[Elecraft] Upper limits of KPA500?

[Rick Bates, NK7I]

I spent 15 minutes active on 20M FT8 this afternoon (some lurking).

At 530 watts output (on the display and utility) into a 1.13:1 antenna 
load (SteppIR) for a ten minute calling period (Mongolia then Oman), the 
temp rose to 66C; a few moments of elevated fan quickly brought that 
down to the low 60's between transmissions.

Ambient room temp 77F.  (Both calls succeeded.)

Rick NK7I
North Idaho

On 5/3/2020 7:42 PM, Andy Durbin wrote:
> "It is interesting to hear how others experience their KPA500s over various conditions."
>
> I have over a years's worth of KPA500 data recorded but it takes some effort to run it through the Excel templates to make pretty plots.
>
> My KPA500 temperatures are strongly influenced by ambient temperature.  Shack temperature is often over 30 deg C in the summer months and it's not at all unusual for my fan to run at level 3 in FT8 QSO.  I think I have only reached fan speed 5 twice and that was while running temperature tests not while operating.   I terminated those tests at fan speed 5 and didn't wish to push it any higher.
>
> So many people seem to think reducing the output power will keep the temperature down.  It does not.   Half power is about the worst heat dissipation condition for the KPA500.
>
> 73,
> Andy, k3wyc
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