[Elecraft] Heat related issue

[vze3v8dt at verizon.net]

I didn't notice any performance related issues (radiowise, operator is another story) during Field Day due to heat, but I did at one point touch the top cover of the K2 and felt that it was quite hot with direct exposure to sunlight as well.  My solution was to actually turn on the tabletop fan to cool the radio case.  I'd been trying to "tough it out" and not use the fan, but when it came to the radio I figured whatever extra comforts could be afforded were acceptable!  Fortunately the fan was running off 110V AC so it didn't give extra drain on the battery.  

Next year I have prepared 4 solar cells (5 to 6W each) that can charge the battery or be used to run a DC fan if necessary!  Chances are it'll be raining all weekend instead.

73,

Mark, NK8Q

  

>From: Stuart Rohre <rohre at arlut.utexas.edu>
>Date: Tue Aug 02 14:12:43 CDT 2005
>To: n4sl at yahoo.com, elecraft at mailman.qth.net
>Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Heat related issue

>Yeah Steve, there is a fix, it is called shading the Radio!
>
>You probably exceeded the temperature limits of inside components.
>
>I had a tuner that kept getting out of adjustment at Field Day one year. 
>Finally, I realized that the sun angle had changed to bear directly on the 
>dark case and the inductor was heating up and changing value.
>Put some shade over the rig by moving it on table and everything went back 
>to normal.
>
>GL,
>Stuart
>K5KVH 
>
>
>
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