[Elecraft] K3 KPA3 Fan Upgrade Question

[Julius Fazekas n2wn]

Hi Joe,

Have you checked for a voltage drop from your power supply/source? or the
APPs? This sounds unusual...

My K3 barely gets warm running RTTY at 100 watts or on 160 running 100 watts
for 12 to 14 hours straight. I mention 160 as I have a higher current draw
here, most likely due to less than perfect matching at the Tx antenna and
proximity to the radio (is VERY close). 

The only reason I know the fan is on is because I, out of curiosity, put my
hand on the rig and feel a bit of air flow... My shack can get to 80 degrees
before I decide I need the air on, even then the fan rarely ramps higher
than one...

Much better than the KPA100 was/is in the same situation. Different setup
and much smaller fan on that one.

73,
Julius


Joe Planisky wrote:
> 
> Apparently not all K3s are created equal, thermally speaking.
> 
> On my K3, it takes about 2:45 of 20 wpm CW at 50 watts into a dummy  
> load to raise the PA temp from 18C to 37C (the fan turn-on temp.   
> Ambient temp is about 18C.)
> 
> 73
> --
> Joe KB8AP
> 
> 
> On May 13, 2009, at 6:24 AM, Ed Muns wrote:
> 
>> You're doing what?!
>>
>> For two years I've run my K3s in NAQP at 100 watts with high duty  
>> cycle.  The fans seldom turn-on and the PA is barely warm.  If you  
>> can out-design N6KR, I'd be amazed.
>>
>> Ed - W0YK
>>
>>
>> ------Original Message------
>> From: Brian Binkley
>> Sender: elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net
>> To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
>> Sent: May 13, 2009 05:11
>> Subject: [Elecraft] K3 KPA3 Fan Upgrade Question
>>
>> Hello,
>>
>> I am currently in the process of upgrading the fans for the KPA3 100  
>> Watt
>> Amplifier module because the heatsink temperature gets too high for my
>> liking. I am upgrading both fans to a fan with higher CFM output.  
>> Last night
>> I hooked both fans up to the KPAIO module to test and see if they  
>> will work.
>> When I am on fan power level one, the fans try to but are unable to  
>> start
>> up. I have to bump them to start them spinning. Power level two has no
>> problem spinning them up. When I went to power level four and then  
>> brought
>> the power level to one, the fans did not have any problem continuing
>> running. The fan specs can be found here
>> http://www.sundialmicro.com/ipcqueen_dc_fan_606010_ball_bearing_3pin_2033_1199.html 
>> .
>> Is there any components that I can add in line to provide the  
>> necessary
>> power to start the fans up at power level one?
>>
>>
>> Thanks
>> Brian Binkley
>> KD8CPF
>> KD8CPF at gmail.com
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-----
Julius Fazekas
N2WN

Tennessee Contest Group
http://www.k4ro.net/tcg/index.html

Tennessee QSO Party
http://www.tnqp.org/

Elecraft K2/100 #4455
Elecraft K3/100 #366
Elecraft K3        #1875
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