Since a major uproar over energy conservation seems to have erupted on another thread here <G> I'll ask the question I raised there again:
Has anyone considered using desiccants rather than leave the power on 24/7 if you're in an area where considerable moisture condenses in your rig? I believe the one used most often around electronic gear is silica dioxide (SiO2). It's a naturally occurring mineral that is commonly sold in an "indicating" form, small crystals that change from blue to pink as the material absorbs moisture. It can absorb up to 40% of its own weight at normal room temperatures and is quite easy to "recharge". You just put it in a warm oven for a while until it turns blue again! It's often sold in inexpensive five-pound cans by stores catering to the dried-flower trade. Even though I've lived within a few hundred feet of the Pacific Ocean I've yet to encounter any corrosion problems. If I did my first choice would be to reduce the humidity in some energy-efficient way rather than simply leave the power on. If one wanted to be really rigorous about it, a small solar oven could handle the recharging process <G>. Even on ships, it takes months -- often a year or two -- for something like the old-fashioned lifeboat radios that enclosed about a cubit foot of air inside their case to have a desiccant tube about 1 inch in diameter and 4 inches long become saturated. Ron AC7AC -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Tom Zeltwanger Sent: Tuesday, April 17, 2007 2:30 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; Don Wilhelm Cc: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K2 near the sea: leave on or not? Thanks Don, That is probably ood advice. I keep the equipment in a closed room, but I think I will cover it. I generally keep my radios for a long time (this K2 is replacing a Kenwood TS-930, bought in about 1980!). 73, Tom KG3V Quoting Don Wilhelm <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>: > Tom, > > I recently repaired a K2 that had lived for several years in the salt > air of Houston Texas. The external case screws and the connectors on > the rear panel were corroded enough that they were changed. However, > the inside of the K2 still looked just fine. > > If I can base any conclusions on that one K2, I would suggest that you > cover your K2 when it is not in use - just a sheet of plastic would > probably do the job although you may want to look into some kind of > custom cover for it. > > Remember that this comment is based on my brief observation of one K2 > that had been in a salt air environment - it would be unwise for me to > generalize any further on the subject. > > 73, > Don W3FPR > > Tom Zeltwanger wrote: > > I operate from the shores of the Chesapeake Bay in Virginia. The > > water > there is > > only moderately salty but corrosion is very rapid compared to my > > experience > > > with inland QTHs. I was wondering if this would be a problem for my > equipment. > > So far, no problem. I imagine anyone near the sea shores has this > > problem. > > > > 73, > > > > Tom KG3V > _______________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > 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 > _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net 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 _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net 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
