I used to switch two amps. I used a pair of surplus coaxial relays to switch the inputs and outputs. I have my amps set up with a 12v 'enable' input which operates a relay to put the amp in standby or operate mode, and the switch that operated the relays also switched this line. I simply isolated the amp key lines with diodes, because when the amp was in standby, the key line was disabled. Just some ideas.
Vic 4X6GP > On 23 Oct 2016, at 03:11, Jim McDonald <j...@n7us.net> wrote: > > I have a KPA500/KAT500 and an 87A/ATR-30 tuner connected to my K3. Not > important, but I have an Array Solutions Power Master II wattmeter with two > couplers connected to the amplifiers' outputs. > > My approach is pretty low tech. I have the 87A connected to the K3's ANT2 > port and the KPA500 connected to ANT1. I use an Alpha Delta manual coax > switch to switch my only antenna coax between the two amplifiers. (I > considered using a spare Daiwa switch but it's not rated at 1500W.) I > looked up the inter-port isolation for the antenna switch when I connected > it, and it seemed adequate, but I don't remember the specs. > > The only thing that's a bit fancy is a macro I did recently to use in my > K-Pod. I don't switch amplifiers often so I used two press-and-hold buttons > on the K-Pod. > > KPA500 MN058;MP123;MN081;UP;MN255;AN1; > > 87A MN058;MP000;MN081;UP;MN255;AN2; > > You can either look through the K3 Programmer's Reference Manual if you want > the mental exercise or read my notes below: > > MN058 - menu > > MP123 - sets K3's tune power to 15W (just my preference). > > MP000 - sets K3 tune power to NOR (not per band) > > MN081 - toggles between per band power for the KPA500 or NOR for the 87A. > > MN255 - exits the menu > > AN1/AN2 - selects antenna 1 or 2. > > 73, Jim N7US > > > -----Original Message----- > > I'm considering adding a bigger amp to the shack. I'd like to continue to > use the KPA/KAT combo for quick hits and the bigger amp if/when needed. So > I'd like to make it convenient to switch between them. > > The people I've talked to so far actually move coax to make the switch. I'd > like to avoid that. > > I'd need to switch the K3s output from the KPA to the AL1500 and obviously > switch the outputs as well. > > Obviously I'd also need to set the non-KPA power out of the K3 to the per > band power needed by the AL1500. I seldom run 100w so that wouldn't be a big > deal. > > I'd love to hear from anyone who has done this without screwing/unscrewing > UHF connectors. > > Extra credit for idiot proofing. ;-) > > 73 > > jim ab3cv > > > ______________________________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > Message delivered to k2vco....@gmail.com ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
