[Elecraft] Elecraft] KXPA100 Thermal Fault

[Fred C. Jensen]

When I was using my K2/100 on RTTY, I stuck a muffin fan over the hottest part of the heatsink with a little square of sticky back velcro.  Could run 100 watts just fine.  Fan blew down.

73,
Fred K6DGW
TDY Huntington Beach CA

Bert via Elecraft <elecraft at mailman.qth.net> wrote:
>Thanks to all who made suggestions. I will be trying one or two fans atop  
>the heat sink and see how that works out in the next RTTY contest foray.
>While looking into possibilities, I checked out the web site where I got my 
> "add-on" KX3 heat sink (https://proaudioeng.com/products/) and found they 
>had  added a new product, a power supply specifically for the KX3. Specs 
>look  promising. [I don't have a vested interest in the company, just pleased 
>with the  heat sink.]
>Again, this reflector is a great source for ideas about great  products!
>73, Bert N4CW/K1IMI
> 
> 
>In a message dated 7/20/2014 7:18:48 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
>N4CW at aol.com writes:
>
>I used my KX3/KXPA100 in the NAQP RTTY contest this weekend. The KX3 with  
>added-on heat sink worked very well; however, the KXPA100 repeatedly faulted 
> with HI TEMPERATURE indicated on the KX3 at full output after prolonged  
>operating (lots of CQ'ing with short pause intervals). PA.X temp indicated at 
> failure was around 60C...as it should. Shack temperature was around 70 
>degrees  F
>Yes, I know all about digital modes and full power stressing amplifiers,  
>etc. What I want to know is how to mitigate this interruption yet run full  
>output. To that end, I have a couple ideas: what if I mounted the amp  
>vertically so the heatsink fins "drew" cooler air through themselves via  
>convection? Secondly, would a couple muffin fans mounted atop the cooling fins  do 
>the job? 
>The net of this is that I'd like to enjoy the full benefit of having a  
>high-quality 100-Watt amplifier, regardless of mode or key-down time.
> 
>Bert N4CW/K1IMI
>
>______________________________________________________________
>Elecraft mailing list
>Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>Post: mailto:Elecraft at mailman.qth.net
>
>This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>Message delivered to k6dgw at foothill.net
>
>