[Elecraft] K2 Quiet cooling

[Ron D'Eau Claire]

Tom, I *HATE* fan sounds, but let's keep this in perspective. Several people
have made excellent qualitative comments about the fan. I agree with them. I
tend to deal in numbers. So I got out my sound level meter and plunked it on
the operating desk in front of my K2/100. At high speed the K2/100 fan
produces 55 db at the front of the rig. Compare that to a voice at normal
speaking volume at 70 to 75 dB. 

My Compaq Notebook PC is sitting on a side table about 3 feet from the rig.
At 57 dB, its CPU fan is produces more noise at the K2 when it comes on
high-speed. Like the CPU fan, the fan in the KPA100 only runs at high speed
when it's needed then shuts off (The fellow who needed to hit the key to
turn his off has a problem. That's not normal behavior.) 

I have a small electric heater in the shack. I uses a 5-in "muffin" type fan
to move air; quiet and unobtrusive. It produces a noise level of 55 dB at
the operating position, exactly the same as the KPA100 fan when it's
operating even though the KPA100 fan is much closer, being on the back of
the K2 sitting on the desk. 

Ron AC7AC 


-----Original Message-----

I am getting ready to build my KPA100 and am a bit concerned about the fan 
noise, after hearing recent comments here. There are many fans out there for

PCs, and some of the newer ones are fairly quiet. Isn't there a specific 
alternative cheap fan that can be used, if the stock one is so noisy?

Would like to hear any specific recommendations. Liquid cooling is probably
a 
bit overkill for me!

Thanks and 73,

Tom KG3V