[Elecraft] Heatsink confusion

[Kenneth A Christiansen]

Hi Phil

The times you would need a heatsink is when running PSK31, RTTY, AM and FM. These are all continuous duty and make the KX3 produce heat faster than it can be dissipated. I tend to rag chew on PSK31 so I added the large heat sink by VE7FMN to my KX3. I had to run a 3 inch fan before to work PSK31 but now with that heat sink I do not need the fan. I did use Radio Shack Heat Sink Compound 276-255 under the two final transistors and under the new heat sink. I don't know if it is needed but after 35 years of doing that kind of work I consider that to be standard procedure.

I never had any problem running CW or SSB with the KX3 causing overheating although I understand if you place the KX3 in bright sun lite it will overheat even in receive mode. That is because the black color absorbs sunlight heat. I have had other equipment such as handy talkies get too hot under the same sunlight conditions. 

I hope this information helps. If you work only SSB and CW don't worry about it. if you work a continuous duty mode I think VE7FMN has the best heat sink and he sure worked well with me as I do not belong to Pay Pall so he had to accept a money order. We exchanged several E-Mails and as I said he was great to do business with me.

73

Ken W0CZ   w0cz at i29 dot net

Sent from my iPad

> On May 21, 2014, at 11:39 AM, Phil Hystad <phystad at mac.com> wrote:
> 
> When do you need the heatsink?  Is this primarily for DATA modes?
> 
> I use my KX3 at 10 watts when in the shack and I use it portable at 5 watts or 10 watts when I carry along my external Li battery packs.  
> 
> I have never noticed any overheating and I believe that it is because I don't do any DATA modes at all.  About 99 percent of my portable work is CW only -- and usually not very many ragchews thus briefer QSOs.
> 
> So, is this product primarily for DATA mode users?  
> 
> 73, phil, K7PEH
> 
> 
> 
>> On May 21, 2014, at 9:09 AM, Howard Hoyt <hhoyt at mebtel.net> wrote:
>> 
>> Doug Ellmore/NA1DX wrote:
>> 
>>>> I received my PAE-Kx31 heatsink from Fred VE7FMN (fsmeier at telus.net)
>> 
>> Fred and I haven't formed a joint partnership yet, so you have a heatsink from one or the other of us!  lolol
>> 
>> Both do the job vis-a-vis JT65 with differing attributes otherwise.
>> 
>> Cheers!
>> 
>> Howie - WA4PSC
>> www.proaudioeng.com
>> mfgr of the PAE-Kx31 Heatsink Kit
>> 
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