Tom, I *HATE* fan sounds, but let's keep this in perspective. Several people have made excellent qualitative comments about the fan. I agree with them. I tend to deal in numbers. So I got out my sound level meter and plunked it on the operating desk in front of my K2/100. At high speed the K2/100 fan produces 55 db at the front of the rig. Compare that to a voice at normal speaking volume at 70 to 75 dB.
My Compaq Notebook PC is sitting on a side table about 3 feet from the rig. At 57 dB, its CPU fan is produces more noise at the K2 when it comes on high-speed. Like the CPU fan, the fan in the KPA100 only runs at high speed when it's needed then shuts off (The fellow who needed to hit the key to turn his off has a problem. That's not normal behavior.) I have a small electric heater in the shack. I uses a 5-in "muffin" type fan to move air; quiet and unobtrusive. It produces a noise level of 55 dB at the operating position, exactly the same as the KPA100 fan when it's operating even though the KPA100 fan is much closer, being on the back of the K2 sitting on the desk. Ron AC7AC -----Original Message----- I am getting ready to build my KPA100 and am a bit concerned about the fan noise, after hearing recent comments here. There are many fans out there for PCs, and some of the newer ones are fairly quiet. Isn't there a specific alternative cheap fan that can be used, if the stock one is so noisy? Would like to hear any specific recommendations. Liquid cooling is probably a bit overkill for me! Thanks and 73, Tom KG3V _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [email protected] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
