Does anyone use radiators ever?

[Benpire]

I have sank a couple hundred hours into this game and never found myself using a radiator. (Exept when drilling and converting but I'm not sure I even needed it then). Anyone find a case when they HAD to use a radiator?

[andylaugel]

Drills and ISRUs both generate heat, and will grind to a halt from overheating when operating without either radiators or thermal control units.

Otherwise, shedding heat isn't much of an issue. Yes, being close to the sun can cook and explode your craft--but if you are that close, then you may be too close for heat shedding parts to save you.

Many, many versions of KSP ago, I swear I had a "Nerv" explode from overheating during a long burn. But that hasn't been a problem for a very long time.

[Enorats]

NERVA engines used to blow from overheating constantly, radiators were required for more than like a 2 minute burn.. and with their thrust burns are often a lot longer. That doesn't seem to happen anymore

Radiators are required for cooling drills and ISRU units. They will overheat, lose efficiency, and eventually shut down entirely without them.

Mods that add nuclear reactors generally require radiators to manage the core temperature, but the stock game lacks these entirely for some reason. Guess the stock game doesn't have much need of high end EC generators, since EC is almost not even needed.

I'd guess some life support mods (like Kerbalism) would use radiators. I think that one monitors the internal temp of craft, and can kill the kerbals if they get too hot. Not sure on that one though. It does radiation and even gas concentrations, so I'd be surprised if it didn't let you cook your kerbals.

[AoD_lexandro]

Close Solar orbits. That's about it. Drilling is the only real reason to use them.

[miklkit]

The Wheezly jet engine will explode if run too long at 100%. Never thought of putting radiators on them.

[Jupiter3927]

Nerv engines will overheat if you have a bunch of them burning right next to each other and radiators will fix this.
A single Nerv engine shouldn't explode unless it's in a low solar orbit.

I heard radiators can work in atmosphere to help cool down parts while aerobraking.

[Enorats]

Originally posted by Jupiter3927:

Nerv engines will overheat if you have a bunch of them burning right next to each other and radiators will fix this.
A single Nerv engine shouldn't explode unless it's in a low solar orbit.

I heard radiators can work in atmosphere to help cool down parts while aerobraking.

I have used them for this purpose before. I'll place a cargo bay immediately behind the cockpit, then place some radiators inside the bay attached to the cockpit. It's not a huge difference, but it has been the difference between a design going boom on reentry and one making it home.