Mounting fan to a transmitter ok?

[Smokytyrz]

Hi folks

I've read a couple threads where folks mount small fans onto their transmitters to keep them cool.

Is this a good idea in terms of signal quality? Obviously it is easier to mount the fan butt-up against the tx. Should it spaced a bit to reduce signal noise? Or is this a non issue?

Thx

[Gary Mortimer]

Wow, whos transmitter ever gets that hot??

I fly regularly for over an hour and have never had that problem.

[Smokytyrz]

I'm flying a quad, and using it also on an rc car and a 450 heli. On the quad and car it can get pretty toasty. Tx's warm up pretty good if they do not have much airflow, as installed on a plane or on a heli vs a car or a quad.

[Gary Mortimer]

Do you mean RX??

The receiver in your machine.

My chum Mike flys quad and heating of gear is never a problem.

I'm not sure I understand your problem.

[Apep]

I'm flying a quad, and using it also on an rc car and a 450 heli. On the quad and car it can get pretty toasty. Tx's warm up pretty good if they do not have much airflow, as installed on a plane or on a heli vs a car or a quad.


Is it only warm or hot? Many semiconductors have a max. operating temperature between +85°C and +125°C.

[smh20502]

I'd like to know the specific TX used. I've used plenty of Tx's in my day and never, not once has any tx or rx ever got too hot.


possibly using home made tx or very very cheap Chinese tx?

[c_matt92]

Sounds to me like he is talking about a video transmitter, which does get warm and HOT if the antenna isn't trimmed correctly. My first advice would be to check and make sure you have a good antenna. If it is still to warm, stick it where it can get some air over the top of it to cool it.

[Jack Crossfire]

Maybe if the pilot was extremely stressed out, had a few gallons of cappuchinos, got extremely excited from programming autopilots, the transmitter could get over 98.6F.

[smh20502]

OK, video TX makes sense. Though a good heat sink would solve much of the problem. Fan would work...if you want to get fancy you could use a peltier junction.

For those of you that don't know what a peltier junction is. It's an electric heater and cooler. Once side of the device is cold the other is hot. (just don't touch the hot side...they can get very hot...enough to boil water.) But at least the desired electronic part will be cool. Actually, very cold

[c_matt92]

OK, video TX makes sense. Though a good heat sink would solve much of the problem. Fan would work...if you want to get fancy you could use a peltier junction.

For those of you that don't know what a peltier junction is. It's an electric heater and cooler. Once side of the device is cold the other is hot. (just don't touch the hot side...they can get very hot...enough to boil water.) But at least the desired electronic part will be cool. Actually, very cold

And then you would have a way to heat up your soup for lunch, too. :D :D

[smh20502]

Boil soup? I was thinking more of heating your coffee....but soup works also.


Seriously though. The peltier junctions work very well. In fact there are some computers that are going to this style device, as well as astronomical cameras, thermal imagers, laser diodes.

[Smokytyrz]

Odd the RCGroups is only mailing me once in a while about thread updates... I had it set to instant..

anyways, thx for the replys. It is a video tx. I'm using the antenna the came with it so I would assume it is tuned correctly. Although I am open to getting a better antenna but have found no other options available. It's the "typical" 900mhz 500mw MST-CB050M (aka "T905"). From what I've read, they all get hot.

So... is it ok to strap a fan to these? Or would it introduce noise to the signal?

Thx

[Gary Mortimer]

Well it adds weight to your airframe, why not just direct some airflow over it, this is more of an FPV thread sort of thing, why not ask there.

[c_matt92]

I agree with the direct air. Or, get a heat sink. Digikey sells them.

[Smokytyrz]

Passive heat sink might be a good idea. Take better advantage of the airflow I have.

Thx

[Wings of War]

i would mount a fan to keep ME cool while flying in the summer :-)