Be sure you insist the damage is "lightning damage" and not, as the
insurance company will prefer, a "power surge". With lightning damage
and documentation, such as a service report stating lightning damage
from Elecraft, they should pay replacement value less your
deductible. With power surge they will only pay depreciated value
less your deductible.
73
Bob, K4TAX
On 9/1/2019 2:22 PM, Bill Johnson wrote:
Your homeowner's insurance should cover you. Look for a thunderstorm history
at the approximate time of your failure.
73,
Bill
K9YEQ
https://wrj-tech.com/
-----Original Message-----
From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net <elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net> On
Behalf Of Don Wilhelm
Sent: Sunday, September 1, 2019 2:04 PM
To: l...@lnainc.com; elecraft@mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KPA500 no output
Lyn,
I think one possible answer is that it got hot enough to release from the
soldering on the board during whatever event happened.
Sounds like it may have been hit with a lightning surge.
73,
Don W3FPR
On 9/1/2019 2:29 PM, Lyn Norstad wrote:
UPDATE:
I received my 6 week old KPA500 back from Elecraft on Friday. The good news is
that it seems to be working as it should (rather than as it was …). The bad
news is that in its 6 weeks of life, it spent 4 of those weeks back in the
Elecraft hospital undergoing major (?) surgery.
When it faulted and blew out the front end on my IC7300, it also took out its
own TR circuit as well as its PA module. Seven components were found to be
defective, and one was actually missing.
I’d be curious as to how “missing” happens … on a totally factory built unit.
73
Lyn, WØLEN
-----Original Message-----
From: Bob McGraw K4TAX [mailto:rmcg...@blomand.net]
Sent: Monday, August 05, 2019 7:14 PM
To: l...@lnainc.com
Subject: Re: [SPAM] Re: [Elecraft] KPA500 no output
Lyn:
I use a balanced feed system for one of my antennas. For that I have a
pair of small engine spark plugs on an aluminum plate for an arc gap
located just before the balanced line enters the house. That balanced
line runs all the way to the balun on the shelf just above the KAT500
tuner. The coax lines and rotor line all have PolyPhaser devices at the
same entrance location. No mechanical / manual disconnect method is
used at my QTH.
A bit more information, I have my lightning ground system outside of
the house, and the tower is grounded to the same system and that
system is bonded back to the AC mains ground. Again all is outside of the
house. I do not have or use a station ground which connects to the
equipment on the desk. The 3rd pin safety ground is all that is
required. I have a dedicated service from the breaker panel for the
station. I do have each piece of equipment bonded to the station power
supply ground terminal with each piece of equipment having a dedicated
jumper. My bonding jumpers are made from #10 AWG automotive primary
wire with a suitable ring terminal which is crimped and soldered on
each end.
73
Bob, K4TAX
On 8/5/2019 6:22 PM, Lyn Norstad wrote:
I don't believe so, Bob. While we have had a number of storms this year, there
have been none since I received the KPA500.
FWIW, I have a large knife switch in a box outside that I use to disconnect my
balanced feed line if there are storms headed our way. I tend to be paranoid
about lightning, as we had a direct strike on our house some 7 years ago ...
and I didn't even have any antennas at that time. We sustained extensive
damage. So I don't take any chances!
Thanks,
Lyn
-----Original Message-----
From: Bob McGraw K4TAX [mailto:rmcg...@blomand.net]
Sent: Monday, August 05, 2019 5:18 PM
To: l...@lnainc.com
Subject: [SPAM] Re: [Elecraft] KPA500 no output
Lyn:
Could this be the result of a nearby lightning strike? Seems likely
from your descriptions.
73
Bob, K4TAX
On 8/5/2019 4:55 PM, Lyn Norstad wrote:
Don -
I have nearly the same exact problem with a KPA500 that is only 2 weeks old.
It lets the signal pass thru on Standby, even showing proper signal levels.
But in Operate mode, it's unresponsive and the SWR skyrockets to 99:1.
I ran tests suggested by Support, but no joy. I will be shipping it back to
Elecraft tomorrow.
Coincidentally, the "front end" of my 2 y/o IC7300 died at the same time,
yielding zero receive (everything else is fine).
Lyn, WØLEN
-----Original Message-----
From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net
[mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of donw4cbs
Sent: Monday, August 05, 2019 4:35 PM
To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net
Subject: [Elecraft] KPA500 no output
This is an update for the group re. my KPA500.Several weeks ago I reported that
all of a sudden my KPA500 dropped to 0 watts out when fed with my K3. SWR was
1:1. When the amp was placed in bypass my K3 showed normal output. When placed
in operate SWR showed 99:1 and K3 dropped to 0 watts out.After speaking with
tech support I obtained a RSA and sent in back for repair.Elecraft reported
problems with the TR circuit and performed the following:Updated the TR circuit
and rebiased PA module to 0.8 AThey replaced C9 for QSK upgrade in the I/O
ModuleReplaced C20, R35 and R31 for QSK upgrade in the Front Panel
ModuleReplaced Q5, D7, R3, R9, and R24 for transmit/receive MOD in the Low Pass
Filter and replaced C43 and C44 in the 12 meter low pass filter.After 8 hours
of burn in and thorough testing, Elecraft returned the KPA500 back to me and
only charged for one hour of labor and return shipping. Wow!!!Am I a happy
camper/customer... you bet. When Ten Tec disappeared for awhile I reluctantly
switched to Elecraft, but have never looked back. What a wonderful company with
outstanding customer support. I look forward to adding a K4 within the next
year...Don, W4CBSSent from my Sprint Samsung Galaxy Note9.
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