K2 Heatsink temperatures

[George]

Put a thermometer in the middle of the  heatsink on my rig. On  long CW
xmissions I see temps as high as 145 Degrees F. Shack temp is 85F. I  have the
fan set to run on high all the time. Is this normal. I laid another  small
fan on the heatsink and the temp stayed below 115F. Has anyone added more  
cooling to their K2?  73 George/W2BPI
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[Don Wilhelm-4]

George,

That 145 degF temperature is 62.8 degC.  While that is high, it is not
so high to create any damage.
Your shack temperature is much higher than what is considered "normal
ambient", so that is a contributing factor.

The auxiliary cooling with your high ambient temperature is a good
thing.  115 degF is 46.1 degC.

In "normal" situations with an ambient temperature of 23 degC, the
internal fan will do its job nicely and will usually keep the heatsink
temperature below 60 degC.  If the CAL tpa parameter is set properly,
the fan will go to high speed at 40 degC (104 degF) and remain on high
until the temperature drops to 37 degC (98,6 degF).

In most cases, the "hold" temperature rule applies.  If you can hold
your hand on it with only minor discomfort, all is OK, but if you cannot
hold your hand on it for more than 2 minutes, it is hotter than normal.

We are experiencing some hotter than normal temperatures over much of
the NA continent, so be safe and stay cool.  Temperatures in excess of
100 degF are expected here in North Carolina for the next 2 days, with
heat indexes in excess of 115 degF - going outside is like stepping into
a sauna bath.  Anyone disagree with global climate change?

73,
Don W3FPR

On 7/22/2011 10:33 PM, [hidden email] wrote:
> Put a thermometer in the middle of the  heatsink on my rig. On  long CW
> xmissions I see temps as high as 145 Degrees F. Shack temp is 85F. I  have the
> fan set to run on high all the time. Is this normal. I laid another  small
> fan on the heatsink and the temp stayed below 115F. Has anyone added more
> cooling to their K2?  73 George/W2BPI
>
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[ac0h]

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I put a 4" computer case fan on my K2/100 heatsink.
I run digimodes in addition to CW with my rig so needed the extra
cooling. I installed the fan with some double sided foam tape on the
corners of the fan. I installed the fan so it blows up, pulling air
through the heatsink.

For those that don't know..... on these small DC computer fans the
direction of airflow is toward the label. If you see the label it's
blowing air in your face.

On 7/22/2011 9:33 PM, [hidden email] wrote:
> Put a thermometer in the middle of the  heatsink on my rig. On  long CW
> xmissions I see temps as high as 145 Degrees F. Shack temp is 85F. I  have the
> fan set to run on high all the time. Is this normal. I laid another  small
> fan on the heatsink and the temp stayed below 115F. Has anyone added more  
> cooling to their K2?  73 George/W2BPI


- --
R. Kevin Stover

ACØH
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