[SCCC] Fwd: IARU N5ZO SOAB(A)CW HP

[Dave Hachadorian]

Hi Marko,

Nice score!  A couple of comments below.


>After about 10 hrs I decided to convert to assisted and I think 
>I had more
>fun

That's what I have found too, regardless of what the "purists" 
say.  Just do whatever is more fun for you.

> whole house is on one AC machine and thermostat was set to 81.
>Small
>shack stayed at 90 degrees through whole contest with both amps 
>humming and
>it
>was not very comfortable.

In Yuma, the whole-house AC is totally ineffective in keeping the 
shack cool.  Too much heat is being generated in too small a 
space where the shack is.  I built a plywood shelf outside the 
shack window, and when a warm-weather contest comes along, I just 
place a small window AC unit on the shelf, such that it barely 
protrudes through the window into the room.  I close the vent 
from the main house AC, and close the shack door.  My windows 
slide sideways, so I fill in the big space above the window unit 
with cardboard, and the smaller spaces with bubble wrap.  I think 
the window unit is 6000 BTU, which is the largest size I could 
find that would fit through the window.  In a hot weather SO2R 
contest, the AC compressor runs continuously, and keeps the shack 
at about 78.  If the compressor ever does cycle off, the shack 
rapidly warms up to over 90 degrees before the 5 minute 
compressor lockout times out, so it is best to keep the 
thermostat set low.

73

Dave Hachadorian, K6LL
Big Bear Lake, CA


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