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Product:
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Sunbeam Rheobus Kit #2 |
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Price:
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$70 (CDN) / $44.95 (U.S)
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Supplied By:
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Sunbeam Tech
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Author:
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BigDaddy
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Date:
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December 7th, 2002
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Rating:
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MODTHEBOX would like to thank Keven from Sunbeam Technology
for sending the Sunbeam Rheobus Kit #2 for review.
Introduction:
Back in March of 2002, I stated in a review that the PCMods Rheobus and
the Maelstrom Rheobus were dominating the market as consumer fan control
devices. Suprisingly, in a market as competitive as this one, little has changed. While the PCMods unit has seen an
upgrade solidifying it's popularity, very few if any other serious contenders have challenged the Rheobus market. Today
in the MTB Labs, we'll look at a new entry into rheobus design, with the Sunbeam Rheobus Kit #2.
Specifications:
The Sunbeam Rheobus Kit#2 is pre-assembled and includes all the necessary components for installation. Here are some of
the specifications taken directly from the Sunbeam Technology website:
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Sunbeam Rheobus Kit #2 - Key Specifications:
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| Sunbeam Rheobus Kit #2: Manufactured by Sunbeam Technology |
| Power: 20 Watts |
| Anodized aluminium knobs |
| High quality rheostats |
| Extra large heatsinks |
| Printed circuit board reduces wiring mess |
| Comprehensive instructions |
| Socketed Superbright LED’s: Bi-Colour Red+Blue change color at 7 volts |
| Special Features: LEDs can be turned off and pre-drilled aluminium faceplate |
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Click image for larger view
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Click image for larger view
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The unit ships in a standard retail box. A product shot and the Sunbeam logo decorate the front cover, while a side
panel info box identifies which unit is packed inside. The unit is wrapped in bubble wrap, while the balance of the
parts rest on a single sheet of open-cell foam.
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Click image for larger view
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Click image for larger view
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Included in the kit are the rheobus, four mounting screws, a Molex cable with splitter and an instruction manual.
Although the instruction manual shows extra parts, like a drilling template, and includes mounting instructions, the
unit comes completely pre-assembled. This is an obvious bonus for users looking for an all-encompassing kit, with no
modifications required.
The unit provided for review is mounted on a brushed aluminium drive bay cover. Users can opt for this unit, or an
identical product on a black anodized drive bay cover. This should suit the needs of 90% of the consumer base, users
looking to colour match the rheobus with their case can drill out an existing drive bay cover. The layout of the
control knobs and LED’s is identical to that found on the PCMODS unit. Two things make this unit stand out
aesthetically from its competitors. The first is the matching anodized aluminium control knobs. The second is the
light blue decal on the plate, with the Sunbeam logo in the top left hand corner, fan number labels under each knob,
and an incremental bar graph along the top side which ends at the LED. Preferring a more Spartan approach to fan
control, the light blue decal was somewhat unappealing to me, but this is obviously a question of user preference.
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