Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 Power Level
On 9/14/2021 7:13 PM, Peter Hall wrote: it'd pay to review the SPE and other offerings both in technical and support terms. In my limited contact with SPE amps, I'd say the Elecraft amps are substantially cleaner. One of our neighbors was getting reports of a dirty signal on 6M, so one of the guys went to his QTH to help him diagnose and clean it up, while I watched on a P3/SVGA. Part of the problem was that he was running at low voltage; sidebands dropped by about 6 dB when he switched to high power (he was only running 400-500W), but sidebands were still very nasty, looked like noise rather than the small but pronounced peaks spaced in 300 Hz increments from N5KO's FT8 signal. I had one for a few weeks, but dumped it because it wasn't very clean. 73, Jim K9YC __ 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
[Elecraft] SSB Net for Sunday September, 12.2021
Here is the list of stations checking in to the Sunday Elecraft SSB Net on 20 M. Thank you to all the relay stations who help check in additional stations that net control cannot hear. SSB Nets for Elecraft: 1800Z: 14.303.5 alternate 14.310 1900Z 7.280 2000Z Zoom meeting contact Carl K8NU for the link0100Z 3.775 All nets take place on Sundays and everyone is welcome.Eric WB9JNZ Call Name State Radio Serial # QRP Notes WB9JNZ Eric IL Yaesu FTdx 101 Net Control N6JW John CA K3 936 RelayStation NS7P Phil OR K3 1826 RelayStation W7SNR Bob AZ K3 343 KO5V Jim NM K2/100 7225 NC0JW Jim CO KX3 1356 WM6P Steve GA K3S 11453 RelayStation KB9AVO Paul IN K4 76 K8NU Carl OH YaesuFT 101DX K7BRR Bill AZ YaesuFT DX 101 W4DML Doug TN K3 6433 K5PD Pete TX K3 545 KE7HGE Ken WA KX3/QRP 4540 NK9A Stan MI Yaesu 757 AB0R Dave MN K3 6343 N4NRW Roger SC K3 1318 RelayStation N8SBE/P Dave MI Icom 7000 N0MPM Mike IA K3S 10514 K6WDE David CA KX3 4599 WW4JF John TN K3S 11177 W3SA John NC Kenwood TS 890 N5XJT Joe TX Kenwood TS 530 K4TM Cary VA Icom 7300 KPA 1500 N9SRA Steve IL Icom 7600 K6VWE Stan MI K4 193 N7BDL Terry AZ K3S 10373 __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 Power Level
Hello Barry, I'm not a CW op but use my KPA1500 a lot at the sort of output levels you're interested in (for obvious reasons). My operations are largely SSB, with the occasional JT mode digital on 160 m and 6 m. I have not found the KPA1500 power output stability to be an issue, despite the fact that the efficiency is degraded. The heatsink temperatures are certainly no worse than at higher power operation and the only real penalty is a small hip-pocket one when the power bill arrives. On the IMD front my own quick measurements show that the overall picture is also no worse than at high power but it's not much better either, although the higher order products are a bit lower. The KPA1500 manual is a poor effort for a premium product and, in areas like IMD specifications and any associated discussion, it's almost an exercise in studied disingenuity. An abiding irritation is the lack of a decent block diagram showing e.g. the connection points for signal and control lines. In the end, the amplifier is a good one although given our antipodean locations, it'd pay to review the SPE and other offerings both in technical and support terms. Personally, I like the Elecraft form factor and the relatively large amount of air in the two-box implementation. My relatively early serial number RF deck has been back to the US once for service and upgrade and, while I was particularly grateful to a few Elecraft people for help at an obviously difficult time (CV19), the overall experience was very average. 73, Peter (VK6HP). -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net On Behalf Of Barry Simpson Sent: Wednesday, 15 September 2021 6:15 AM To: Elecraft Mailing List Subject: [Elecraft] KPA1500 Power Level I have had a quick look through the KPA1500 manual and could not find any reference to running the amplifier at a lower power level than the rated 1,500w. Can anyone comment on the implications (eg temperature, efficiency and IMD) of running a KPA1500 at say 500w by simply reducing the drive power. Would the power level be stable if set to 500w or would it drift upwards or downwards during the course of an over on CW ? Thanks Barry Simpson VK2BJ __ 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.h...@curtin.edu.au __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 Power Level
There is some information on KPA1500 efficiency in the archives: http://mailman.qth.net/pipermail/elecraft/2018-August/259502.html John KK9A Barry Simpson vk2bj wrote: I have had a quick look through the KPA1500 manual and could not find any reference to running the amplifier at a lower power level than the rated 1,500w. Can anyone comment on the implications (eg temperature, efficiency and IMD) of running a KPA1500 at say 500w by simply reducing the drive power. Would the power level be stable if set to 500w or would it drift upwards or downwards during the course of an over on CW ? Thanks Barry Simpson VK2BJ __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Problem with my KXPD2
The KXPD2 comes with two small hex-keys. The larger is fits the screws that adjust the spacing. The smaller one is for the pivot screws to adjust the setting of the pivot bearings. It sounds like your pivots are possibly too tight or have dust in them. I would try loosening the pivot screws slightly to see if that frees them up. The pivots should be set so the paddles move freely but with no up/down looseness. Then set the spacing to taste. GL! 72, Brian, K0DTJ > On Sep 14, 2021, at 15:34, Chris wrote: > > Hello, > > My KXPD2 paddle has some issues. It moves very sluggishly and causes > errors. The manual doesn't have any service instructions. Is anyone else > having the same problem? Any suggestions? > > Thanks, > > Chris KM1B > __ > 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 huntin...@coastside.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 arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 Power Level
Bob discusses efficiency of reduced power at the 19 minute mark of this presentation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07YxLGR5UPU 73 de Dick, K6KR -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net On Behalf Of Barry Simpson Sent: Tuesday, September 14, 2021 15:15 To: Elecraft Mailing List Subject: [Elecraft] KPA1500 Power Level I have had a quick look through the KPA1500 manual and could not find any reference to running the amplifier at a lower power level than the rated 1,500w. Can anyone comment on the implications (eg temperature, efficiency and IMD) of running a KPA1500 at say 500w by simply reducing the drive power. Would the power level be stable if set to 500w or would it drift upwards or downwards during the course of an over on CW ? Thanks Barry Simpson VK2BJ __ 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 d...@elecraft.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
[Elecraft] Problem with my KXPD2
Hello, My KXPD2 paddle has some issues. It moves very sluggishly and causes errors. The manual doesn't have any service instructions. Is anyone else having the same problem? Any suggestions? Thanks, Chris KM1B __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 Power Level
I use mine on 30M @ 200W. Efficiency isn’t too as good, but that is a characteristic of a SS amp. 73, Bill WE5P Comfortably Numb > On Sep 14, 2021, at 18:16, Barry Simpson wrote: > > I have had a quick look through the KPA1500 manual and could not find any > reference to running the amplifier at a lower power level than the rated > 1,500w. > > Can anyone comment on the implications (eg temperature, efficiency and IMD) > of running a KPA1500 at say 500w by simply reducing the drive power. > > Would the power level be stable if set to 500w or would it drift upwards or > downwards during the course of an over on CW ? > > Thanks > > Barry Simpson VK2BJ > __ > 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 weave...@usermail.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
[Elecraft] KPA1500 Power Level
I have had a quick look through the KPA1500 manual and could not find any reference to running the amplifier at a lower power level than the rated 1,500w. Can anyone comment on the implications (eg temperature, efficiency and IMD) of running a KPA1500 at say 500w by simply reducing the drive power. Would the power level be stable if set to 500w or would it drift upwards or downwards during the course of an over on CW ? Thanks Barry Simpson VK2BJ __ 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
