FM DUO Heat


Mark Gottlieb <kk2l@...>
 

Hi Everybody,

I should have my red transceiver this Friday and am looking forward to it.  Having owned a KX3 and KX2, one of my concerns would be heat buildup while operating the digital modes or SSB at full power.  In my opinion, the Elecraft QRP rigs' achilles heel is that they quickly overheat while operating continuously either in digital or SSB modes.  At that point, both radios revert to 5 watts, or less, output which is not made clear, of course, in their promotional materials.  I do know there is a fan in the ELAD so that should mitigate the issue.  I only see a few posts in the group regarding this.  Would anyone care to comment?

73

Mark
KK2L


David <david.g8iic@...>
 


Hi Mark

I’ve had my FDM DUO for around 4 years.  Only operated on SSB.  Never noticed any problem operating at max output, ie slightly more than 5W.

Enjoy!

David G8IIC


On 24 Dec 2019, at 18:24, Mark Gottlieb <kk2l@...> wrote:

Hi Everybody,

I should have my red transceiver this Friday and am looking forward to it.  Having owned a KX3 and KX2, one of my concerns would be heat buildup while operating the digital modes or SSB at full power.  In my opinion, the Elecraft QRP rigs' achilles heel is that they quickly overheat while operating continuously either in digital or SSB modes.  At that point, both radios revert to 5 watts, or less, output which is not made clear, of course, in their promotional materials.  I do know there is a fan in the ELAD so that should mitigate the issue.  I only see a few posts in the group regarding this.  Would anyone care to comment?

73

Mark
KK2L


Michael Boudreaux
 

Mine FDM Duo has no issues running Full power 8 watts continuous like SSTV. Never had an issue 73 Mike vk4sy

On 25/12/2019 04:24, Mark Gottlieb wrote:

Hi Everybody,

I should have my red transceiver this Friday and am looking forward to it.  Having owned a KX3 and KX2, one of my concerns would be heat buildup while operating the digital modes or SSB at full power.  In my opinion, the Elecraft QRP rigs' achilles heel is that they quickly overheat while operating continuously either in digital or SSB modes.  At that point, both radios revert to 5 watts, or less, output which is not made clear, of course, in their promotional materials.  I do know there is a fan in the ELAD so that should mitigate the issue.  I only see a few posts in the group regarding this.  Would anyone care to comment?

73

Mark
KK2L


Klaus Brosche, DK3QN <dk3qn@...>
 

Hi Mark,

I don't recall that there is a fan inside the DUO.

Klaus, DK3QN

Am 24.12.2019 um 19:24 schrieb Mark Gottlieb:

Hi Everybody,

I should have my red transceiver this Friday and am looking forward to it.  Having owned a KX3 and KX2, one of my concerns would be heat buildup while operating the digital modes or SSB at full power.  In my opinion, the Elecraft QRP rigs' achilles heel is that they quickly overheat while operating continuously either in digital or SSB modes.  At that point, both radios revert to 5 watts, or less, output which is not made clear, of course, in their promotional materials.  I do know there is a fan in the ELAD so that should mitigate the issue.  I only see a few posts in the group regarding this.  Would anyone care to comment?

73

Mark
KK2L



phoekzema Hoekzema
 

Yep there is a fan.  On my radio ( I am exclusively digital ) it runs a lot.  It is not the quietest fan around either.  It also will add some noise on the monitors baseline, but usually down 70 or 80 Db from carrier level.  When running digital and using a hardrock 50 amp, the duo power is under a watt.  So the heat must becoming from the idle current in the finals. 

You will like the Duo, but maybe not the fan noise.

 

Peter WA7MOX

 

Sent from Mail for Windows 10

 

From: Klaus Brosche, DK3QN
Sent: Tuesday, December 24, 2019 3:11 PM
To: EladSDR@groups.io
Subject: Re: [EladSDR] FM DUO Heat

 

Hi Mark,

 

I don't recall that there is a fan inside the DUO.

 

Klaus, DK3QN

 

Am 24.12.2019 um 19:24 schrieb Mark Gottlieb:

Hi Everybody,

I should have my red transceiver this Friday and am looking forward to it.  Having owned a KX3 and KX2, one of my concerns would be heat buildup while operating the digital modes or SSB at full power.  In my opinion, the Elecraft QRP rigs' achilles heel is that they quickly overheat while operating continuously either in digital or SSB modes.  At that point, both radios revert to 5 watts, or less, output which is not made clear, of course, in their promotional materials.  I do know there is a fan in the ELAD so that should mitigate the issue.  I only see a few posts in the group regarding this.  Would anyone care to comment?

73

Mark
KK2L

 

 


Neil Smith G4DBN
 

The fan in my two DUOs do not come on very often, but I've never had problems with overheating on digimodes or RTTY at max output.  The fan is not quiet, but it seems very effective.

Neil G4DBN

On 24/12/2019 21:11, Klaus Brosche, DK3QN wrote:
Hi Mark,

I don't recall that there is a fan inside the DUO.

Klaus, DK3QN

Am 24.12.2019 um 19:24 schrieb Mark Gottlieb:
Hi Everybody,

I should have my red transceiver this Friday and am looking forward to it.  Having owned a KX3 and KX2, one of my concerns would be heat buildup while operating the digital modes or SSB at full power.  In my opinion, the Elecraft QRP rigs' achilles heel is that they quickly overheat while operating continuously either in digital or SSB modes.  At that point, both radios revert to 5 watts, or less, output which is not made clear, of course, in their promotional materials.  I do know there is a fan in the ELAD so that should mitigate the issue.  I only see a few posts in the group regarding this.  Would anyone care to comment?

73

Mark
KK2L


-- 
Neil
<a href="http://g4dbn.uk/"><small>g4dbn.uk</small></a>


Klaus Brosche, DK3QN <dk3qn@...>
 

OK, there is one fan in my unit, just opened the DUO for curiosity.

Size of mine is 25x25x7 mm.

Never gets really audible when working CW @ 4 or 5 watts RF, antenna with reasonable SWR.
(I don't use headphones).

So, I just forgot about it :-))

Klaus, DK3QN


Am 24.12.2019 um 22:46 schrieb phoekzema Hoekzema:

Yep there is a fan.  On my radio ( I am exclusively digital ) it runs a lot.  It is not the quietest fan around either.  It also will add some noise on the monitors baseline, but usually down 70 or 80 Db from carrier level.  When running digital and using a hardrock 50 amp, the duo power is under a watt.  So the heat must becoming from the idle current in the finals. 

You will like the Duo, but maybe not the fan noise.

 

Peter WA7MOX

 

Sent from Mail for Windows 10

 

From: Klaus Brosche, DK3QN
Sent: Tuesday, December 24, 2019 3:11 PM
To: EladSDR@groups.io
Subject: Re: [EladSDR] FM DUO Heat

 

Hi Mark,

 

I don't recall that there is a fan inside the DUO.

 

Klaus, DK3QN

 

Am 24.12.2019 um 19:24 schrieb Mark Gottlieb:

Hi Everybody,

I should have my red transceiver this Friday and am looking forward to it.  Having owned a KX3 and KX2, one of my concerns would be heat buildup while operating the digital modes or SSB at full power.  In my opinion, the Elecraft QRP rigs' achilles heel is that they quickly overheat while operating continuously either in digital or SSB modes.  At that point, both radios revert to 5 watts, or less, output which is not made clear, of course, in their promotional materials.  I do know there is a fan in the ELAD so that should mitigate the issue.  I only see a few posts in the group regarding this.  Would anyone care to comment?

73

Mark
KK2L

 

 



Clint Chron
 

Here is a link that shows a number of inside pictures of the Duo.

 

https://fccid.io/2AAE5FDM-DUO/Internal-Photos/04-Internal-Photos-2434162

 

You can see the cooling fan on pictures 18 and 24.  These kinds of fans are usually quite when new, but can become very noisy if they do not use ball bearings.

 

73

Clint

W7KEC

 

From: EladSDR@groups.io [mailto:EladSDR@groups.io] On Behalf Of Klaus Brosche, DK3QN
Sent: Tuesday, December 24, 2019 3:17 PM
To: EladSDR@groups.io
Subject: Re: [EladSDR] FM DUO Heat

 

OK, there is one fan in my unit, just opened the DUO for curiosity.

 

Size of mine is 25x25x7 mm.

 

Never gets really audible when working CW @ 4 or 5 watts RF, antenna with reasonable SWR.
(I don't use headphones).

 

So, I just forgot about it :-))

 

Klaus, DK3QN

 

 

Am 24.12.2019 um 22:46 schrieb phoekzema Hoekzema:

Yep there is a fan.  On my radio ( I am exclusively digital ) it runs a lot.  It is not the quietest fan around either.  It also will add some noise on the monitors baseline, but usually down 70 or 80 Db from carrier level.  When running digital and using a hardrock 50 amp, the duo power is under a watt.  So the heat must becoming from the idle current in the finals. 

You will like the Duo, but maybe not the fan noise.

 

Peter WA7MOX

 

Sent from Mail for Windows 10

 

From: Klaus Brosche, DK3QN
Sent: Tuesday, December 24, 2019 3:11 PM
To: EladSDR@groups.io
Subject: Re: [EladSDR] FM DUO Heat

 

Hi Mark,

 

I don't recall that there is a fan inside the DUO.

 

Klaus, DK3QN

 

Am 24.12.2019 um 19:24 schrieb Mark Gottlieb:

Hi Everybody,

I should have my red transceiver this Friday and am looking forward to it.  Having owned a KX3 and KX2, one of my concerns would be heat buildup while operating the digital modes or SSB at full power.  In my opinion, the Elecraft QRP rigs' achilles heel is that they quickly overheat while operating continuously either in digital or SSB modes.  At that point, both radios revert to 5 watts, or less, output which is not made clear, of course, in their promotional materials.  I do know there is a fan in the ELAD so that should mitigate the issue.  I only see a few posts in the group regarding this.  Would anyone care to comment?

73

Mark
KK2L

 

 

 


Vianney Colombat
 

 
 
Vianney
 
From: "Clint Chron" <kiheiman@q.com>
To: <EladSDR@groups.io>
Date: Tue, 24 Dec 2019 15:41:28 -0700
Subject: Re: [EladSDR] FM DUO Heat
 
Here is a link that shows a number of inside pictures of the Duo.
 
 
You can see the cooling fan on pictures 18 and 24.  These kinds of fans are usually quite when new, but can become very noisy if they do not use ball bearings.
 
73
Clint
W7KEC
 
From: EladSDR@groups.io [mailto:EladSDR@groups.io] On Behalf Of Klaus Brosche, DK3QN
Sent: Tuesday, December 24, 2019 3:17 PM
To: EladSDR@groups.io
Subject: Re: [EladSDR] FM DUO Heat
 
OK, there is one fan in my unit, just opened the DUO for curiosity.
 
Size of mine is 25x25x7 mm.
 
Never gets really audible when working CW @ 4 or 5 watts RF, antenna with reasonable SWR.
(I don't use headphones).
 
So, I just forgot about it :-))
 
Klaus, DK3QN
 
 
Am 24.12.2019 um 22:46 schrieb phoekzema Hoekzema:
Yep there is a fan.  On my radio ( I am exclusively digital ) it runs a lot.  It is not the quietest fan around either.  It also will add some noise on the monitors baseline, but usually down 70 or 80 Db from carrier level.  When running digital and using a hardrock 50 amp, the duo power is under a watt.  So the heat must becoming from the idle current in the finals. 
You will like the Duo, but maybe not the fan noise.
 
Peter WA7MOX
 
Sent from Mail for Windows 10
 
From: Klaus Brosche, DK3QN
Sent: Tuesday, December 24, 2019 3:11 PM
To: EladSDR@groups.io
Subject: Re: [EladSDR] FM DUO Heat
 
Hi Mark,
 
I don't recall that there is a fan inside the DUO.
 
Klaus, DK3QN
 
Am 24.12.2019 um 19:24 schrieb Mark Gottlieb:
Hi Everybody,

I should have my red transceiver this Friday and am looking forward to it.  Having owned a KX3 and KX2, one of my concerns would be heat buildup while operating the digital modes or SSB at full power.  In my opinion, the Elecraft QRP rigs' achilles heel is that they quickly overheat while operating continuously either in digital or SSB modes.  At that point, both radios revert to 5 watts, or less, output which is not made clear, of course, in their promotional materials.  I do know there is a fan in the ELAD so that should mitigate the issue.  I only see a few posts in the group regarding this.  Would anyone care to comment?

73

Mark
KK2L
 
 
 
 

Le informazioni contenute in questo messaggio di posta elettronica sono riservate e confidenziali e ne è vietata la diffusione in qualunque modo eseguita (DL 196/2003). Qualora Lei non fosse la persona a cui il presente messaggio è destinato, La invitiamo ad eliminarlo e a non leggerlo, dandone gentilmente comunicazione al mittente.

The information contained in this e-mail and any attachments is confidential and may well also be legally privileged (DL 196/2003). If you are not among the named recipients, please notify the sender immediately by reply e-mail and then delete this message from your system, do not use the contents for any purpose whatsoever nor disclose them to anyone else.


phoekzema Hoekzema
 

What is the typical time to run before the fan comes on?  Running WSPR (at one watt or under) it takes my radio about 1:30 to 1:45 minutes to activate.  Is that normal?  It is about the same of PSK.  Running FT8, It does not normally activate.

 

Peter WA7MOX

 

Sent from Mail for Windows 10

 

From: Vianney Colombat
Sent: Monday, December 30, 2019 5:31 AM
To: EladSDR@groups.io
Subject: Re: [EladSDR] FM DUO Heat

 

 

 

Vianney

 

From: "Clint Chron" <kiheiman@q.com>
To: <EladSDR@groups.io>
Date: Tue, 24 Dec 2019 15:41:28 -0700
Subject: Re: [EladSDR] FM DUO Heat
 

Here is a link that shows a number of inside pictures of the Duo.

 

 

You can see the cooling fan on pictures 18 and 24.  These kinds of fans are usually quite when new, but can become very noisy if they do not use ball bearings.

 

73

Clint

W7KEC

 

From: EladSDR@groups.io [mailto:EladSDR@groups.io] On Behalf Of Klaus Brosche, DK3QN
Sent: Tuesday, December 24, 2019 3:17 PM
To: EladSDR@groups.io
Subject: Re: [EladSDR] FM DUO Heat

 

OK, there is one fan in my unit, just opened the DUO for curiosity.

 

Size of mine is 25x25x7 mm.

 

Never gets really audible when working CW @ 4 or 5 watts RF, antenna with reasonable SWR.
(I don't use headphones).

 

So, I just forgot about it :-))

 

Klaus, DK3QN

 

 

Am 24.12.2019 um 22:46 schrieb phoekzema Hoekzema:

Yep there is a fan.  On my radio ( I am exclusively digital ) it runs a lot.  It is not the quietest fan around either.  It also will add some noise on the monitors baseline, but usually down 70 or 80 Db from carrier level.  When running digital and using a hardrock 50 amp, the duo power is under a watt.  So the heat must becoming from the idle current in the finals. 

You will like the Duo, but maybe not the fan noise.

 

Peter WA7MOX

 

Sent from Mail for Windows 10

 

From: Klaus Brosche, DK3QN
Sent: Tuesday, December 24, 2019 3:11 PM
To: EladSDR@groups.io
Subject: Re: [EladSDR] FM DUO Heat

 

Hi Mark,

 

I don't recall that there is a fan inside the DUO.

 

Klaus, DK3QN

 

Am 24.12.2019 um 19:24 schrieb Mark Gottlieb:

Hi Everybody,

I should have my red transceiver this Friday and am looking forward to it.  Having owned a KX3 and KX2, one of my concerns would be heat buildup while operating the digital modes or SSB at full power.  In my opinion, the Elecraft QRP rigs' achilles heel is that they quickly overheat while operating continuously either in digital or SSB modes.  At that point, both radios revert to 5 watts, or less, output which is not made clear, of course, in their promotional materials.  I do know there is a fan in the ELAD so that should mitigate the issue.  I only see a few posts in the group regarding this.  Would anyone care to comment?

73

Mark
KK2L

 

 

 

 


Le informazioni contenute in questo messaggio di posta elettronica sono riservate e confidenziali e ne è vietata la diffusione in qualunque modo eseguita (DL 196/2003). Qualora Lei non fosse la persona a cui il presente messaggio è destinato, La invitiamo ad eliminarlo e a non leggerlo, dandone gentilmente comunicazione al mittente.

The information contained in this e-mail and any attachments is confidential and may well also be legally privileged (DL 196/2003). If you are not among the named recipients, please notify the sender immediately by reply e-mail and then delete this message from your system, do not use the contents for any purpose whatsoever nor disclose them to anyone else.

 


Charles Ristorcelli
 

Just adding to the heat debate.

I run my FDM-DUO and the ART/120 on digital modes for very long periods of time, as I do demonstrations for hopeful new hams.

Been on the air for up to 3 hours.

Yes, the fans are noisy. I can deal wit it.

No, there is never a heat problem.

--
73 de NN3V


Mark Gottlieb <kk2l@...>
 

I agree.  After using it for about 3 hours and achieving these contacts, from Southern NJ, I can say the case was warm but did not overheat.  I was very pleasantly surprised by the performance after just receiving it this past Friday.

 

1       2019-12-28      21:17   WQ5OO   20m     14.253  SSB     EM31sj          United States   Sparky Contest Club                     
2       2019-12-28      21:06   WR7DW   20m     14.205  SSB     DN28kx          United States   DONALD W JOHNSON                         
3       2019-12-28      21:02   VE4MG   20m     14.194  SSB     EO00gs          Canada  Malcolm Leroy Timlick                   
4       2019-12-28      21:01   VA7QI   20m     14.166  SSB     CO70ja          Canada  Erik Skovgaard                   
5       2019-12-28      20:53   VE5RAC  20m     14.200  SSB     DO70qk          Canada  RADIO AMATEUR DU OF CANADA INC.                         
6       2019-12-28      20:49   VE7SAR  20m     14.174  SSB     CN89oc          Canada  SURREY AMATEUR RADIO CLUB                       
7       2019-12-28      20:32   VE6SV   20m     14.280  SSB     DO33lm          Canada  Gordon Richard Kosmenko                         
8       2019-12-28      20:15   VE7NZ   20m     14.250  SSB     CN89oh          Canada  Adrian Paul Stimpson                     
9       2019-12-28      20:07   VE7ROC  20m     14.181  SSB     DN09eu          Canada  ORCHARD CITY AMATEUR RADIO CLUB                         
10      2019-12-28      20:02   VE7OGO  20m     14.165  SSB     DN09EU60                Canada  ORCHARD CITY AMATEUR RADIO CLUB                         
11      2019-12-28      19:58   VE7WNK  20m     14.167  SSB     CO82sx          Canada  Bob Holowenko                   
12      2019-12-28      19:57   VE6FI   20m     14.157  SSB     DO33er          Canada  Evan Mills Cameron                       
13      2019-12-28      19:50   VE4SG   20m     14.277  SSB     EN19jv          Canada  Sunday Satiada                   
14      2019-12-28      19:41   VE7UF   20m     14.237  SSB     CN79mq          Canada  Duane Benjamin Sandmeyer                         
15      2019-12-28      19:38   VA7RR   20m     14.215  SSB     CN89og          Canada  Gary Caldwell                   
16      2019-12-28      19:36   VE4RAC  20m     14.205  SSB     EN19kv          Canada  RADIO AMATEUR DU OF CANADA INC.                         
17      2019-12-28      19:35   VA5DX   20m     14.222  SSB     DO62ta          Canada  Douglas Allan Renwick                   
18      2019-12-28      18:46   N5LZB   20m     14.074  FT8     CN87TM70                United States   CHRIS W HINES                   
19      2019-12-28      18:34   AD9P    20m     14.074  FT8     EN54eu          United States   Albert C Schneebeli SR                   
20      2019-12-28      18:18   VP2MNI  17m     18.155  SSB     FK86VQ49                Montserrat      John Frankie Morgan                     
21      2019-12-28      18:15   V51WH   17m     18.140  SSB     JG87mi          Namibia         Gunter Hartmann                         
22      2019-12-28      17:40   6Y6Y    17m     18.157  SSB     FK08tg          Jamaica         Lester B Veenstra
______________________________________________________________

 

73

 

Mark

KK2L

 

antenna sunset

 


Kjell-Goran SM4GRP
 

I'm also running 1W WSPR. The fan starts approx 15 seconds before end of cycle, i.e. about the same time as yours.
73 / Kjell-Goran SM4GRP


phoekzema Hoekzema
 

Thank you.  It is nice to know that I am not alone.

 

Peter WA7MOX

 

Sent from Mail for Windows 10

 

From: Kjell-Goran SM4GRP
Sent: Tuesday, December 31, 2019 8:23 AM
To: EladSDR@groups.io
Subject: Re: [EladSDR] FM DUO Heat

 

I'm also running 1W WSPR. The fan starts approx 15 seconds before end of cycle, i.e. about the same time as yours.

73 / Kjell-Goran SM4GRP

 


Andreas Rehberg
 

I attached a 40mm fan on the right side of the DUO
(12V running on 5V) which is barely noticeable..
so the internal one never turned over again..

[the internal is noisy in two aspects.. it sounds
like a jet.. and adds noise to the signal..]

73 & all the best for 2020, Andy, DF4WC
.
Am 31.12.19, 19:41 schrieb phoekzema Hoekzema <phoekzema@...>:

Thank you.  It is nice to know that I am not alone.

 

Peter WA7MOX

 

Sent from Mail for Windows 10

 

From: Kjell-Goran SM4GRP
Sent: Tuesday, December 31, 2019 8:23 AM
To: EladSDR@groups.io
Subject: Re: [EladSDR] FM DUO Heat

 

I'm also running 1W WSPR. The fan starts approx 15 seconds before end of cycle, i.e. about the same time as yours.

73 / Kjell-Goran SM4GRP

 


Alain Reiner <alain@...>
 

Hello all,

First, I wish you all a happy new year 2020 !

With the attached photo you can see how I solved the issue. It's a bit rough but very efficient. Since I've done this, the internal fan is almost never active any more. I found the pair of heatsink on ebay.

And I did not notice the internal fan giving an additional noise level. I don't think I will ever do, now.

Best 73's,
Alain F4HFS


Le 31/12/2019 à 20:11, Andreas Rehberg a écrit :
I attached a 40mm fan on the right side of the DUO
(12V running on 5V) which is barely noticeable..
so the internal one never turned over again..

[the internal is noisy in two aspects.. it sounds
like a jet.. and adds noise to the signal..]

73 & all the best for 2020, Andy, DF4WC
.
Am 31.12.19, 19:41 schrieb phoekzema Hoekzema <phoekzema@...>:

Thank you.  It is nice to know that I am not alone.

 

Peter WA7MOX

 

Sent from Mail for Windows 10

 

From: Kjell-Goran SM4GRP
Sent: Tuesday, December 31, 2019 8:23 AM
To: EladSDR@groups.io
Subject: Re: [EladSDR] FM DUO Heat

 

I'm also running 1W WSPR. The fan starts approx 15 seconds before end of cycle, i.e. about the same time as yours.

73 / Kjell-Goran SM4GRP

 


-- 
Alain Reiner


Klaus Brosche, DK3QN <dk3qn@...>
 

Hi Alain,

Happy New Year!

That dual-heatsink should be OK for another 100+ watts RF ;-)

I wonder how you've attached the final MosFet to these 'beasts'?

73, Klaus, DK3QN



Am 01.01.2020 um 09:28 schrieb Alain Reiner:

Hello all,

First, I wish you all a happy new year 2020 !

With the attached photo you can see how I solved the issue. It's a bit rough but very efficient. Since I've done this, the internal fan is almost never active any more. I found the pair of heatsink on ebay.

And I did not notice the internal fan giving an additional noise level. I don't think I will ever do, now.

Best 73's,
Alain F4HFS


Le 31/12/2019 à 20:11, Andreas Rehberg a écrit :
I attached a 40mm fan on the right side of the DUO
(12V running on 5V) which is barely noticeable..
so the internal one never turned over again..

[the internal is noisy in two aspects.. it sounds
like a jet.. and adds noise to the signal..]

73 & all the best for 2020, Andy, DF4WC
.
Am 31.12.19, 19:41 schrieb phoekzema Hoekzema <phoekzema@...>:

Thank you.  It is nice to know that I am not alone.

 

Peter WA7MOX

 

Sent from Mail for Windows 10

 

From: Kjell-Goran SM4GRP
Sent: Tuesday, December 31, 2019 8:23 AM
To: EladSDR@groups.io
Subject: Re: [EladSDR] FM DUO Heat

 

I'm also running 1W WSPR. The fan starts approx 15 seconds before end of cycle, i.e. about the same time as yours.

73 / Kjell-Goran SM4GRP

 


--
Alain Reiner



Alain Reiner <alain@...>
 

Hi Klaus, all,

Stop wondering, because I have not.

My reasoning is this one :

When I started using this nice transceiver, I noticed it was hot after 30 mn ~ 1 hour dialoguing. So I assumed the aluminium box was involved in the TRx cooling but was not up to the task. I just decided to help it.

I fixed the 2 heatsinks with double sided thermal tape. I did not even opened the box.

By the way, I'm not fair : I'm using a home made driver outing up to 20 W, attached to a BLA 350 PA from RM Italy. To get more than 300 W in RTTY out of the BLA350, the DUO just gives 150  to 200 mW. Perhaps my "solution" would be less "efficient" if I used the DUO at 5 or 8 W...

Honestly (now), I don't know if these additional heatsinks would be efficient for cooling the DUO at 5W or more, but I'm sure they would really help. It's easy and cheap. Why not testing it ? Anyway, they are easily taken off...

If you were interested, I could take my driver off and directly connect the DUO to the BLA350, and run it at 5 or 8 W. I would get 100W out. I could do it for 1 hour or more and see how the DUO would be heating that way... let me know.

ha, I'm not a QRP guy. IMO QRP is a lie. The guys pretending QRP have good antennas. The antenna power outweighs the Tx power. In my case, my antenna is a MagLoop in my attic. If I used 5 w feeding the magloop, you would not hear me :).

Best 73's,
Alain F4HFS

Le 01/01/2020 à 11:39, Klaus Brosche, DK3QN a écrit :
Hi Alain,

Happy New Year!

That dual-heatsink should be OK for another 100+ watts RF ;-)

I wonder how you've attached the final MosFet to these 'beasts'?

73, Klaus, DK3QN



Am 01.01.2020 um 09:28 schrieb Alain Reiner:
Hello all,

First, I wish you all a happy new year 2020 !

With the attached photo you can see how I solved the issue. It's a bit rough but very efficient. Since I've done this, the internal fan is almost never active any more. I found the pair of heatsink on ebay.

And I did not notice the internal fan giving an additional noise level. I don't think I will ever do, now.

Best 73's,
Alain F4HFS


Le 31/12/2019 à 20:11, Andreas Rehberg a écrit :
I attached a 40mm fan on the right side of the DUO
(12V running on 5V) which is barely noticeable..
so the internal one never turned over again..

[the internal is noisy in two aspects.. it sounds
like a jet.. and adds noise to the signal..]

73 & all the best for 2020, Andy, DF4WC
.
Am 31.12.19, 19:41 schrieb phoekzema Hoekzema <phoekzema@...>:

Thank you.  It is nice to know that I am not alone.

 

Peter WA7MOX

 

Sent from Mail for Windows 10

 

From: Kjell-Goran SM4GRP
Sent: Tuesday, December 31, 2019 8:23 AM
To: EladSDR@groups.io
Subject: Re: [EladSDR] FM DUO Heat

 

I'm also running 1W WSPR. The fan starts approx 15 seconds before end of cycle, i.e. about the same time as yours.

73 / Kjell-Goran SM4GRP

 


--
Alain Reiner



-- 
Alain Reiner


Klaus Brosche, DK3QN <dk3qn@...>
 

Hi Alain,

My #1 response to your post, re. 'QRP':

You wrote:

(quote) ha, I'm not a QRP guy. IMO QRP is a lie. The guys pretending QRP have good antennas. (unquote)

With all respect, I think your are a little too much 'biased'. I do not know why or because of what, out of your experience.
There are always liars, in politics, in business, in ham radio and in private!

The 'problem' with these kind of beings is that they don't get 'punished' right away.
Thus, they feel free to continue with their 'lies'.

'QRP' - in general - is defined by a TX power of 5 Watts RF output.
There is no mentioning of what kind of antenna or antenna gain is 'allowed' when running QRP!

Any constraint re. QRP stations' antenna in use or antenna gain, imho, would be more than just plain ridiculous!

To say it in plain English: QRP is related to TX output power of 5 Watts. Thats the limitation which has been defined.
AND: you are free to deploy that amount of power (5 watts RF out) into any kind of antenna that you wish!
Same, as with anybody else operating at more than 5 watts output.

The ones, that pretend to run just 5 watts output, when - in reality - they are running multiples of that power:
Then I agree with you: these are 'liars'.

Klaus, DK3QN


Am 01.01.2020 um 20:34 schrieb Alain Reiner:

Hi Klaus, all,

Stop wondering, because I have not.

My reasoning is this one :

When I started using this nice transceiver, I noticed it was hot after 30 mn ~ 1 hour dialoguing. So I assumed the aluminium box was involved in the TRx cooling but was not up to the task. I just decided to help it.

I fixed the 2 heatsinks with double sided thermal tape. I did not even opened the box.

By the way, I'm not fair : I'm using a home made driver outing up to 20 W, attached to a BLA 350 PA from RM Italy. To get more than 300 W in RTTY out of the BLA350, the DUO just gives 150  to 200 mW. Perhaps my "solution" would be less "efficient" if I used the DUO at 5 or 8 W...

Honestly (now), I don't know if these additional heatsinks would be efficient for cooling the DUO at 5W or more, but I'm sure they would really help. It's easy and cheap. Why not testing it ? Anyway, they are easily taken off...

If you were interested, I could take my driver off and directly connect the DUO to the BLA350, and run it at 5 or 8 W. I would get 100W out. I could do it for 1 hour or more and see how the DUO would be heating that way... let me know.

ha, I'm not a QRP guy. IMO QRP is a lie. The guys pretending QRP have good antennas. The antenna power outweighs the Tx power. In my case, my antenna is a MagLoop in my attic. If I used 5 w feeding the magloop, you would not hear me :).

Best 73's,
Alain F4HFS

Le 01/01/2020 à 11:39, Klaus Brosche, DK3QN a écrit :
Hi Alain,

Happy New Year!

That dual-heatsink should be OK for another 100+ watts RF ;-)

I wonder how you've attached the final MosFet to these 'beasts'?

73, Klaus, DK3QN



Am 01.01.2020 um 09:28 schrieb Alain Reiner:
Hello all,

First, I wish you all a happy new year 2020 !

With the attached photo you can see how I solved the issue. It's a bit rough but very efficient. Since I've done this, the internal fan is almost never active any more. I found the pair of heatsink on ebay.

And I did not notice the internal fan giving an additional noise level. I don't think I will ever do, now.

Best 73's,
Alain F4HFS


Le 31/12/2019 à 20:11, Andreas Rehberg a écrit :
I attached a 40mm fan on the right side of the DUO
(12V running on 5V) which is barely noticeable..
so the internal one never turned over again..

[the internal is noisy in two aspects.. it sounds
like a jet.. and adds noise to the signal..]

73 & all the best for 2020, Andy, DF4WC
.
Am 31.12.19, 19:41 schrieb phoekzema Hoekzema <phoekzema@...>:

Thank you.  It is nice to know that I am not alone.

 

Peter WA7MOX

 

Sent from Mail for Windows 10

 

From: Kjell-Goran SM4GRP
Sent: Tuesday, December 31, 2019 8:23 AM
To: EladSDR@groups.io
Subject: Re: [EladSDR] FM DUO Heat

 

I'm also running 1W WSPR. The fan starts approx 15 seconds before end of cycle, i.e. about the same time as yours.

73 / Kjell-Goran SM4GRP

 


--
Alain Reiner



--
Alain Reiner



Klaus Brosche, DK3QN <dk3qn@...>
 

Hi Mark and Group,

Just opened-up my DUO and checked the inside re. the topic of 'heat', which you have raised.

Final transistors are 2x RD16HHF1.
@5 watts RF output (or so), they are almost an overkill by design @ this RF output power level.

They both are attached to one front piece of sort of a heat sink, a multi-dimensonal design.
The 25x25x7mm tiny fan blows towards the back of that part of the heat sink.
There are quite a number of ca. 1.5mm holes in the mounting area of the transistors, which
- I believe - are meant to let the airstream pass through these holes.

My concern is - this is my current guessing (!) - that the diameter of these holes is way too small
to let a reasonable amount of air flow pass through them.
Instead, any heat building-up at that heat-sink, will be distributed across the internals of the
housing and eventually exits via the right-hand-side exits (slots).

This is my current assumption (!) for these cases where Users of an FDM-DUO are somewhat
complaining about fan noise.

The fan itself is made by SUNON, specs as follows:
25x25x7 mm size
5V DC  0.58 watts
2 wires
Manufacturer order number MC25060V1-000U-A99
13000 RPM, 3.0 CFM, 31 dBA
Which is quite loud, imho!

Problem is, that due to the very tight internal structure of the DUO, there is next to zero
'freedom' of implementing a different (i.e. more efficient) cooling solution.
In particular, this is related to the structure of that heatsink. (Please look this up yourself).
So that part looks like needing to stay 'insitu' like it is now.

What could be possibly improved re. fan-generated noise during these key-down modes of
operation, is the fan noise itself. By means of a different fan, plus a different mounting of the fan.

For this 'exercise', I've ordered necessary parts today and am awaiting their delivery over the
next couple of days or next week.

I will report back here as soon as I have any findings with these parts.

HNY and 73, Klaus, DK3QN


Am 24.12.2019 um 19:24 schrieb Mark Gottlieb:

Hi Everybody,

I should have my red transceiver this Friday and am looking forward to it.  Having owned a KX3 and KX2, one of my concerns would be heat buildup while operating the digital modes or SSB at full power.  In my opinion, the Elecraft QRP rigs' achilles heel is that they quickly overheat while operating continuously either in digital or SSB modes.  At that point, both radios revert to 5 watts, or less, output which is not made clear, of course, in their promotional materials.  I do know there is a fan in the ELAD so that should mitigate the issue.  I only see a few posts in the group regarding this.  Would anyone care to comment?

73

Mark
KK2L