[Elecraft] K2 near the sea: leave on or not?

[Ron D'Eau Claire]

Since a major uproar over energy conservation seems to have erupted on
another thread here <G> I'll ask the question I raised there again:

Has anyone considered using desiccants rather than leave the power on 24/7
if you're in an area where considerable moisture condenses in your rig? I
believe the one used most often around electronic gear is silica dioxide
(SiO2). It's a naturally occurring mineral that is commonly sold in an
"indicating" form, small crystals that change from blue to pink as the
material absorbs moisture. It can absorb up to 40% of its own weight at
normal room temperatures and is quite easy to "recharge". You just put it in
a warm oven for a while until it turns blue again! It's often sold in
inexpensive five-pound cans by stores catering to the dried-flower trade. 

Even though I've lived within a few hundred feet of the Pacific Ocean I've
yet to encounter any corrosion problems. If I did my first choice would be
to reduce the humidity in some energy-efficient way rather than simply leave
the power on. If one wanted to be really rigorous about it, a small solar
oven could handle the recharging process <G>. Even on ships, it takes months
-- often a year or two -- for something like the old-fashioned lifeboat
radios that enclosed about a cubit foot of air inside their case to have a
desiccant tube about 1 inch in diameter and 4 inches long become saturated.

Ron AC7AC


-----Original Message-----
From: elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Tom Zeltwanger
Sent: Tuesday, April 17, 2007 2:30 PM
To: w3fpr at arrl.net; Don Wilhelm
Cc: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K2 near the sea: leave on or not?


Thanks Don,

That is probably ood advice. I keep the equipment in a closed room, but I
think I will cover it. I generally keep my radios for a long time (this K2
is replacing a Kenwood TS-930, bought in about 1980!).

73,

Tom KG3V


Quoting Don Wilhelm <w3fpr at earthlink.net>:

> Tom,
> 
> I recently repaired a K2 that had lived for several years in the salt
> air of Houston Texas.  The external case screws and the connectors on 
> the rear panel were corroded enough that they were changed.  However, 
> the inside of the K2 still looked just fine.
> 
> If I can base any conclusions on that one K2, I would suggest that you
> cover your K2 when it is not in use - just a sheet of plastic would 
> probably do the job although you may want to look into some kind of 
> custom cover for it.
> 
> Remember that this comment is based on my brief observation of one K2
> that had been in a salt air environment - it would be unwise for me to 
> generalize any further on the subject.
> 
> 73,
> Don W3FPR
> 
> Tom Zeltwanger wrote:
> > I operate from the shores of the Chesapeake Bay in Virginia. The 
> > water
> there is
> > only moderately salty but corrosion is very rapid compared to my 
> > experience
> 
> > with inland QTHs. I was wondering if this would be a problem for my
> equipment.
> > So far, no problem. I imagine anyone near the sea shores has this 
> > problem.
> > 
> > 73,
> > 
> > Tom KG3V
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