Re: [Elecraft] [KX3] Overheating when portable
A non air flow thought I had: I wonder if adding external finned heat sinks under the two bolts holding the PA transistors to the existing heat sink would have any appreciable effect. The other thought I've had is putting some heat sink compound, like Arctic Silver 5, between those transistors and the panel they mount to, in order to improve heat conduction (though it seems Elecraft would have included this in be build if beneficial). 73, Phil w7ox __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] [KX3] Overheating when portable
A tiny bit of airflow does a lot. Lots of good ideas here: http://www.ebay.com/bhp/solar-fan On 3/10/2014 9:14 AM, Jim Miller wrote: Good idea. I go portable with my 706 several times per year and twice at the 12 inch scale WF&P RR, http://wfprr.com/, click on "more pages" at the bottom for many pictures. I set up under the trees BUT I also use a fan. I buy these little 7 inch fans at Walmart for less than $10 each and use them to blow across the 706 and then to MY face. I have to take several so when I come back after a hike I still have one fan on MY radio instead of having been moved to cool some else's face. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] [KX3] Overheating when portable
Good idea. I go portable with my 706 several times per year and twice at the 12 inch scale WF&P RR, http://wfprr.com/, click on "more pages" at the bottom for many pictures. I set up under the trees BUT I also use a fan. I buy these little 7 inch fans at Walmart for less than $10 each and use them to blow across the 706 and then to MY face. I have to take several so when I come back after a hike I still have one fan on MY radio instead of having been moved to cool some else's face. My K3 station stays on my bench now. It has made two trips to Field Day but too much chance for damage. They are cheap, small, light, 110v from generator or shore line, and they work great. I ran 100w RTTY and made many contacts in one of the contests one fall and the radio only got warm, not hot or even close. All contacts over 4000 mi and one over 5000. I usually run PSK from my station but everybody was on RTTY. Other stations come along and run phone and CW. 73, Jim KG0KP -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Matt Zilmer Sent: Monday, March 10, 2014 9:59 AM To: Gary Hawkins Cc: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] [KX3] Overheating when portable I've used my KX3 in SoCal for about two years now, so two summers. To keep PA / OSC temperature managed, I use two methods in the order shown: - Get the KX3 under shade - Get some airflow going (I use a 12V RV fan) Note that the fan is useful to keep the op from overheating as well. :) The methods above solve 80% of the thermal problems I see here in the Inland Empire. An aftermarket heatsink is used by some ops; I don't use it. I have also used an odd method that really confused some of my field day buddies last year. On field day, cool refreshments are always needed, so I bring along an ice chest with drinks, etc. I made a little shelf that allow the KX3 to rest above the ice but still maintains a reasonable thermal seal (but not as good as having the top down on the chest). Having the cooler air and shelf surface around the KX3 helps maintain PA/OSC temps. It doesn't have to be much, just five deg C helps a lot. I don't think the ice chest method helps operators when portable (hiking around, backpack only) but it might be useful for stationary portables in a campground, picnic area, area. 73, matt W6NIA On Mon, 10 Mar 2014 07:45:10 -0700, you wrote: >Having now used my KX3 on numerous portable SOTA activations, it does >seem overheating is going to be an issue when outside temperatures >rise. Yesterday I operated from Monserate Mtn in Southern California. >There was no shade on the peak, air temps were probably pushing up into >the low eighties and there as little shade or breeze. After an hour's >operation the radio was running very warm and it was no surprise when >it started backing it's power down. Going into summer I see many days >of similar conditions and I'm looking for solutions to keep the radio >cooler when operating portable. Any thoughts on heatsinks, shade >covers, little fans, third-party add-ons would be greatly appreciated. >__ >Elecraft mailing list >Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft >Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm >Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > >This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email >list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Matt Zilmer, W6NIA -- "Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe." -A. Lincoln __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] [KX3] Overheating when portable
I've used my KX3 in SoCal for about two years now, so two summers. To keep PA / OSC temperature managed, I use two methods in the order shown: - Get the KX3 under shade - Get some airflow going (I use a 12V RV fan) Note that the fan is useful to keep the op from overheating as well. :) The methods above solve 80% of the thermal problems I see here in the Inland Empire. An aftermarket heatsink is used by some ops; I don't use it. I have also used an odd method that really confused some of my field day buddies last year. On field day, cool refreshments are always needed, so I bring along an ice chest with drinks, etc. I made a little shelf that allow the KX3 to rest above the ice but still maintains a reasonable thermal seal (but not as good as having the top down on the chest). Having the cooler air and shelf surface around the KX3 helps maintain PA/OSC temps. It doesn't have to be much, just five deg C helps a lot. I don't think the ice chest method helps operators when portable (hiking around, backpack only) but it might be useful for stationary portables in a campground, picnic area, area. 73, matt W6NIA On Mon, 10 Mar 2014 07:45:10 -0700, you wrote: >Having now used my KX3 on numerous portable SOTA activations, it does >seem overheating is going to be an issue when outside temperatures >rise. Yesterday I operated from Monserate Mtn in Southern California. >There was no shade on the peak, air temps were probably pushing up into >the low eighties and there as little shade or breeze. After an hour's >operation the radio was running very warm and it was no surprise when it >started backing it's power down. Going into summer I see many days of >similar conditions and I'm looking for solutions to keep the radio >cooler when operating portable. Any thoughts on heatsinks, shade >covers, little fans, third-party add-ons would be greatly appreciated. >__ >Elecraft mailing list >Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft >Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm >Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > >This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net >Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Matt Zilmer, W6NIA -- "Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe." -A. Lincoln __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] [KX3] Overheating when portable
Having now used my KX3 on numerous portable SOTA activations, it does seem overheating is going to be an issue when outside temperatures rise. Yesterday I operated from Monserate Mtn in Southern California. There was no shade on the peak, air temps were probably pushing up into the low eighties and there as little shade or breeze. After an hour's operation the radio was running very warm and it was no surprise when it started backing it's power down. Going into summer I see many days of similar conditions and I'm looking for solutions to keep the radio cooler when operating portable. Any thoughts on heatsinks, shade covers, little fans, third-party add-ons would be greatly appreciated. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
