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New radio runs very hot, thoughts?
- Thread starter Retroradio
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KD8DVR
Member
Could be. That's why there is a heat sink. To dissipate heat. If it gets warm, you know its doing its job.
125* is not really very hot. AM only, the PA is class C , the cooler of the lot. The modulator/AF pa is class AB1 or B and idling get quite warm. Newer radios also have power fets for switching and they can get hot.
SSB, now you have a different class PA that gets hot just key down. Those often have some thermal protection to prevent runaway(more hot=more current=more heat)
Sort of a thumb rule, any device you can't touch, is too hot.
SSB, now you have a different class PA that gets hot just key down. Those often have some thermal protection to prevent runaway(more hot=more current=more heat)
Sort of a thumb rule, any device you can't touch, is too hot.
Agreed, @merlin . Somewhere just above my hot water heater setpoint, although that's slightly skewed as it's water and conducts heat better.
I've plugged my Cobra 19 and Cobra 29LTD into some of my smaller linear power supplies, 5/7Amp and 3/5Amp, and during normal operation receiving, even with the squelch UP, I've noticed that the little power supplies get every so slightly warm with the Cobra 29 left on receive, but are ice cold with the Cobra 19.
I was going to ask before, but I'll do it now: is that a sign of a problem with my 29? Or is the LED and other stuff just slightly more power hungry at idle than the 19? Without ANY transmit?
I was going to ask before, but I'll do it now: is that a sign of a problem with my 29? Or is the LED and other stuff just slightly more power hungry at idle than the 19? Without ANY transmit?
Every radio has a baseline idle current that will very depending on design and feature set. More features and current goes up to support them. Microprocessors and DSP can easy drive the current up on newer or more feature rich radio. Likely nothing wrong with the 29. Measuring current when new for reference and comparing now is the best way to know if you have a problem. 2nd option is to track down the manufacturing specification for receive current if published.
Mike
Mike
jhooten
Member
125 degrees? This time of year the radio in my truck is hotter than that before I turn it on.
If the heat is a concern scavenge a small 12vdc fan from an old computer power supply of what ever to add cooling to the case.
If the heat is a concern scavenge a small 12vdc fan from an old computer power supply of what ever to add cooling to the case.
Retroradio
Member
If the radio is that hot before you turn it on then add the extra heat from transmitting,….see an issue here?
The radio receives and does not warm up ( thats normal as its not working hard) , however transmitting for 10-20 minutes in a conversation it goes up to 125F And kools down between transmissions.
I Have already as previously stated I have added a fan to one of them.
Now I have a buddy with the same radio The difference is mine was repaired By a pro shop. So we tried a test we had a 20 min conversation and VOILA…his radio didn’t heat up and mine did on AM after about 10 min. That’s only during transmit as it doesnt heat up on receive.
The new small radio with the heat sink I tried does the same thing to about 125F. As its has a large heat sink and is tiny then logically some heat is expected. i found that degree of temperature surprising.
If there are two identical brand and model radios, one heating up and the other not, I would suggest measuring the precise current draw on both transmit and receive for each radio. I suspect the hot radio is drawing significantly more current on transmit, especially since you mentioned someone had their fingers in it.
It could be they put a different PA transistor in and the original bias setting is putting the new transistor closer to class A operation or at least drawing excessive quiescent current. Most CBs I've been inside do not have adjustable bias. Or the radio is modified for more transmit power which will draw more current and cause more heat dissipation in the PA transistor, etc. Or it could be you talk too much dominating 18 minutes out of the 20 minute conversation. Are you speaking English or French? I hear French can be a very heated language.
It could be they put a different PA transistor in and the original bias setting is putting the new transistor closer to class A operation or at least drawing excessive quiescent current. Most CBs I've been inside do not have adjustable bias. Or the radio is modified for more transmit power which will draw more current and cause more heat dissipation in the PA transistor, etc. Or it could be you talk too much dominating 18 minutes out of the 20 minute conversation. Are you speaking English or French? I hear French can be a very heated language.
jhooten
Member
It is summer in Texas. The radio is 20 some years old and still works.
Taking a WAG, I'm willing to bet the shop used non-oem direct replacement parts and turned up the wick.
Retroradio
Member
PRCguy many thanks for the reply.
Qualified shop changed the transistor on both of my TRC-451. My friends radio has Part T A1012 unsure what else is written on it).
That’s the part that gets hot on mine but not his. Mine has a T A1012 0. 3h? Green in colour.
Radio is dead stock. Hearts up on Transmit. 4 watts, good SWR , stock mic.
The conversation was balanced back and forth and was in english. To be honest mine heated up very quickly.
Retroradio
Member
I dont think they are OEM parts as they are apparently not available anymore.
Radio is stock.
This part of Canada also gets hot. It been in the 80s ans so on but not as hot as some places down south I’m sure.
We balanced that off with dips as low as -40F in the winter.
I would really try to measure current on your radio and your friends radio. It would not hurt anything and should give you some insight on why the two radios heat up different. If its a good friend and he is willing to open his radio for a test I would see if you can take the cover off the both radios and measure voltages on the PA transistor. Not sure if that radio uses a bipolar or FET but measuring the 3 pins on the device there should be about 12V on one pin, zero on another and a very low voltage on last maybe between .5v and 2 volts? Anyway all the voltages should be similar between the two radios. I suspect your bias is much higher and that would be the lower voltage reading. An old analog volt meter should work fine for this but a modern DVM may have a problem with RF on the pins.
Retroradio
Member
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jhooten
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I went from a black truck to a white. Still, it sitting in the summer sun with the dark tinted windows up I can see cab temps as high as 160f. Stand to close when you open the door you get hit with a blast furnace like heat wave.
According to the datasheet linked, there are two versions of that transistor. You have an O variant, and maybe you need a V variant, or to adjust the bias currents.
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