OK,
I found the error message...
"ER53, High LPA temperature; check LPA heat sink screws: Temperature at
10 watt stage exceeded its limit. This could be caused by the screws on
the bottom cover becoming too lose, by high ambient temperature, or by
excessive key-down time."
It would be NICE if the messages could be viewed after the fact. Like
KPA500 utility. I originally thought it was a KPA500 issue. I was
running 10 watts from the LPA at the time, key down PSK31 in a QSO. IF,
I had run a little more power so that the HPA (High Power Amp) was
coasting then the LPA could coast, too.... (aka, better to run 400
Watts with the KPA500 than 100 Watts... or 50+ watts barefoot)
NOW, I understand what was going on. Thanks Jack, W6FB
73, Steve WB3LGC
On 24-Apr-22 02:03 PM, Steve WB3LGC wrote:
Yesterday I got a fault message on the K4 screen. It disappeared
before I could see it fully, but I did get "tighten heatsink screws".
The fan was working as its speed was speeding up and the KPA500 temp
saw about 60+C (it may have been higher). I was running 100 watts
PSK31. The KPA500 did switch to STBY (I think).
I can not find any record of what the message was. I can not find
"heatsink screws" referenced in the K4, KPA500 or KPA1500 manuals.
Both the K4 and KPA500 are factory built.
PSK31 has a longer duty cycle than FT8 and I was running FT8 at higher
power with out the amp temp going above 60C, earlier. I switched to
barefoot and ran 80W PSK31 without issue.
Question 1)Before I take the KPA500 apart, is this a problem or just
duty cycle? I would think the KPA500 would be able to handle 100W key
down.
Question 2) I saved the K4 backup and diagnostic logs to USB disk (the
next day). I could NOT find anything that looked like the error
messages. I find many messages disappear before I get a chance to
read them.
Wish 1) KPA500 add FAN CTL for both OPER and STBY or set STBY to run
at NOR and OPER to be adjustable.
Wish 2) K4, allow {EASY} checking date/time for all past error
messages. I may have had a KPA500 over temp message while long winded
on SSB (but only 200W)?
Wish 3) K4, HOLD error messages until "confirmed". Messages like
KPA500 on/off (info) only need to be short time (??), but if away
(maybe confirm). Either way "this" will be an issue for the
contesters, so have a way to save for later recall, as in write to USB
if one is installed. Fn could write to USB disk with time stamp? OR,
are there documents on how to read the diagnostic logs?
73, steve WB3LGC
I will also send to support if no one has a good idea about the fault.
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