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Thread: Heat and Mobile HAM radios.

  1. Sun 16th May 2010, 23:40 #1
    kf7doe
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    Default Heat and Mobile HAM radios.

    I live in Arizona, things get hot. I was getting ready to install an FT-100 this weekend. After leaving it in the car all day, I went out to install and it was HOT. Starting to wonder if I shouldn’t be looking for something that might handle the heat better. I like Yasue, so I’ve been looking at several of their products (FTM-10r or FT-8800r). Anyone have any trouble with the great Arizona/SW heat?
    Thanks,
    Pete
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  2. Mon 17th May 2010, 01:08 #2
    kd0bik
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    I don't have the severe heat issues you have (I live in Colorado) but we do have some warm days and I've visited Texas with my mobile setup. I've not had any heat issues. I just make sure I have good air circulation around and have never had any issues.

    73,
    Jerry
    Host of the Practical Amateur Radio Podcast - Creating Elmers one podcast at a time. http://www.myamateurradio.com/
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  3. Mon 17th May 2010, 02:57 #3
    kf7doe
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    Default Heat

    Jerry,
    Thanks for the input. I should add that I’m looking for a unit that I will be leaving in a car year round, a car that sits out in the beautify Arizona sun. The inside of the car will often make it into the teens - that is 110-120 degrees. I really don’t want to worry about taking the unit out and putting it back in, so I’m looking for a radio that could stand up to this for years on end. In terms of air flow, I’m looking to install under the driver’s seat where there is fairly decent airflow and no direct sunlight.
    Thanks again.
    Pete
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  4. Mon 17th May 2010, 18:17 #4
    5B4AJB
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    It might be worth mounting the radio in a perforated metal box.

    A) to sink the heat away
    B) to mount fans for additional airflow

    Cannibalise the fans from an old P.C. (from your local computer shop).
    Build a custom case from an old P.C.
    I suggest four fans (for redundancy) - they don't have to be big, just on, when the radio is powered.


    My van's C.D. player gives up if it gets too hot, which it tends to do every day now...
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  5. Tue 3rd May 2011, 03:54 #5
    AE6ZW
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    FT-100 need modification, to make the fan run at slow speed even it is not transmiting, if not 440 MHz power amp go out soon, and 144 Mhz power amp also. and electrytic capacitor last much longer if temperature are kept under 30 deg C.
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  6. Sat 14th May 2011, 18:08 #6
    2E0JTP
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    110-120 Fahrenheit is 43-49 Celsius!

    I don't know about the radio, but I'd stop working at that temperature!

    We consider a heat wave to be anything above 25C (77F).
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