[Elecraft] KPA500 Fan Control

[Bob McGraw K4TAX]

John et al:

With my KPA500 and SSB rag chews I keep the fan on NORMAL.   It does 
cycle on and up from time to time.   When operating digital modes at 400 
to 500 watts, I set the fan to 1.  It still does move to higher speeds 
during transmissions as the TEMP gets to 60 degrees or so.  Then drops 
back to level 1.    As to operating at 2, other than the amount of added 
noise and a bit of wear, I see little disadvantage or advantage for that 
matter.   At the same time, I agree that heat is the most damaging 
component to solid state devices.

By the way, as my amp fan is about 4" from the wall behind it, adding 
some acoustic material on the wall behind the amp I find soaks up some 
of the noise.

73

Bob, K4TAX


On 11/30/2018 9:30 AM, Monkeys wrote:
> Is there any harm in setting the fan at level 2 and just leaving it
> there? I would think the fan might wear out a little faster, but how
> much faster? The reason I ask is that when the fan control is set to
> NOR I find that the fan eventually...and understandably... kicks into
> a super high speed whine on extended CW ragchews. But I have found by
> setting the fan control to 2, the amp seems to like this 'pro-active'
> cooling. I can ragchew to my heart's content and it never goes into
> that high speed jet-taking-off or vacuum cleaner level. Has anyone
> else changed their fan from NOR to 2 as a default and experienced any
> side effects?
>
> John K7FD
>
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