I never wrench. I just wiggle the connector as I tighten it and it tightens down into the v grooves tightly. Almost have to use a pliers to unscrew it.
Chuck Hawley c-haw...@illinois.edu Amateur Radio, KE9UW aka Jack, BMW Motorcycles ________________________________ From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net <elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net> on behalf of Drew AF2Z <pu...@af2z.net> Sent: Saturday, February 16, 2019 5:07 PM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KPA-1500 failed! FWIW, I use NO-OX-ID contact grease on my PL259 connectors. This allows very tight snugging by hand, no need of wrenching. During lightning season I frequently connect/disconnect my rig and tuner cables. The fine film of lube on the connector threads makes a big difference. Without it? A real PITA, not to mention wear and tear on the the SO-239's. 73, Drew AF2Z On 02/16/19 14:08, Peter Dougherty wrote: > I agree with you re PL-259s. I follow best practices in this regard. > Quarter-turn with channel-locks after finger tight, Amphenol 83-1SP, > assembled correctly, with cables swept by a TDR. > > - pjd > > -----Original Message----- > From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net <elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net> On > Behalf Of Bob McGraw K4TAX > Sent: Saturday, February 16, 2019 12:39 PM > To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net; wrayplace <wraypl...@bellsouth.net> > Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KPA-1500 failed! > > Do not trust PL-259 connectors installed only "finger tight". Today many of > those PL-259 connectors "look good" but are really poor quality connectors. > ALWAYS snug the PL-259's with a pair of 4" channel lock pliers. You'd be > amazed how many strange issues will go away. > > Not saying this is or was the cause of failure, but I've seen it and > experienced it too many times. > > Also, for other reasons, I run the ALC from my KPA500 to my K3S. Again, > another issue of concern resolved. > > 73 > > Bob, K4TAX > > > On 2/16/2019 10:13 AM, Dave wrote: >> His radio blew one final while driving the KPA1500 in the fall. >> >> Now his amp blew one LDMOS. >> >> I’ve been to Peter’s house and used a TDR to check all of his antennas, >> cabling, and switching. Cable connectors replaced last year. >> >> I agree it is good idea to check everything again. Looking at the amp fault >> log today did not show signs of anything arcing >> >> Dave wo2x >> >> Sent from my waxed string and tin cans. >> >>> On Feb 16, 2019, at 11:01 AM, Mark Goldberg <marklgoldb...@gmail.com> wrote: >>> >>> It's been said there are no coincidences. Have you checked your coaxes / >>> connectors? I agree that protection built in should not allow radios to >>> blow finals, but this sounds like too much of a coincidence with two >>> different radios blowing to not be an external intermittent connection. Try >>> wiggling all the cables with low power. Unfortunately, sometimes a problem >>> will only show up as arcing at high power. Is there another HAM near you >>> with a powerful amp and antenna close to yours? >>> >>> Best of luck, >>> >>> Mark >>> W7MLG >>> >>> >>>> On Sat, Feb 16, 2019 at 8:50 AM <li...@w2irt.net> wrote: >>>> Exact same thing happened to my K3s in October, now my KPA-1500. Yeah, So >>>> done here. Once repaired and confirmed working it will be up for sale. >>>> Going >>>> back to a tube amp after this. >>>> >>>> - pjd >>>> >>>> -----Original Message----- >>>> From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net <elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net> >>>> On >>>> Behalf Of Paul Baldock >>>> Sent: Saturday, February 16, 2019 10:28 AM >>>> To: rocke...@gmail.com; elecraft@mailman.qth.net >>>> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KPA-1500 failed! >>>> >>>> It sounds like one of the output devices have failed. Half power out is >>>> usually the indicator. A number here have reported this happening. >>>> It would be nice to know why this problem is occurring and if Elecraft are >>>> working on a fix. >>>> >>>> - Paul >>>> >>>> At 07:10 AM 2/16/2019, rocke...@gmail.com wrote: >>>>> I talked to Peter on the phone. He has no bias current when amp is >>>>> transmitting with no power applied (key on SSB without talking. He is >>>>> reading 54 volts and has tried power cycling amp from power supply >>>>> switch and reseated all cables. Definitely BAD distortion on SSB (we >>>>> are close enough to hear each other). Looks like one RF device let >>>>> loose and it is dragging down the bias voltage. That is my guess. >>>>> >>>>> Dave wo2x >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> -----Original Message----- >>>>> From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net >>>>> <elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net> On Behalf Of Wes >>>>> Sent: Saturday, February 16, 2019 9:49 AM >>>>> To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net >>>>> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KPA-1500 failed! >>>>> >>>>> I think a two-tone test is the best evaluation tool.. The generator is >>>>> built into the K3 if you have another receiver that you can use to >>>>> listen to the amp output. I use an SDR-IQ which is a very nice tool >>>>> for this but any other SDR would do. >>>>> >>>>> Sorry for your pain. >>>>> >>>>> Wes N7WS >>>>> >>>>> On 2/16/2019 7:28 AM, li...@w2irt.net wrote: >>>>>> I was operating in the ARRL-CW contest this morning and on 20m, with >>>>>> a >>>>>> 1.2:1 SWR on the Yagi, all of a sudden I saw my power drop to about >>>>>> 450-500W with about 40W in. Worked a few stations but not as easily >>>>>> as when I turned everything on this morning. Switched over to phone >>>>> and made a few contacts. >>>>>> Audio is fine barefoot with 100W out of the K3s-which suffered blown >>>>>> finals itself during CQWW SSB last fall, but with the amp in I got >>>>>> reports that my audio was badly distorted. >>>>>> >>>>>> Before I send it in, is there anything I should look at or any >>>>>> diagnostics I can easily perform? For the cost of this, I'd have >>>>>> thought protection would have kicked in to prevent anything untoward >>>>>> from happening. I'm in complete disbelief, to be honest. >>>>>> >>>>>> --------------------------------------------- >>>>>> 73 and Good DX >>>>>> Peter, W2IRT >>>>>> >>>>> ______________________________________________________________ >>>>> 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 >>>>> rocke...@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 >>>>> p...@paulbaldock.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 li...@w2irt.net >>>> >>>> ______________________________________________________________ >>>> 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 marklgoldb...@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 rmcg...@blomand.net > > ______________________________________________________________ > 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 li...@w2irt.net > > ______________________________________________________________ > 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 pu...@af2z.net > ______________________________________________________________ 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 c-haw...@illinois.edu ______________________________________________________________ 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
