[Elecraft] K3 cooling fan cycling

[Gary Gregory]

The connector of concern was fixed long ago and applied to units up to #800
or so from memory...others will correct me...:-)

The K3 is used extensively in contest, DXpeditions as well as daily for for
long periods by many of us and to honest I rarely notice the K3 fans are on
and cycling has never bothered me.

I do use headphones most of the time, especially in a contest, maybe this is
why I don't notice any noise?

YMMV

Gary

On 14 April 2011 04:10, Paul Kirley <pkirley at fuse.net> wrote:

> There are indeed two ways to eliminate fan cycling.  K2AV suggests one
> approach, to run the fans all the time.  Another approach is to run
> QRP all the time.  Neither of those extremities appeals to me.
>
> The K3 necessarily has a temperature spread (which seems to be small)
> between fan-on and fan-off temperatures.  I am merely suggesting that
> this spread be increased.  If "designer" options are a concern, the
> current unadjustable spread could simply be increased to a greater,
> but still unadjustable, spread.
>
> As I understand it, the K3's final transistors are quite robust with
> regard to temperature.  The thermal Achilles heel of the K3 appears to be
> the amplifier's multipin connector, at least according to other posts.
> The fans don't seem to be able to cool that connector adequately.  Less
> fan cycling will neither solve nor exacerbate that problem.
>
> 73, Paul W8TM
>
> ***********************
>
> K2AV sed:
> If cycling bothers you try setting CONFIG:KPA3 to FAN1 or FAN2.  If
> you are operating SSB, that may remove most cycling.  This adjustment
> sets the MINIMUM fan speed.  "NOR" is fan off until called for.
>
>
>
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