"chuck" wrote in message
...
i notice that my receiver gets very warm just being plugged in and not
turned on is this normal?

Yes, that is heat from the transformer, supply circuits and the display
drivers.

would running it on a dc power supply make it run cooler and possibly less
static or noise from the mains supply?

An external supply will move much of the heat generation out of the radio so
it will run cooler. However, there may be no technical need to do so.

If the external supply is quieter or has better filtering of line noise it
may help. Other factors may mask any benefits. If your noise is dominated by
noise coming in the antenna, a different power supply may not help. If the
dominant noise is coming from the mains, then a noise filtering outlet strip
may help. You have to look at yoour entire system to determine where money
is best spent.


to run it on dc would a computer power supply work???

No, that would be a bad choice. PC supplies are well regulated on 5 and 3.3
volt outputs but may have no regulation on the 12 volt outputs. They are
also switching supplies and can generate a lot of noise. They also do not
work well, perhap at all, without a proper load on the lower voltage
outputs.

if not could someone suggest a power supply that would work?

Look in the radio's manual for the supply requirements. ( 11-16 volts at 2
amps ) Look for a regulated supply that is rated for a voltage in the
required range and one that can supply 3-4 amps.

You don't want to buy a supply rated at 2 amps as that means it may be
running near 100% capacity and may have poorer regulation and a shorter
life. More amps (higher current) is not a problem as long as the radio
provides the supply's stated minimum load. Insufficient load can mean poor
regulation.

Personally, I use a Tripplite PR-3/UL supply for my R-8B. Did I do this for
heat? No. Did I do it because the internal supply had noise? No. I did it
because the accessory that sits on top of the Drake did work better with an
external supply. Since I had the supply anyway, I also connected it to the
reciever. I also needed one less 110V outlet as a result.


thanks
charles foster




Ham radio suppliers will have supplies for radios. Usually they will have
something for transmitters that can supply many amps. They generally have
some suitable for receivers.

However the radio has vents for heat dissipation and a lot of surface area
to dissipate heat. As long as you don't cover the radio and block the
airflow around it you shouldn't have problems even if it is a bit warm. (Or
a lot warm as this radio tends to be.)


craigm