[Elecraft] XV50 cooling

[Eric]

Well, as I recall I could not hold my hand on it, but i only ran it without a fan once when I first built it and my memory is hazy.  

 Remember digital EME is one minute on, one minute off for hours. I have run four hours at a time that way without a break, and I'm sure others run longer.

Maybe it was still in spec, but why push it?  All that extra heat can't possibly make the XV more stable or less prone to failure than if it were running at room temp. Mine does have the xtal oven if that makes a difference.  I don't know how much heat that adds to the system. 

73,

Eric WD6DBM 

Sent from my iPhone

On Jun 3, 2010, at 4:18 PM, Don Wilhelm <w3fpr at embarqmail.com> wrote:

Eric,

Have you actually measured the temperature rise?  I am interested in just how much is "excessively hot".
While it does get warm, I have always found the temperatures to be well within spec for the output module.

I have an XV50 here for repair right now.  It is next in line for work, and I intend to get to it this weekend.  After it is repaired, I will measure the temperature rise on the bottom panel right under the heat spreader.  I have a Fluke 279 with a temperature probe available.

Report on Monday.

73,
Don W3FPR

Eric wrote:
I have a late-model xv144 with holes in both top and bottom panels, connected to k3 with milliwatt drive. It runs excessively hot at 10w out in digital mode EME when used one minute on one minute off,  so i dont think  just getting new panels will help you.  I use a small muffin fan blowing air underneath with the xv-144 up on the optional tilt stand and this simple solution works great. 
I also use an xv-432 for eme at 10w but its internal fan keeps it cool. 
Perhaps if enough people request a retrofit kit with an internal fan for the xv-50 and xv-144 Elecraft would consider it.  I'd pony up. The fan could attach inside the top panel. 
73

Eric WD6DBM