how I installed a heatsink on a Simplex Repeater HT

[Greekman]

Piece by piece I have made me a simplex repeater box, for my preps.
But I did not like that the box would hold the heat in it, even being metallic.
Since the Bao would be powered by an external source, there is room to attach a heatsink.

It was a fuss, that was corrected twice and required adding more than 12 new surfaces on the heatsink. By File.
This is the beast. All it needs, now is a piece of dense foam to press the heatsink on the box's back.



full write up at https://survivalcomms.wordpress.com/2018/07/14/hamsmithing-simplex-repeater-in-a-box-done/

[Carl]

  I would think you might leave the good looking heat sink in the open as it can do little good without air circulating past yje heat exchange elements. I have done this before and with more costly radios as a remote base so as to take advantage of a 600 foot tower space offered me and the unit has a 40 mile or so coverage area with ONE WATT RF out and is totally reliable,though not 'full scale' on the RF meter. A Christmas Card module provides a good IDENTIFICATION to keep the tiny (30 Caliber ammo box) repeater legal and functioning ...NEW batteries were needed after 6 years and I used "D" cell 8,000 NiMH cells.

[Greekman]

thing is that one cannot leave open a box which is hoisted/mounted on a tree. This is the anticipated use of.
So I am going with the second best option of heatsink->metal.

[Carl]

thing is that one cannot leave open a box which is hoisted/mounted on a tree. This is the anticipated use of.
So I am going with the second best option of heatsink->metal.

I used a metal ammo can and it is still in use as holder.WX proof,and fair heat transfer...your setup should work out OK too though.

[kid_couteau]

Neat

How do you put power to it though?

I must be missing something.

[Greekman]

it is on the fourth pic of the article linked.
https://survivalcomms.files.wordpress.com/2018/07/web-igp5148.jpg

Simple. I took an AAA battery carrier, removed battery contacts but the end ones, made a hole for the heatsink and then soldered wires on the end contacts. Cost a few bucks and while there is a way to maintain AAA usage on the adapter, i did not care to try it.

Carl. you are correct on a heatsink needing air circulation. after all every such heatsink comes with screw sockets for a fan.
And it is no big fuss to keep the lid open if you are around to monitor