Re: [Elecraft] KPA/100 displays wrong PS current (much lower)

2016-04-24 Thread Ioannis Kassotakis 
Don,
I think that the voltage drops to 13 V or lower at key down.
I will follow your advice.
Thanks again.

73,

Ioannis PA1EQP

On Monday, 25 April 2016, Don Wilhelm  wrote:

> Ioannis,
>
> Back the CAL CUR down to 3.50.
> It may be that you will have Hi Cur messages if you turn the POWER knob to
> full clockwise, but if you set the power control at 100 watts, that message
> should not appear.
>
> If it does, check the connections from the power supply to the K2/KPA100.
> If the voltage at the K2 (observe with the K2 voltage display) drops
> significantly during keydown, that could explain the Hi Cur warnings.
> Tighten the power supply terminals and check to be certain the APP
> connector is properly assembled with the connector blades fully inserted.
> If you look at the end of the APP connector and can see the spring blades
> that normally lock the contact blade, the contact blade has not been fully
> inserted and will not make full contact (and cause a significant voltage
> drop).
> If you can increase your power supply voltage to 14.3 volts or above, you
> should increase the voltage.  The K2 will operate with voltages up to 15
> volts.  For linearity and best transmit IMD, the higher the voltage, the
> better.
>
> 73,
> Don W3FPR
>
> On 4/24/2016 4:07 PM, Ioannis Kassotakis wrote:
>
>> Thanks Don,
>> I understand that the PS current reading is only for the Base K2.
>> I will rely on the bench PS display to read the 13.8 DC current.
>> I have already set the CAL CUR to 3.8 Amps so that I do not get HI CUR
>> alert at 10 Watts.
>>
>> 73,
>> Ioannis PA1EQP
>>
>>
>> On Sunday, 24 April 2016, Don Wilhelm  donw...@embarqmail.com>> wrote:
>>
>> The current display on the K2 is only for the current used by the
>> base K2.  I use it when testing the K2 for 'good health' and
>> normal RF Gain, but during operating I see no need to monitor it
>> on a regular basis.
>> The Base K2 will indicate Hi Cur if the current draw goes above
>> the value set by the CAL CUR parameter, and will reduce power if
>> that occurs.  Should you continue to get Hi Cur messages, that is
>> an indication of something that should be investigated.
>>
>> 73,
>> Don W3FPR
>>
>> On 4/24/2016 3:14 PM, Ioannis Kassotakis wrote:
>>
>> Thanks Don,
>> That means that at HI PWR (>11 Watts) should disregard the
>> displayed PS current figures.
>> I thought that KPA100 processor would communicate the I Sense
>> back to the MCU and display the correct current figure after
>> rescaling. I understand that is not the case.
>>
>> 73,
>>
>> Ioannis PA1EQP
>>
>> On Sunday, 24 April 2016, Don Wilhelm > > wrote:
>>
>> Ioannis,
>>
>> The current display on the K2 indicates only the current
>> for the
>> base K2, not for the K2 and KPA100 combination.
>> That is why you set the CAL CUR to 3.50 amps even though the
>> KPA100 will draw much more current.
>>
>> Yes, the KPA100 does have a scaling on the amount of RF
>> voltage
>> that is being detected.  That is used for power control
>> and has
>> nothing to do with the current displayed.  The result of that
>> voltage is sent to the VRFDET signal in the K2 (Voltage of
>> the RF
>> Detected).
>>
>> 73,
>> Don W3FPR
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Ioannis Kassotakis
>>
>
>

-- 
Ioannis Kassotakis
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Re: [Elecraft] KPA/100 displays wrong PS current (much lower)

2016-04-24 Thread Don Wilhelm 

Ioannis,

Back the CAL CUR down to 3.50.
It may be that you will have Hi Cur messages if you turn the POWER knob 
to full clockwise, but if you set the power control at 100 watts, that 
message should not appear.


If it does, check the connections from the power supply to the 
K2/KPA100.  If the voltage at the K2 (observe with the K2 voltage 
display) drops significantly during keydown, that could explain the Hi 
Cur warnings. Tighten the power supply terminals and check to be certain 
the APP connector is properly assembled with the connector blades fully 
inserted.  If you look at the end of the APP connector and can see the 
spring blades that normally lock the contact blade, the contact blade 
has not been fully inserted and will not make full contact (and cause a 
significant voltage drop).
If you can increase your power supply voltage to 14.3 volts or above, 
you should increase the voltage.  The K2 will operate with voltages up 
to 15 volts.  For linearity and best transmit IMD, the higher the 
voltage, the better.


73,
Don W3FPR

On 4/24/2016 4:07 PM, Ioannis Kassotakis wrote:

Thanks Don,
I understand that the PS current reading is only for the Base K2.
I will rely on the bench PS display to read the 13.8 DC current.
I have already set the CAL CUR to 3.8 Amps so that I do not get HI CUR 
alert at 10 Watts.


73,
Ioannis PA1EQP


On Sunday, 24 April 2016, Don Wilhelm > wrote:


The current display on the K2 is only for the current used by the
base K2.  I use it when testing the K2 for 'good health' and
normal RF Gain, but during operating I see no need to monitor it
on a regular basis.
The Base K2 will indicate Hi Cur if the current draw goes above
the value set by the CAL CUR parameter, and will reduce power if
that occurs.  Should you continue to get Hi Cur messages, that is
an indication of something that should be investigated.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 4/24/2016 3:14 PM, Ioannis Kassotakis wrote:

Thanks Don,
That means that at HI PWR (>11 Watts) should disregard the
displayed PS current figures.
I thought that KPA100 processor would communicate the I Sense
back to the MCU and display the correct current figure after
rescaling. I understand that is not the case.

73,

Ioannis PA1EQP

On Sunday, 24 April 2016, Don Wilhelm > wrote:

Ioannis,

The current display on the K2 indicates only the current
for the
base K2, not for the K2 and KPA100 combination.
That is why you set the CAL CUR to 3.50 amps even though the
KPA100 will draw much more current.

Yes, the KPA100 does have a scaling on the amount of RF
voltage
that is being detected.  That is used for power control
and has
nothing to do with the current displayed.  The result of that
voltage is sent to the VRFDET signal in the K2 (Voltage of
the RF
Detected).

73,
Don W3FPR




--
Ioannis Kassotakis


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Re: [Elecraft] KPA/100 displays wrong PS current (much lower)

2016-04-24 Thread Ioannis Kassotakis 
Thanks Don,
I understand that the PS current reading is only for the Base K2.
I will rely on the bench PS display to read the 13.8 DC current.
I have already set the CAL CUR to 3.8 Amps so that I do not get HI CUR
alert at 10 Watts.

73,
Ioannis PA1EQP


On Sunday, 24 April 2016, Don Wilhelm  wrote:

> The current display on the K2 is only for the current used by the base
> K2.  I use it when testing the K2 for 'good health' and normal RF Gain, but
> during operating I see no need to monitor it on a regular basis.
> The Base K2 will indicate Hi Cur if the current draw goes above the value
> set by the CAL CUR parameter, and will reduce power if that occurs.  Should
> you continue to get Hi Cur messages, that is an indication of something
> that should be investigated.
>
> 73,
> Don W3FPR
>
> On 4/24/2016 3:14 PM, Ioannis Kassotakis wrote:
>
>> Thanks Don,
>> That means that at HI PWR (>11 Watts) should disregard the displayed PS
>> current figures.
>> I thought that KPA100 processor would communicate the I Sense back to the
>> MCU and display the correct current figure after rescaling. I understand
>> that is not the case.
>>
>> 73,
>>
>> Ioannis PA1EQP
>>
>> On Sunday, 24 April 2016, Don Wilhelm  donw...@embarqmail.com>> wrote:
>>
>> Ioannis,
>>
>> The current display on the K2 indicates only the current for the
>> base K2, not for the K2 and KPA100 combination.
>> That is why you set the CAL CUR to 3.50 amps even though the
>> KPA100 will draw much more current.
>>
>> Yes, the KPA100 does have a scaling on the amount of RF voltage
>> that is being detected.  That is used for power control and has
>> nothing to do with the current displayed.  The result of that
>> voltage is sent to the VRFDET signal in the K2 (Voltage of the RF
>> Detected).
>>
>> 73,
>> Don W3FPR
>>
>>
>

-- 
Ioannis Kassotakis
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Re: [Elecraft] KPA/100 displays wrong PS current (much lower)

2016-04-24 Thread Don Wilhelm 
The current display on the K2 is only for the current used by the base 
K2.  I use it when testing the K2 for 'good health' and normal RF Gain, 
but during operating I see no need to monitor it on a regular basis.
The Base K2 will indicate Hi Cur if the current draw goes above the 
value set by the CAL CUR parameter, and will reduce power if that 
occurs.  Should you continue to get Hi Cur messages, that is an 
indication of something that should be investigated.


73,
Don W3FPR

On 4/24/2016 3:14 PM, Ioannis Kassotakis wrote:

Thanks Don,
That means that at HI PWR (>11 Watts) should disregard the displayed 
PS current figures.
I thought that KPA100 processor would communicate the I Sense back to 
the MCU and display the correct current figure after rescaling. I 
understand that is not the case.


73,

Ioannis PA1EQP

On Sunday, 24 April 2016, Don Wilhelm > wrote:


Ioannis,

The current display on the K2 indicates only the current for the
base K2, not for the K2 and KPA100 combination.
That is why you set the CAL CUR to 3.50 amps even though the
KPA100 will draw much more current.

Yes, the KPA100 does have a scaling on the amount of RF voltage
that is being detected.  That is used for power control and has
nothing to do with the current displayed.  The result of that
voltage is sent to the VRFDET signal in the K2 (Voltage of the RF
Detected).

73,
Don W3FPR



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Re: [Elecraft] KPA/100 displays wrong PS current (much lower)

2016-04-24 Thread Ioannis Kassotakis 
Thanks Don,
That means that at HI PWR (>11 Watts) should disregard the displayed PS
current figures.
I thought that KPA100 processor would communicate the I Sense back to the
MCU and display the correct current figure after rescaling. I understand
that is not the case.

73,

Ioannis PA1EQP

On Sunday, 24 April 2016, Don Wilhelm  wrote:

> Ioannis,
>
> The current display on the K2 indicates only the current for the base K2,
> not for the K2 and KPA100 combination.
> That is why you set the CAL CUR to 3.50 amps even though the KPA100 will
> draw much more current.
>
> Yes, the KPA100 does have a scaling on the amount of RF voltage that is
> being detected.  That is used for power control and has nothing to do with
> the current displayed.  The result of that voltage is sent to the VRFDET
> signal in the K2 (Voltage of the RF Detected).
>
> 73,
> Don W3FPR
>
> On 4/24/2016 12:05 PM, Ioannis Kassotakis wrote:
>
>> Just finished building the KPA-100 for my S/N 2102 K2 (MCU v. 2.03D, KPA
>> 1.06)
>> The K2/100 does not display the correct 13.8 V power supply current (by
>> taping Display) when it switches to HI POWER (>10 Watts).
>> I used a DMM in series to accurately measure the PS supplied current while
>> checking the K2 display at several power settings . Later, I also measured
>> the KPA TP1 voltage which is the I sense input to the KPA-100 processor.
>> For several power settings I got:
>> PWR (Watts) - PS Current (DMM) Amps - K2 Current Display Amps - KPA/100
>> TP1
>> (mV)
>> RX-0.4 - 0.44 - 0 
>> 1.0- 1.72- 1.76 -0
>> 5.0 - 3.3-3.3 - 0
>> 10- 3.8 - 3.8 - 0
>> 15- 4.5 - 1.01 - Not measured
>> 20- 5.4 - 1.02 - 100
>> 40 - 7.0 - 1.20 - 250
>> 60 - 8.5 - 1.28 -380
>> 80 - 9.5 - 1.41 - 500
>> 100 - 10.3 - 1.48 - 580
>> 111 - 10.8 - 1.54 - N/A
>> The measurements were done at 40 m (7.100) at CW to a dummy load through
>> KAT-100.
>>
>> It seems to work fine a LO PWR (<11 Watts) but appears to have a scaling
>> issue, when the PA switches On to HI PWR mode.
>> According to the schem (p.61) I Sense is supposed to vary 0-5 V for 0-32
>> A,
>> so the TP1 figures seem to be rather low.
>> Is this a known issue? Is it possible that I have a failed U7 or Q5 ?
>>
>>
>>
>

-- 
Ioannis Kassotakis
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Re: [Elecraft] KPA/100 displays wrong PS current (much lower)

2016-04-24 Thread Don Wilhelm 

Ioannis,

The current display on the K2 indicates only the current for the base 
K2, not for the K2 and KPA100 combination.
That is why you set the CAL CUR to 3.50 amps even though the KPA100 will 
draw much more current.


Yes, the KPA100 does have a scaling on the amount of RF voltage that is 
being detected.  That is used for power control and has nothing to do 
with the current displayed.  The result of that voltage is sent to the 
VRFDET signal in the K2 (Voltage of the RF Detected).


73,
Don W3FPR

On 4/24/2016 12:05 PM, Ioannis Kassotakis wrote:

Just finished building the KPA-100 for my S/N 2102 K2 (MCU v. 2.03D, KPA
1.06)
The K2/100 does not display the correct 13.8 V power supply current (by
taping Display) when it switches to HI POWER (>10 Watts).
I used a DMM in series to accurately measure the PS supplied current while
checking the K2 display at several power settings . Later, I also measured
the KPA TP1 voltage which is the I sense input to the KPA-100 processor.
For several power settings I got:
PWR (Watts) - PS Current (DMM) Amps - K2 Current Display Amps - KPA/100 TP1
(mV)
RX-0.4 - 0.44 - 0 
1.0- 1.72- 1.76 -0
5.0 - 3.3-3.3 - 0
10- 3.8 - 3.8 - 0
15- 4.5 - 1.01 - Not measured
20- 5.4 - 1.02 - 100
40 - 7.0 - 1.20 - 250
60 - 8.5 - 1.28 -380
80 - 9.5 - 1.41 - 500
100 - 10.3 - 1.48 - 580
111 - 10.8 - 1.54 - N/A
The measurements were done at 40 m (7.100) at CW to a dummy load through
KAT-100.

It seems to work fine a LO PWR (<11 Watts) but appears to have a scaling
issue, when the PA switches On to HI PWR mode.
According to the schem (p.61) I Sense is supposed to vary 0-5 V for 0-32 A,
so the TP1 figures seem to be rather low.
Is this a known issue? Is it possible that I have a failed U7 or Q5 ?




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[Elecraft] KPA/100 displays wrong PS current (much lower)

2016-04-24 Thread Ioannis Kassotakis 
Just finished building the KPA-100 for my S/N 2102 K2 (MCU v. 2.03D, KPA
1.06)
The K2/100 does not display the correct 13.8 V power supply current (by
taping Display) when it switches to HI POWER (>10 Watts).
I used a DMM in series to accurately measure the PS supplied current while
checking the K2 display at several power settings . Later, I also measured
the KPA TP1 voltage which is the I sense input to the KPA-100 processor.
For several power settings I got:
PWR (Watts) - PS Current (DMM) Amps - K2 Current Display Amps - KPA/100 TP1
(mV)
RX-0.4 - 0.44 - 0 
1.0- 1.72- 1.76 -0
5.0 - 3.3-3.3 - 0
10- 3.8 - 3.8 - 0
15- 4.5 - 1.01 - Not measured
20- 5.4 - 1.02 - 100
40 - 7.0 - 1.20 - 250
60 - 8.5 - 1.28 -380
80 - 9.5 - 1.41 - 500
100 - 10.3 - 1.48 - 580
111 - 10.8 - 1.54 - N/A
The measurements were done at 40 m (7.100) at CW to a dummy load through
KAT-100.

It seems to work fine a LO PWR (<11 Watts) but appears to have a scaling
issue, when the PA switches On to HI PWR mode.
According to the schem (p.61) I Sense is supposed to vary 0-5 V for 0-32 A,
so the TP1 figures seem to be rather low.
Is this a known issue? Is it possible that I have a failed U7 or Q5 ?

Thanks!

Ioannis


-- 
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