Cooling an FT2800M

I have described a solution an overheating problem with my IC2200H at Cooling an IC2200H. The Yaesu FT2800M suffers exactly the same problem.

This article describes a thermostatically controlled auxiliary fan to keep the case at a safe temperature.

Snapshot - 8Above is the test setup:

  • FT2800M set to high power and connected to a suitably rated dummy load, tx latched on.
  • a 125mm 12V muffin fan is secured to the top of the radio over the heatsink with a couple of elastic bands;
  • an inexpensive digital thermostat (~A$13 inc post on eBay) is connected from the 12V supply to the fan, and the thermistor sensor is held against the heatsink with a wedge of foam plastic.

The thermostat set value has been programmed to 45° and differential of 5°, so the fan will start when the temperature reaches 50° and stop when the temperature falls to 45°.

Above is a video of the system sped up by a factor of 10.

Snapshot - 4 002

Above is the system after it has been running from cold for a little while and the temperature is rising past 43.8°.

Snapshot - 5

At 16s into the video, the on temperature has been reached (the WORK LED indicates that the fan is working).

Snapshot - 6

At 28s into the video, 12 seconds after the last pic in the video or +120s in the real world, the on temperature has fallen to the set value (the WORK LED indicates that the fan is off).

Snapshot - 7

At 45s into the video, 16 seconds after the last pic in the video or +160s in the real world, the on temperature has been reached again (the WORK LED indicates that the fan is working).