            75
CPU              52           Normal           52            75

Fan Duty Level: 70
Fan              Speed       Duty level  State
===============  ==========  ==========  ===============
FAN-1            5973        70          Operational
FAN-2            5818        70          Operational

Details After 1 Day and 6 Hours, no LNA

sw-10g-US.v4.0.80# swctrl env show
General Temperature (C): 59
Temp Sensor      Temp (C)     State            Max Temp (C)  Alert Temp (C)
===============  ===========  ===============  ============  ==============
PHY              59           Normal           64            75
REAR             48           Normal           50            75
CPU              50           Normal           52            75

Fan Duty Level: 68
Fan              Speed       Duty level  State
===============  ==========  ==========  ===============
FAN-1            5914        68          Operational
FAN-2            5732        68          Operational

Details After 4 Day and 2 Hours, no LNA

sw-10g-US.v4.0.80# swctrl env show
General Temperature (C): 60
Temp Sensor      Temp (C)     State            Max Temp (C)  Alert Temp (C)
===============  ===========  ===============  ============  ==============
PHY              60           Normal           64            75
REAR             49           Normal           50            75
CPU              51           Normal           52            75

Fan Duty Level: 69
Fan              Speed       Duty level  State
===============  ==========  ==========  ===============
FAN-1            5953        69          Operational
FAN-2            5781        69          Operational

Details After 7 Day and 3 Hours, no LNA

sw-10g-US.v4.0.80# swctrl env show
General Temperature (C): 60
Temp Sensor      Temp (C)     State            Max Temp (C)  Alert Temp (C)
===============  ===========  ===============  ============  ==============
PHY              60           Normal           64            75
REAR             49           Normal           51            75
CPU              51           Normal           53            75

Fan Duty Level: 69
Fan              Speed       Duty level  State
===============  ==========  ==========  ===============
FAN-1            5914        69          Operational
FAN-2            5750        69          Operational

Details After 10 Day and 18 Hours, no LNA

sw-10g-US.v4.0.80# swctrl env show
General Temperature (C): 59
Temp Sensor      Temp (C)     State            Max Temp (C)  Alert Temp (C)
===============  ===========  ===============  ============  ==============
PHY              59           Normal           64            75
REAR             48           Normal           52            75
CPU              50           Normal           53            75

Fan Duty Level: 68
Fan              Speed       Duty level  State
===============  ==========  ==========  ===============
FAN-1            5863        68          Operational
FAN-2            5696        68          Operational

Details After 57 Days, no LNA

sw-10g-US.v4.0.80# swctrl env show
General Temperature (C): 58
Temp Sensor      Temp (C)     State            Max Temp (C)  Alert Temp (C)
===============  ===========  ===============  ============  ==============
PHY              58           Normal           65            75
REAR             47           Normal           53            75
CPU              49           Normal           55            75

Fan Duty Level: 67
Fan              Speed       Duty level  State
===============  ==========  ==========  ===============
FAN-1            5775        67          Operational
FAN-2            5642        67          Operational