KPA-500 Running hot on 20m
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I was running the RTTY contest this weekend and expected to see higher
than normal temps but on 20m and maybe 15 the amp was running 65c and up where the highest speed fan would come on. Generally in RTTY I would up the normal fan a couple of notches and it would be fine. I was not pushing it for full output either as I was not serious in the test. Nothing much has really changed here so I am a bit confused what might be going on here. W0MU ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to [hidden email] |
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Mike,
The efficiency will very from band to band, and is also somewhat dependent on the SWR it is working into. I would not think it is a problem - that is what the high speed fan is supposed to do, cool it with faster air, even if that is disconcerting. A lot depends on your transmit vs. receive time intervals may be. There are a whole lot of dependencies. 73, Don W3FPR On 1/8/2017 7:44 PM, W0MU Mike Fatchett wrote: > I was running the RTTY contest this weekend and expected to see higher > than normal temps but on 20m and maybe 15 the amp was running 65c and up > where the highest speed fan would come on. Generally in RTTY I would up > the normal fan a couple of notches and it would be fine. I was not > pushing it for full output either as I was not serious in the test. > ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to [hidden email] |
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It also is fairly sensitive to how tightly enclosed your KPA500 is in
your station equipment configuration. Mine came on high-fan often when on RTTY, or [fruitlessly] calling CQ in SS CW on Sun. I finally moved it out of it's "cubbyhole" under the shelf assembly, and it stayed on low fan all the time, which I couldn't hear with the cans on. For my K2/100, the heat sink got very hot with repeated [unanswered] CQ's and on RTTY. I mounted a computer fan on top of the heatsink with a tab of velcro, blowing down. Heat sink stayed cool to the touch with 80-90 W on RTTY. I am repeatedly amazed by thermodynamics. [:-) Fred K6DGW Sparks NV DM09dn Washoe County --Northern California Contest Club --CU in the Cal QSO Party --7-8 Oct 2017 On 1/8/2017 5:10 PM, Don Wilhelm wrote: > Mike, > > The efficiency will very from band to band, and is also somewhat > dependent on the SWR it is working into. > I would not think it is a problem - that is what the high speed fan is > supposed to do, cool it with faster air, even if that is disconcerting. > > A lot depends on your transmit vs. receive time intervals may be. > There are a whole lot of dependencies. > > 73, > Don W3FPR > > On 1/8/2017 7:44 PM, W0MU Mike Fatchett wrote: >> I was running the RTTY contest this weekend and expected to see higher >> than normal temps but on 20m and maybe 15 the amp was running 65c and up >> where the highest speed fan would come on. Generally in RTTY I would up >> the normal fan a couple of notches and it would be fine. I was not >> pushing it for full output either as I was not serious in the test. >> > ______________________________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:[hidden email] > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > Message delivered to [hidden email] > > > ----- > No virus found in this message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 2016.0.7996 / Virus Database: 4749/13732 - Release Date: > 01/08/17 > > ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to [hidden email] |
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In reply to this post by Don Wilhelm
SWR is fine. I have the KAT500 and a SteppIR antenna so that was never
an issue. The amp has plenty of clearance around it. It was rather warm in the shack. Too many computers LOL. The high speed fan is crazy loud even for me that has hearing issues. Maybe will will encase it in ice next time...Kidding! On 1/8/2017 6:10 PM, Don Wilhelm wrote: > Mike, > > The efficiency will very from band to band, and is also somewhat > dependent on the SWR it is working into. > I would not think it is a problem - that is what the high speed fan is > supposed to do, cool it with faster air, even if that is disconcerting. > > A lot depends on your transmit vs. receive time intervals may be. > There are a whole lot of dependencies. > > 73, > Don W3FPR > > On 1/8/2017 7:44 PM, W0MU Mike Fatchett wrote: >> I was running the RTTY contest this weekend and expected to see higher >> than normal temps but on 20m and maybe 15 the amp was running 65c and up >> where the highest speed fan would come on. Generally in RTTY I would up >> the normal fan a couple of notches and it would be fine. I was not >> pushing it for full output either as I was not serious in the test. >> ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to [hidden email] |
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I put mine in a closet away from the desk. Fans were probably near high at least half the weekend. Hoping the fans have long life bearings….
Ken K6MR From: W0MU Mike Fatchett<mailto:[hidden email]> Sent: Sunday, January 8, 2017 6:38 PM To: [hidden email]<mailto:[hidden email]>; Elecraft Reflector<mailto:[hidden email]> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KPA-500 Running hot on 20m SWR is fine. I have the KAT500 and a SteppIR antenna so that was never an issue. The amp has plenty of clearance around it. It was rather warm in the shack. Too many computers LOL. The high speed fan is crazy loud even for me that has hearing issues. Maybe will will encase it in ice next time...Kidding! On 1/8/2017 6:10 PM, Don Wilhelm wrote: > Mike, > > The efficiency will very from band to band, and is also somewhat > dependent on the SWR it is working into. > I would not think it is a problem - that is what the high speed fan is > supposed to do, cool it with faster air, even if that is disconcerting. > > A lot depends on your transmit vs. receive time intervals may be. > There are a whole lot of dependencies. > > 73, > Don W3FPR > > On 1/8/2017 7:44 PM, W0MU Mike Fatchett wrote: >> I was running the RTTY contest this weekend and expected to see higher >> than normal temps but on 20m and maybe 15 the amp was running 65c and up >> where the highest speed fan would come on. Generally in RTTY I would up >> the normal fan a couple of notches and it would be fine. I was not >> pushing it for full output either as I was not serious in the test. >> ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to [hidden email] ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to [hidden email] |
Re: KPA-500 Running hot on 20m
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In reply to this post by w0mu
If it wasent for the noise I'd put mine in my wife's craft room.
She loves the heat. -------- Original message -------- From: Ken K6MR <[hidden email]> Date: 2017-01-08 9:42 PM (GMT-05:00) To: Elecraft Reflector <[hidden email]> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KPA-500 Running hot on 20m I put mine in a closet away from the desk. Fans were probably near high at least half the weekend. Hoping the fans have long life bearings…. Ken K6MR From: W0MU Mike Fatchett<mailto:[hidden email]> Sent: Sunday, January 8, 2017 6:38 PM To: [hidden email]<mailto:[hidden email]>; Elecraft Reflector<mailto:[hidden email]> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KPA-500 Running hot on 20m SWR is fine. I have the KAT500 and a SteppIR antenna so that was never an issue. The amp has plenty of clearance around it. It was rather warm in the shack. Too many computers LOL. The high speed fan is crazy loud even for me that has hearing issues. Maybe will will encase it in ice next time...Kidding! On 1/8/2017 6:10 PM, Don Wilhelm wrote: > Mike, > > The efficiency will very from band to band, and is also somewhat > dependent on the SWR it is working into. > I would not think it is a problem - that is what the high speed fan is > supposed to do, cool it with faster air, even if that is disconcerting. > > A lot depends on your transmit vs. receive time intervals may be. > There are a whole lot of dependencies. > > 73, > Don W3FPR > > On 1/8/2017 7:44 PM, W0MU Mike Fatchett wrote: >> I was running the RTTY contest this weekend and expected to see higher >> than normal temps but on 20m and maybe 15 the amp was running 65c and up >> where the highest speed fan would come on. Generally in RTTY I would up >> the normal fan a couple of notches and it would be fine. I was not >> pushing it for full output either as I was not serious in the test. >> ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to [hidden email] ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to [hidden email] ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to [hidden email] |
Re: KPA-500 Running hot on 20m
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In reply to this post by w0mu
Mike,
I do a lot of RTTY and other sound card modes with my K3-KPA500 pair. I have the amp go to 70c sometimes, that is when the HIGHEST speed fan kicks in, NOT 65c. Not a problem, many RTTY contests and still works fine! The room ambient temp has a lot to do with the temp of the KPA500, in the summer I hit the 70c a lot more often than I do in the winter, when my shack is 63-65F. Gordon - N1MGO On 1/8/2017 7:44 PM, W0MU Mike Fatchett wrote: > I was running the RTTY contest this weekend and expected to see higher > than normal temps but on 20m and maybe 15 the amp was running 65c and > up where the highest speed fan would come on. Generally in RTTY I > would up the normal fan a couple of notches and it would be fine. I > was not pushing it for full output either as I was not serious in the > test. > > Nothing much has really changed here so I am a bit confused what might > be going on here. > > W0MU > > ______________________________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:[hidden email] > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > Message delivered to [hidden email] ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to [hidden email] |
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In reply to this post by k6dgw
I wrote an article on fan noise including in amplifiers. See http://www.eham.net/articles/38328.
Ignacy, NO9E |
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Optionally, one can replace the internal fans altogether (the heat sink
is not sufficient for passive cooling under all conditions obviously). If your installation is static, or relatively static, you can duct cooling air from some place where the noise is "OK" to a properly located input. OR, you can put the duct on the outlet and put a suction device somewhere remote where the noise won't be troubling. Or, you could replace the heatsink altogether in favor of a water cooling heat exchanger... Or, other many varied solutions depending on your requirements and acceptable trade-offs. Thermal design is a hobby unto itself... so many options... I find it a lot of fun. 73. ______________________ Clay Autery, KY5G MONTAC Enterprises (318) 518-1389 On 1/10/2017 11:21 AM, Ron D'Eau Claire wrote: > With an adequate sized heat sink, one could build a legal-limit solid state > amplifier with no fan whatsoever, but the most Hams want physically smaller > equipment even if it requires cooling fans. It's not bad engineering. It is > good engineering coming up with a product the buyer wants. > > I know that Wayne went to some effort to make select K3/ K3S fans that are > as quiet as possible while still providing the needed airflow for high > duty-cycle modes. > > The KPA500 demands far more air than the K3/K3S. > > The only really silent fan is no fan at all. That's something most QRP > operators enjoy. > > 73, Ron AC7AC Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to [hidden email] |
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In reply to this post by w0mu
OT: but I am going to add a couple cpu fans to the heat sink of my
KXPA100 which will be installed under the backseat of my truck. That will ensure a little more cooling. The seat sets down on top of the fins so the fans will be positioned to feed from one end. The enclosure will be drilled with multiple 3/4 inch holes for airflow. I will only run SSB so that is low duty-cycle. The internal overtemp protect will engage if it gets too hot. 73, Ed - KL7UW http://www.kl7uw.com Dubus-NA Business mail: [hidden email] ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to [hidden email] |
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