Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 firmware 3.03 beta on Elecraft web site

[Jorge Diez - CX6VM]

hi

couldn´t find last release notes

just this
https://elecraft.com/pages/kpa1500-1500-watt-linear-amplifier-firmware-and-utility

73,
Jorge

El mié, 19 jun 2024 a las 18:55, Dick Dievendorff ()
escribió:

> Navigate thru support, firmware & software, amp firmware, KPA1500
>
> Release notes are on that page, near the bottom.
>
> 73 de Dick, K6KR
>
> > On Jun 19, 2024, at 09:40, Dean Wood  wrote:
> >
> > Hi Elecraft list,
> >
> > It's fun to see where Elecraft gear is used.
> >
> > The California QSO Party (CQP) just went live with 15 videos from CQP
> 2023.
> >
> > Elecraft gear is shown in many of these videos!
> >
> > Check them out at:
> > https://cqp.org/av.html
> >
> > Elecraft K4, K3, P3, KX3, PX3, KXPA100, KPA1500, KPA500, KAT500 seen in
> CQP
> > 2023 Expedition and Mobile video at:
> >
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJsuPUzIWZ4=PLsXDoeEgG7J24xjIDAbboJ9NGv7dy0R3a=1
> >
> > Elecraft K4:
> > W6P and W6ML CQP 2023 videos
> >
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jL4D348obZw=PLsXDoeEgG7J24xjIDAbboJ9NGv7dy0R3a=5
> >
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uI0c1fAmbqU=PLsXDoeEgG7J24xjIDAbboJ9NGv7dy0R3a=12
> >
> > Elecraft K3, KPA500, KAT500 and K-POD:
> > K6T, W6E, W6COW and N6DE CQP 2023 videos
> >
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWq1whvPYEw=PLsXDoeEgG7J24xjIDAbboJ9NGv7dy0R3a=2
> >
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GW5qkro0Y5U=PLsXDoeEgG7J24xjIDAbboJ9NGv7dy0R3a=4=iAQB
> >
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCMbBFDaFfI=PLsXDoeEgG7J24xjIDAbboJ9NGv7dy0R3a=8
> >
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-k8h2oueaI=PLsXDoeEgG7J24xjIDAbboJ9NGv7dy0R3a=14
> >
> >
> > 73...
> > -Dean - N6DE
> > CQP Chairman
> > __
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-- 
73,
Jorge
CX6VM/CW5W
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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 schematic file

[dyno lab]

All the more reason the schematic should be public!


> On 05/02/2024 4:55 PM PDT Dr. William J. Schmidt  wrote:
> 
>  
> That thing just isn't that complicated... I've reverse engineered a lot of it 
> having to fix mine a few times...
> 
> 
> Dr. William J. Schmidt - K9HZ J68HZ 8P6HK ZF2HZ PJ4/K9HZ VP5/K9HZ PJ2/K9HZ 
> VP2EHZ
> 
> email:  b...@wjschmidt.com
> 
> 
> -Original Message-
> From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net  On 
> Behalf Of Pete Smith N4ZR
> Sent: Thursday, May 2, 2024 6:50 PM
> To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 schematic file
> 
> Nope, - ridiculous, isn't it?
> 
> 73, Pete N4ZR
> 
> On 5/2/2024 7:36 PM, Jorge Diez - CX6VM wrote:
> > Hello
> >
> > there´s no KPA1500 schematic file available?
> >
> __
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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 schematic file

[Dr. William J. Schmidt]

That thing just isn't that complicated... I've reverse engineered a lot of it 
having to fix mine a few times...


Dr. William J. Schmidt - K9HZ J68HZ 8P6HK ZF2HZ PJ4/K9HZ VP5/K9HZ PJ2/K9HZ 
VP2EHZ

email:  b...@wjschmidt.com


-Original Message-
From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net  On 
Behalf Of Pete Smith N4ZR
Sent: Thursday, May 2, 2024 6:50 PM
To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 schematic file

Nope, - ridiculous, isn't it?

73, Pete N4ZR

On 5/2/2024 7:36 PM, Jorge Diez - CX6VM wrote:
> Hello
>
> there´s no KPA1500 schematic file available?
>
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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 schematic file

[Pete Smith N4ZR]

Nope, - ridiculous, isn't it?

73, Pete N4ZR

On 5/2/2024 7:36 PM, Jorge Diez - CX6VM wrote:

Hello

there´s no KPA1500 schematic file available?


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Re: [Elecraft] [KPA1500] Erratic KPA-1500 behavior

[Pete Smith N4ZR]

I don't think so, Everett, but thanks for the suggestion.

73, Pete N4ZR

On 3/27/2024 10:53 AM, Everett N4CY via groups.io wrote:

Maybe something wrong with your antenna, Coax, or connectors.


Sent from the all new AOL app for iOS 



On Wednesday, March 27, 2024, 9:19 AM, Pete Smith 
 wrote:


This morning, starting the CWT,  every few transmissions my amp
was faulting with the indication of excessive driving power (~67
watts vs 33 watts normally).  Each time, it would fault once, then
operate normally for a dozen or so transmissions before the next
fault.  Then, about 10 minutes into the hour, the faults stopped
happening.  The K-3 showed 33 watts throughout

I checked the KPA-1500 log, and all it shows is the "power input"
fault.  What could be causing this erroneous indication of
excessive drive?  A sticky relay?

-- 
73, Pete N4ZR


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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 HIGH DISS and GAIN LOW

[Jorge Diez - CX6VM]

hello

I am in the station right now. Connected a Dummy Load to ANT1 KPA1500 and
tested each band, driving with 25 watts

160 mts: on KPA1500 display: FAULT: PWR DISS 2973 watts - on K3 display:
FAULT 11
80 mts: on KPA1500 display: FAULT: PWR DISS 2776 watts - on K3 display:
FAULT 11
60 mts: on KPA1500 display: FAULT: PWR DISS 2919 watts - on K3 display:
FAULT 11
40 mts: on KPA1500 display: FAULT: LOW GAIN RATIO 2 - on K3 display: FAULT 6
30 mts: IS OK.  on KPA1500 display: 10 Mhz 53A 20C PWR 1482W 1.0:1
20 mts: IS OK, but a little lower power.  on KPA1500 display: 14 Mhz 47A
22C PWR 1268W 1.0:1
17 mts: on KPA1500 display: FAULT: PWR DISS 2647 watts - on K3 display:
FAULT 11
15 mts: on KPA1500 display: FAULT: LOW GAIN RATIO 0 - on K3 display: FAULT 6
12 mts: too much lower power, only 240 watts. on KPA1500 display: 24 Mhz
24A 22C PWR 240W 1.0:1
10 mts: too much lower power, only 558 watts. on KPA1500 display: 28 Mhz
50A 25C PWR 558W 1.0:1
6 mts: on KPA1500 display: FAULT: PWR DISS 2295 watts - on K3 display:
FAULT 11

So it seems my KPA1500 is very bad, hope I can fix it locally!

73,
Jorge
CX6VM/CW5W



Virus-free.www.avast.com

<#DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2>

El lun, 15 may 2023 a las 11:43, Jorge Diez - CX6VM ()
escribió:

> Hello Pete
>
> thanks for the reply
>
> last weekend I disconnected the K3/0 Mini at home (I use it remotely with
> my antennas farm in the contest site
>
> When I connected it again i notice that on 6 mts band the audio was very
> low, i need to full increase LINE on my Tascam audio box and also the AF on
> the K3/0 mini
>
> Now I notice that when I increase power on the K3/0 mini, does
> not increase on the station, KPA1500 show me 25 watts for example, but I
> increased the K3/0 mini power to 90 watts
>
> So I think I will need to go to the station to see if there´s something
> wrong there
>
> All my monobands antennas are 1:1, and a warc tribander is under 2:1 and
> KPA1500 tuner adjust the t3 warc bands with no problem to 1:1 or 1.3:1
>
> 73,
> Jorge
> CX6VM/CW5W
>
>
>
> El lun, 15 may 2023 a las 10:24, Pete Smith N4ZR ()
> escribió:
>
>> Jorge, do you have a dummy load?  If so, Can you try your amp on it
>> instead of an antenna.  Also, try turning your transceiver down so that it
>> is only putting out half of normal when driving the amp, and see if the
>> amp's tuner works better then.  Does your tuner EVER reach a low SWR on any
>> band, any antenna?
>>
>> 73, Pete N4ZR
>>
>> On 5/15/2023 7:05 AM, Jorge Diez - CX6VM wrote:
>>
>> hello
>>
>> this weekend I have two new messages on KPA1500
>>
>> HIGH DISS and GAIN LOW
>>
>> I was trying to TUNE again my antennas on different bands and appears HIGH
>> DISS
>>
>> Any idea what´s wrong?
>>
>>
>
> --
> 73,
> Jorge
> CX6VM/CW5W
>


-- 
73,
Jorge
CX6VM/CW5W
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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 Coming Up As KPA500 On K4D

[Dick Dievendorff]

Try setting the kpa1500 radio type menu item to K4.

73 de Deck, K6KR

> On May 18, 2023, at 17:47, Dave Fifield  wrote:
> 
> Hi Folks,
> 
> Please can someone enlighten me as to what I’ve done wrong….
> I have a KPA1500 connected to my K4D, but whenever I power the PA on or 
> switch from Standby to Operate or vice versa, the message on my K4D screen 
> says “KPA500…..”. I think the KPA1500 is being power-limited because of this 
> issue too.
> 
> I have a suspicion that I may have used a cable from my old KPA500 instead of 
> one for my KPA1500. Are the control cables between the PA and the K4D 
> different? Hopefully, that’s what the issue is.
> 
> Any ideas?
> 
> Cheers es 73,
> Dave Fifield
> AD6A
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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 remote setup help

[Raymer, Timothy via Elecraft]

Jorge:

I would recommend running a VPN of some type between the network your
control PC is on, and the network the KPA1500 is on.  Hopefully, the routers
you have in place for internet access are already capable of doing that.

Tim Raymer
73 de N0UI

-Original Message-
From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net
[mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Jorge Diez - CX6VM
Sent: Tuesday, April 04, 2023 20:21
To: Elecraft Reflector
Subject: [Elecraft] KPA1500 remote setup help

hello

I had the KPA1500 remote working fine on the SAME LAN

nNow I need to control KPA1500 over the internet, different LAN in
the remote site and in the control site

Can anyone help me to set up the IP or dyndns service or how to control the
KPA1500 over the internet?

thanks in advance!!

-- 
73,
Jorge
CX6VM/CW5W
 

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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 Tx sample

[Tim Tucker]

Ah...so this means us Elecraft users are waiting on this feature to be
implemented in the K4...got it, thanks!

Tim

On Sun, Feb 19, 2023, 3:56 AM David Decoons  wrote:

> The sample output on the amp is already enabled. You just need a radio
> that supports adaptive predistortion.
>
> Dave wo2x
>
> Sent from my iPad
>
> > On Feb 19, 2023, at 1:19 AM, Tim Tucker  wrote:
> >
> > Is there an ETA on when the TX Sample output on the KPA1500 will be
> enabled
> > for Pure Signal?
> >
> > Thx,
> > AE6LX
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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 Tx sample

[David Decoons]

The sample output on the amp is already enabled. You just need a radio that 
supports adaptive predistortion.

Dave wo2x

Sent from my iPad

> On Feb 19, 2023, at 1:19 AM, Tim Tucker  wrote:
> 
> Is there an ETA on when the TX Sample output on the KPA1500 will be enabled
> for Pure Signal?
> 
> Thx,
> AE6LX
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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 opinions

[john]

N4ZR posted a similar question on August 12, 2022 and few people publicly
responded. I am sure some people will privately email you with their
experiences. It seems like some people have great luck with the KPA1500 and
others keep blowing LDMOS finals. It would be nice to pinpoint the cause for
blown finals, power level, mode, antenna etc. Reducing power reduces the
efficiency so much that doing so does not help reduce the final's heating. I
also follow the SPE Expert list and blown finals is a common topic there.
LDMOS finals are nowhere near as forgiving as ceramic tubes! I have not
heard of any issues with the KPA500 finals, even from people that have had
blown their KPA1500 so it may be more robust.

John KK9A



Scott Manthe N9AA wrote:

Hi Everyone,

I'm in the market for a legal limit solid state amp. There are lots of 
options out there, but I've been an Elecraft fan since the beginning and 
have owned a KPA500, K3/P3, and KX3/PX3. So, obviously I'm a fan. 
However, I'm also aware that over the years, some of the gear has had an 
issue or two, which generally have been taken care of by the good folks 
in Watsonville.

So, for the KPA1500 users out there, do you have any serious issues to 
report for the KPA1500? I have "heard" that they're not as robust as the 
KPA500 and that occasionally there have been failures with the PA 
devices. Is this true? I was one of the people that saw the KPA1600 run 
all day every day at Dayton years ago, and have dreamed of that amp ever 
since. I know the KPA1500 probably can't live up to that ideal, but are 
there issues a potential buyer should be aware of?

Thanks in advance for any and all feedback.

73,
Scott N9AA

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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 opinions

[Pete Smith N4ZR]

There is an excellent kpa1...@ghroups.io reflector where there has been 
a lot of discussion about maintenance history.  See particularly a post 
by W3IP on replacing the final transistors - there have been a fair 
number of such failures.  I'm glad that Jim had a good experience - my 
fairly early KPA-1500 is at Watsonville now after I started experiencing 
RX insensitivity when in Standby or when my radio switched it back to 
receive.  I suspect a relay issue, but am looking forward to seeing the 
repair report, and trust that Elecraft will have made any mods needed 
while the amp was there.


73, Pete N4ZR

On 2/8/2023 10:22 PM, Jim Brown wrote:

On 2/8/2023 5:35 PM, Scott Manthe wrote:
I was one of the people that saw the KPA1600 run all day every day at 
Dayton years ago, and have dreamed of that amp ever since. I know the 
KPA1500 probably can't live up to that ideal, but are there issues a 
potential buyer should be aware of?


I'm a near neighbor of Elecraft and people who work there. The KPA1600 
never went into production. My KPA1500 arrived 6/29/19, and has never 
given me the slightest trouble. It sees heavy use in HF CW, RTTY, and 
some SSB contesting, always legal limit. It also sees heavy use during 
6M E-skip season on WSJT modes, where I run it at about 1,200W. It's a 
very nice amp, and has replaced one the 87As in my SO2R station.


My KPA500 made two expensive trips to the factory. The KPA500 mostly 
got used on 6M in the same way as the KPA1500, at 600W, and a lot in 
W6GJB's contesting trailer for HF county expeditions (CQP and 7QP). I 
still own it for those reasons. Several contesting friends also own 
them. I don't have a record of when I bought it.


73, Jim K9YC
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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 opinions

[Jim Brown]

On 2/8/2023 5:35 PM, Scott Manthe wrote:
I was one of the people that saw the KPA1600 run all day every day at 
Dayton years ago, and have dreamed of that amp ever since. I know the 
KPA1500 probably can't live up to that ideal, but are there issues a 
potential buyer should be aware of?


I'm a near neighbor of Elecraft and people who work there. The KPA1600 
never went into production. My KPA1500 arrived 6/29/19, and has never 
given me the slightest trouble. It sees heavy use in HF CW, RTTY, and 
some SSB contesting, always legal limit. It also sees heavy use during 
6M E-skip season on WSJT modes, where I run it at about 1,200W. It's a 
very nice amp, and has replaced one the 87As in my SO2R station.


My KPA500 made two expensive trips to the factory. The KPA500 mostly got 
used on 6M in the same way as the KPA1500, at 600W, and a lot in W6GJB's 
contesting trailer for HF county expeditions (CQP and 7QP). I still own 
it for those reasons. Several contesting friends also own them. I don't 
have a record of when I bought it.


73, Jim K9YC
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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 BETA FW 2.66

[Hisashi T Fujinaka]

Thanks Dick. Missed you at Seapac last year.

For some reason I can never get firmware notes emails when they come
out. I've never figured out where they disappear, so I'm working with
incomplete information.

On Thu, 2 Feb 2023, Dick Dievendorff wrote:


A copy of 2.62 was erroneously placed in the production folder on our ftp site. 
This has been removed. 2.58 is the current production version.

You might want to erase 2.62 from your local firmware folder.

73 de Dick, K6KR


On Feb 2, 2023, at 13:07, Hisashi T Fujinaka  wrote:

I'm also a little confused. The beta automatically downloaded to my PCs
(one's actually a Mac) but they're not connected to the amp via USB so I
haven't updated yet. Betas aren't supposed to auto-download, right?

Also, I couldn't find any release notes.


On Thu, 2 Feb 2023, Jim McCook wrote:

Eric, after seeing your post I upgraded to 2.66 after using 2.62 for several 
QSOs this morning on CW.  Immediately I had problems with erratic SWR and 
failures.  I went to STBY and there were no problems.  I changed to several 
different bands and antennas and the same thing happened repeatedly.  No 
problem with 100w in STBY but constant failures in OPER.  After trying over and 
over again I went back to v. 2.62 and all the problems disappeared.  After 
another few QSOs and no problems, my only conclusion can be that 2.66 is 
flawed.  73, Jim W6YA


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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 BETA FW 2.66

[Dick Dievendorff]

A copy of 2.62 was erroneously placed in the production folder on our ftp site. 
This has been removed. 2.58 is the current production version. 

You might want to erase 2.62 from your local firmware folder. 

73 de Dick, K6KR

> On Feb 2, 2023, at 13:07, Hisashi T Fujinaka  wrote:
> 
> I'm also a little confused. The beta automatically downloaded to my PCs
> (one's actually a Mac) but they're not connected to the amp via USB so I
> haven't updated yet. Betas aren't supposed to auto-download, right?
> 
> Also, I couldn't find any release notes.
> 
>> On Thu, 2 Feb 2023, Jim McCook wrote:
>> 
>> Eric, after seeing your post I upgraded to 2.66 after using 2.62 for several 
>> QSOs this morning on CW.  Immediately I had problems with erratic SWR and 
>> failures.  I went to STBY and there were no problems.  I changed to several 
>> different bands and antennas and the same thing happened repeatedly.  No 
>> problem with 100w in STBY but constant failures in OPER.  After trying over 
>> and over again I went back to v. 2.62 and all the problems disappeared.  
>> After another few QSOs and no problems, my only conclusion can be that 2.66 
>> is flawed.  73, Jim W6YA
> 
> -- 
> Hisashi T Fujinaka - ht...@twofifty.com
> BSEE + BSChem + BAEnglish + MSCS + $2.50 = coffee
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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 BETA FW 2.66

[Hisashi T Fujinaka]

I'm also a little confused. The beta automatically downloaded to my PCs
(one's actually a Mac) but they're not connected to the amp via USB so I
haven't updated yet. Betas aren't supposed to auto-download, right?

Also, I couldn't find any release notes.

On Thu, 2 Feb 2023, Jim McCook wrote:

Eric, after seeing your post I upgraded to 2.66 after using 2.62 for 
several QSOs this morning on CW.  Immediately I had problems with 
erratic SWR and failures.  I went to STBY and there were no problems.  I 
changed to several different bands and antennas and the same thing 
happened repeatedly.  No problem with 100w in STBY but constant failures 
in OPER.  After trying over and over again I went back to v. 2.62 and 
all the problems disappeared.  After another few QSOs and no problems, 
my only conclusion can be that 2.66 is flawed.  73, Jim W6YA


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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 BETA FW 2.66

[Jim McCook]

Eric, after seeing your post I upgraded to 2.66 after using 2.62 for 
several QSOs this morning on CW.  Immediately I had problems with 
erratic SWR and failures.  I went to STBY and there were no problems.  I 
changed to several different bands and antennas and the same thing 
happened repeatedly.  No problem with 100w in STBY but constant failures 
in OPER.  After trying over and over again I went back to v. 2.62 and 
all the problems disappeared.  After another few QSOs and no problems, 
my only conclusion can be that 2.66 is flawed.  73, Jim W6YA

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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 For Sale

[Richard Cash]

The KPA1500 has been sold. Thanks
Rich W4WU
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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 and K2

[Tim Tucker]

Is your K2 one with a PA Key out?  If so, just an RCA cable and a coax
jumper.

Tim

On Wed, Jan 11, 2023 at 4:03 PM Karin Johnson 
wrote:

> Hello Group:
>
> Can I use a Elecraft KPA1500 with a Elecraft K2???
>
> What accessory cable will I require
>
>
>
> Karin Anne Johnson  K3UU
>
> Palm Harbor, Florida
>
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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 and K2

[Fred Jensen]

Beware of VGA cables and the K2, most [maybe all] are not 
straight-through. The connector on the K2 has 2 pins approximating 
RS-232 signal levels and 1 ground.  The remainder are internal signals 
at internal voltages.


Running solid state amps at seriously reduced drive levels can reduce 
their linearity and increase unwanted signal products.  Don't know about 
the KPA1500 but might be wise to check.


73,

Fred ["Skip"] K6DGW
Sparks NV DM09dn
Washoe County

Eric Norris wrote on 1/11/2023 11:25 PM:

DO NOT CONNECT THE K2 SERIAL OUTPUT TO ANYTHING WITHOUT A CUSTOM CABLE OR
AN N6TV SERIAL BOX.

I got about 250w out of the KPA1500 with my K2/10, and of course full-tilt
disco boogie with my K2/100.

73 Eric WD6DBM

On Wed, Jan 11, 2023, 4:03 PM Karin Johnson
wrote:


Hello Group:

Can I use a Elecraft KPA1500 with a Elecraft K2???

What accessory cable will I require



Karin Anne Johnson  K3UU

Palm Harbor, Florida





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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 and K2

[Eric Norris]

You can do it with just an RCA cable if you have the keying mod on a K2/10,
or a K2/100.  N6TV can make you a Serial box that gives you band info, too,
if you have the K2 serial interface, but I could hear the KPA1500 polling
the K2--I don't think that was a problem with the Serial Box, but I never
solved it.

DO NOT CONNECT THE K2 SERIAL OUTPUT TO ANYTHING WITHOUT A CUSTOM CABLE OR
AN N6TV SERIAL BOX.

I got about 250w out of the KPA1500 with my K2/10, and of course full-tilt
disco boogie with my K2/100.

73 Eric WD6DBM

On Wed, Jan 11, 2023, 4:03 PM Karin Johnson 
wrote:

> Hello Group:
>
> Can I use a Elecraft KPA1500 with a Elecraft K2???
>
> What accessory cable will I require
>
>
>
> Karin Anne Johnson  K3UU
>
> Palm Harbor, Florida
>
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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 Faulting for High SWR inappropriately

[David Woolley]

On 20/12/2022 01:38, Bob McGraw wrote:
Use an antenna analyzer to determine the actual complex antenna 
impedance.   I've always viewed SWR as more of a hocus pocus value, easy 
value to obtain, but very broad in definition as it is a ratio between 
two impedance, both usually unknown.


Whilst I'd agree that its usefulness is overstated, it is not the ratio 
of two impedances, and one of the impedances is generally known (unless 
you are measuring the the Lecher line way, by actually finding the 
voltage peaks and troughs on an open line, of unknown characteristic 
impedance).


I don't think the professionals have used for a very long time.  They 
prefer s parameters, or if they want a single number, they use return 
loss.  It is basically only heavily used in the amateur and CB communities.


Generally it is defined assuming an ideal transmission line, with a 
purely resistive impedance. and in that case, the only time that it 
equals a ratio is when the load impedance is also purely resistive.


The main advantage of SWR is that it can be physically measured without 
having to use anything other than the magnitude of the voltages read 
(i.e. no phase information).  But this means that the same SWR can be 
completely safe or destroy a PA, depending on the phase information.


--
David Woolley
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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 Faulting for High SWR inappropriately

[Hal Massey]

Merry Christmas! Make sure it is not a transient antenna condition. A solid 
state amp is going to detect faults rather quickly. A lot of a log 
SWR/Wattmeters may not see these same faults…. 

> On Dec 19, 2022, at 8:51 PM, Jack Brindle via Elecraft 
>  wrote:
> 
> What is the fault? We see a lot of issues with antenna systems not being able 
> to handle the higher power, either 500 or 1500 watts. This can develop over 
> time or show up very quickly after the amp is installed. Be sure to check the 
> cabling and connectors for possible arcing.
> In this situation, things would work just fine at low power, but not at high 
> power, with the exact symptoms  you describe.
> 
> 
> 73,
> Jack, W6FB
> 
> 
>> On Dec 19, 2022, at 3:58 PM, David F. Reed > > wrote:
>> 
>> Lou,
>> 
>> I appreciate the suggestion, but it is with a K4D, properly cabled, used to 
>> work fine, and does it on some bands but not others... changed the delay to 
>> 15ms and still does it... Also seems to depend on band; for example, does it 
>> on 10m, not on 12m...
>> 
>> Also, below, I said 2 SWR meters; I meant 3...
>> 
>> 73 de Dave, W5SV
>> 
>> On 19-12-22 21:28, Lou Laderman wrote:
>>> Check the delay setting on your transmitter. You might have a hot switching 
>>> issue. I think (but check your manual) that unless you’re using the KPA1500 
>>> with a K3 or K4 without the 15-pin Elecraft interface cable, you’ll want at 
>>> least 10ms of delay to avoid that. I had that issue with a K4 and a PGXL. 
>>> Default on the K4 is 8ms and the PGXL needed 10ms.
>>> 
>>> 73, Lou W0FK
>>> 
>>> Lou Laderman
>>> Sent from my mobile device
>>> 
>>> On Dec 19, 2022, at 2:59 PM, David F. Reed  wrote:
>>> 
>>> My KPA1500 has started faulting inappropriately for High SWR.
>>> 
>>> I say inappropriately because all 2 of my SWR meters (K4D, KPA1500, Palstar 
>>> HF-AUTO) show an SWR of between 1.1:1 and 1.2:1. with just the K$ 
>>> transmitting and also with the KPA1500 in fine as it faults out.
>>> 
>>> Any ideas?
>>> 
>> __
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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 Faulting for High SWR inappropriately

[Jack Brindle via Elecraft]

What is the fault? We see a lot of issues with antenna systems not being able 
to handle the higher power, either 500 or 1500 watts. This can develop over 
time or show up very quickly after the amp is installed. Be sure to check the 
cabling and connectors for possible arcing.
In this situation, things would work just fine at low power, but not at high 
power, with the exact symptoms  you describe.


73,
Jack, W6FB


> On Dec 19, 2022, at 3:58 PM, David F. Reed  wrote:
> 
> Lou,
> 
> I appreciate the suggestion, but it is with a K4D, properly cabled, used to 
> work fine, and does it on some bands but not others... changed the delay to 
> 15ms and still does it... Also seems to depend on band; for example, does it 
> on 10m, not on 12m...
> 
> Also, below, I said 2 SWR meters; I meant 3...
> 
> 73 de Dave, W5SV
> 
> On 19-12-22 21:28, Lou Laderman wrote:
>> Check the delay setting on your transmitter. You might have a hot switching 
>> issue. I think (but check your manual) that unless you’re using the KPA1500 
>> with a K3 or K4 without the 15-pin Elecraft interface cable, you’ll want at 
>> least 10ms of delay to avoid that. I had that issue with a K4 and a PGXL. 
>> Default on the K4 is 8ms and the PGXL needed 10ms.
>> 
>> 73, Lou W0FK
>> 
>> Lou Laderman
>> Sent from my mobile device
>> 
>> On Dec 19, 2022, at 2:59 PM, David F. Reed  wrote:
>> 
>> My KPA1500 has started faulting inappropriately for High SWR.
>> 
>> I say inappropriately because all 2 of my SWR meters (K4D, KPA1500, Palstar 
>> HF-AUTO) show an SWR of between 1.1:1 and 1.2:1. with just the K$ 
>> transmitting and also with the KPA1500 in fine as it faults out.
>> 
>> Any ideas?
>> 
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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 Faulting for High SWR inappropriately

[Morgan Bailey]

Are you developing an overshoot from the K4?

On Mon, Dec 19, 2022 at 4:00 PM David F. Reed  wrote:

> Lou,
>
> I appreciate the suggestion, but it is with a K4D, properly cabled, used
> to work fine, and does it on some bands but not others... changed the
> delay to 15ms and still does it... Also seems to depend on band; for
> example, does it on 10m, not on 12m...
>
> Also, below, I said 2 SWR meters; I meant 3...
>
> 73 de Dave, W5SV
>
> On 19-12-22 21:28, Lou Laderman wrote:
> > Check the delay setting on your transmitter. You might have a hot
> switching issue. I think (but check your manual) that unless you’re using
> the KPA1500 with a K3 or K4 without the 15-pin Elecraft interface cable,
> you’ll want at least 10ms of delay to avoid that. I had that issue with a
> K4 and a PGXL. Default on the K4 is 8ms and the PGXL needed 10ms.
> >
> > 73, Lou W0FK
> >
> > Lou Laderman
> > Sent from my mobile device
> >
> > On Dec 19, 2022, at 2:59 PM, David F. Reed  wrote:
> >
> > My KPA1500 has started faulting inappropriately for High SWR.
> >
> > I say inappropriately because all 2 of my SWR meters (K4D, KPA1500,
> Palstar HF-AUTO) show an SWR of between 1.1:1 and 1.2:1. with just the K$
> transmitting and also with the KPA1500 in fine as it faults out.
> >
> > Any ideas?
> >
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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 Faulting for High SWR inappropriately

[David F. Reed]

Lou,

I appreciate the suggestion, but it is with a K4D, properly cabled, used 
to work fine, and does it on some bands but not others... changed the 
delay to 15ms and still does it... Also seems to depend on band; for 
example, does it on 10m, not on 12m...


Also, below, I said 2 SWR meters; I meant 3...

73 de Dave, W5SV

On 19-12-22 21:28, Lou Laderman wrote:

Check the delay setting on your transmitter. You might have a hot switching 
issue. I think (but check your manual) that unless you’re using the KPA1500 
with a K3 or K4 without the 15-pin Elecraft interface cable, you’ll want at 
least 10ms of delay to avoid that. I had that issue with a K4 and a PGXL. 
Default on the K4 is 8ms and the PGXL needed 10ms.

73, Lou W0FK

Lou Laderman
Sent from my mobile device

On Dec 19, 2022, at 2:59 PM, David F. Reed  wrote:

My KPA1500 has started faulting inappropriately for High SWR.

I say inappropriately because all 2 of my SWR meters (K4D, KPA1500, Palstar 
HF-AUTO) show an SWR of between 1.1:1 and 1.2:1. with just the K$ transmitting 
and also with the KPA1500 in fine as it faults out.

Any ideas?


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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 Faulting for High SWR inappropriately

[Lou Laderman via Elecraft]

Check the delay setting on your transmitter. You might have a hot switching 
issue. I think (but check your manual) that unless you’re using the KPA1500 
with a K3 or K4 without the 15-pin Elecraft interface cable, you’ll want at 
least 10ms of delay to avoid that. I had that issue with a K4 and a PGXL. 
Default on the K4 is 8ms and the PGXL needed 10ms.

73, Lou W0FK

Lou Laderman
Sent from my mobile device 

On Dec 19, 2022, at 2:59 PM, David F. Reed  wrote:

My KPA1500 has started faulting inappropriately for High SWR.

I say inappropriately because all 2 of my SWR meters (K4D, KPA1500, Palstar 
HF-AUTO) show an SWR of between 1.1:1 and 1.2:1. with just the K$ transmitting 
and also with the KPA1500 in fine as it faults out.

Any ideas?

-- 
Thanks & 73 de Dave, W5SV

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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 replacement devices

[Dynolab]

"Taming the stray (parasitic) R, L, and C can be quite challenging" is the
understatement of the century!
And then there is the heat issue!
I have been designing high power solid-state linear amplifiers since the
early 70s and have the greatest respect for anyone who has even the
slightest inkling of what it takes to design a reliable 160 thru 6 meter
high power linear!

73,
Hal
W7YNC

-Original Message-
From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net
[mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Jim Brown
Sent: Wednesday, November 02, 2022 11:29 AM
To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 replacement devices

On 11/2/2022 11:22 AM, Dynolab wrote:
> The ART1K6 looks like the best choice.

I'd be VERY cautious about replacing output devices in an amp that goes from
2 to 50 MHz. Taming stray (parasitic) R, L, and C can be quite challenging.
It took Elecraft's engineers a while to do that, and it was their job! One
of the guys who did it, K6XX, is my neighbor.

73, Jim K9YC
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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 replacement devices

[Jim Brown]

On 11/2/2022 11:22 AM, Dynolab wrote:

The ART1K6 looks like the best choice.


I'd be VERY cautious about replacing output devices in an amp that goes 
from 2 to 50 MHz. Taming stray (parasitic) R, L, and C can be quite 
challenging. It took Elecraft's engineers a while to do that, and it was 
their job! One of the guys who did it, K6XX, is my neighbor.


73, Jim K9YC
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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 replacement devices

[Dynolab]

Hi Mike,
 
Agreed.
The ART1K6 looks like the best choice.
It is in fact one hell of an all around part!
 
I am curious if the pictures I attached in my last reply came thru as the 
Elecraft list administrator sent a message says my post had been rejected due 
to size?
If they did not show up, my water cooled amp using a pair of BLF189XR devices 
can be seen at:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfPLagy3tyL164PjCmWUaqg
 
73,
Hal
W7YNC
 
From: M Cresap [mailto:m.cre...@yahoo.com] 
Sent: Wednesday, November 02, 2022 9:40 AM
To: Dynolab; Elecraft@mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 replacement devices
 
Hi Hal
 
I like the water cooling! I debated about using water cooling on a W6PQL 2 
meter amp I built several years ago, ended up with an oversize heat sink 
instead.
 
Since the KPA1500 power supply probably can't safely be adjusted to 65 volts to 
best accommodate the ART2K0, the ART1K6 is likely the better choice since it is 
expecting 50 volt on the drain. An interesting experiment. 
 
Thanks for your perspective
 
73, Mike, W3IP
 
On Wednesday, November 2, 2022 at 01:13:46 AM EDT, Dynolab 
 wrote: 
 
 
Hi Mike,
 
Agreed, the ART series does have lower Rth but I would still worry that it may 
not be low enough to make up for the increased saturation voltage and loss of 
efficiency due to a drain to drain impedance that has been optimized for a Vdd 
of 50Vdc.
However, I may be overly timid as I have a graveyard of LDMOS devices that did 
not survive air-cooled amplifiers.
I have since gone to water-cooling and don’t have to deal with the heat 
problems anymore. (See Attached)
 
73,
Hal
W7YNC
 
From: M Cresap [mailto:m.cre...@yahoo.com] 
Sent: Tuesday, November 01, 2022 3:21 PM
To: Dynolab; Elecraft@mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 replacement devices
 
Hi Hal
 
I see the Rds difference. Wouldn't the higher Rds be compensated by the better 
Rth (thermal resistance from junction to case) spec in the ART devices?
 
73, Mike, W3IP
 
On Tuesday, November 1, 2022 at 03:15:09 PM EDT, Dynolab  
wrote: 
 
 
While the higher voltage ratings of the ART1K6 or ART2K0 series looks very
attractive, it is extremely important to remember that heat is the number
one killer of LDMOS RF power FETs!
That being said, take a look at the specifications of the ART1K6 and ART2K0
and note that the Rds(on) drain-source on-state resistance of these devices
is significantly higher than that of the devices presently being used in the
KPA1500.
And this higher Rds(on) would result in higher drain-source saturation
voltage when the amplifier is running near its limits which would in turn
result in higher heat dissipation.
It is therefore possible that the ART1K6 or ART2K0 devices may be less
reliable than the devices currently being used in the KPA1500.
 
73,
Hal
W7YNC
 
-Original Message-
From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net
[mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of M Cresap via Elecraft
Sent: Tuesday, November 01, 2022 10:21 AM
To: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net
Subject: [Elecraft] KPA1500 replacement devices
 
Anyone have an educated guess whether the ART1K6xx or ART2K0xx devices would
be a drop in replacement for the currently used device in the KPA1500? Most
of the interesting specs are within 10% of the current device, the open loop
gain may be a dB or two higher (if the data sheets are really comparing
apples to apples). 
 
The main attraction of the ART1K6 and ART2K0 devices is the higher peak
voltage handling capability - 177 or 200 volts vice 135 volts for the
current device. Maybe a higher peak voltage capability will keep the
amplifier out of the repair shop due to external events like arcing baluns
or antennas flexing in the wind.
 
The package styles are identical, the ART devices are in stock from a few of
your favorite distributors, similar price to the current device, maybe the
quiescent bias voltage would have to be tweaked a bit...
 
73, Mike, W3IP
  
  -
 
 
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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 replacement devices

[M Cresap via Elecraft]

 Hi Hal
I like the water cooling! I debated about using water cooling on a W6PQL 2 
meter amp I built several years ago, ended up with an oversize heat sink 
instead.
Since the KPA1500 power supply probably can't safely be adjusted to 65 volts to 
best accommodate the ART2K0, the ART1K6 is likely the better choice since it is 
expecting 50 volt on the drain. An interesting experiment. 

Thanks for your perspective

73, Mike, W3IP

On Wednesday, November 2, 2022 at 01:13:46 AM EDT, Dynolab 
 wrote:  
 
 
Hi Mike,

  

Agreed, the ART series does have lower Rth but I would still worry that it may 
not be low enough to make up for the increased saturation voltage and loss of 
efficiency due to a drain to drain impedance that has been optimized for a Vdd 
of 50Vdc.

However, I may be overly timid as I have a graveyard of LDMOS devices that did 
not survive air-cooled amplifiers.

I have since gone to water-cooling and don’t have to deal with the heat 
problems anymore. (See Attached)

  

73,

Hal

W7YNC

  

From: M Cresap [mailto:m.cre...@yahoo.com] 
Sent: Tuesday, November 01, 2022 3:21 PM
To: Dynolab; Elecraft@mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 replacement devices

  

Hi Hal

  

I see the Rds difference. Wouldn't the higher Rds be compensated by the better 
Rth (thermal resistance from junction to case) spec in the ART devices?

  

73, Mike, W3IP

  

On Tuesday, November 1, 2022 at 03:15:09 PM EDT, Dynolab  
wrote: 

  

  

While the higher voltage ratings of the ART1K6 or ART2K0 series looks very

attractive, it is extremely important to remember that heat is the number

one killer of LDMOS RF power FETs!

That being said, take a look at the specifications of the ART1K6 and ART2K0

and note that the Rds(on) drain-source on-state resistance of these devices

is significantly higher than that of the devices presently being used in the

KPA1500.

And this higher Rds(on) would result in higher drain-source saturation

voltage when the amplifier is running near its limits which would in turn

result in higher heat dissipation.

It is therefore possible that the ART1K6 or ART2K0 devices may be less

reliable than the devices currently being used in the KPA1500.

  

73,

Hal

W7YNC

  

-Original Message-

From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net

[mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of M Cresap via Elecraft

Sent: Tuesday, November 01, 2022 10:21 AM

To: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net

Subject: [Elecraft] KPA1500 replacement devices

  

Anyone have an educated guess whether the ART1K6xx or ART2K0xx devices would

be a drop in replacement for the currently used device in the KPA1500? Most

of the interesting specs are within 10% of the current device, the open loop

gain may be a dB or two higher (if the data sheets are really comparing

apples to apples). 

  

The main attraction of the ART1K6 and ART2K0 devices is the higher peak

voltage handling capability - 177 or 200 volts vice 135 volts for the

current device. Maybe a higher peak voltage capability will keep the

amplifier out of the repair shop due to external events like arcing baluns

or antennas flexing in the wind.

  

The package styles are identical, the ART devices are in stock from a few of

your favorite distributors, similar price to the current device, maybe the

quiescent bias voltage would have to be tweaked a bit...

  

73, Mike, W3IP

  

  -    

  

  

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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 replacement devices

[N2TK, Tony via Elecraft]

What are the current part vs. the original part number in the 1500?
N2TK, Tony

Sent from my iPhone

> On Nov 1, 2022, at 6:23 PM, M Cresap via Elecraft  
> wrote:
> 
>  Hi Hal
> I see the Rds difference. Wouldn't the higher Rds be compensated by the 
> better Rth (thermal resistance from junction to case) spec in the ART devices?
> 73, Mike, W3IP
> 
>On Tuesday, November 1, 2022 at 03:15:09 PM EDT, Dynolab 
>  wrote:  
> 
> While the higher voltage ratings of the ART1K6 or ART2K0 series looks very
> attractive, it is extremely important to remember that heat is the number
> one killer of LDMOS RF power FETs!
> That being said, take a look at the specifications of the ART1K6 and ART2K0
> and note that the Rds(on) drain-source on-state resistance of these devices
> is significantly higher than that of the devices presently being used in the
> KPA1500.
> And this higher Rds(on) would result in higher drain-source saturation
> voltage when the amplifier is running near its limits which would in turn
> result in higher heat dissipation.
> It is therefore possible that the ART1K6 or ART2K0 devices may be less
> reliable than the devices currently being used in the KPA1500.
> 
> 73,
> Hal
> W7YNC
> 
> -Original Message-
> From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net
> [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of M Cresap via Elecraft
> Sent: Tuesday, November 01, 2022 10:21 AM
> To: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net
> Subject: [Elecraft] KPA1500 replacement devices
> 
> Anyone have an educated guess whether the ART1K6xx or ART2K0xx devices would
> be a drop in replacement for the currently used device in the KPA1500? Most
> of the interesting specs are within 10% of the current device, the open loop
> gain may be a dB or two higher (if the data sheets are really comparing
> apples to apples). 
> 
> The main attraction of the ART1K6 and ART2K0 devices is the higher peak
> voltage handling capability - 177 or 200 volts vice 135 volts for the
> current device. Maybe a higher peak voltage capability will keep the
> amplifier out of the repair shop due to external events like arcing baluns
> or antennas flexing in the wind.
> 
> The package styles are identical, the ART devices are in stock from a few of
> your favorite distributors, similar price to the current device, maybe the
> quiescent bias voltage would have to be tweaked a bit...
> 
> 73, Mike, W3IP
>   
>   -
> 
> 
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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 replacement devices

[M Cresap via Elecraft]

 Hi Hal
I see the Rds difference. Wouldn't the higher Rds be compensated by the better 
Rth (thermal resistance from junction to case) spec in the ART devices?
73, Mike, W3IP

On Tuesday, November 1, 2022 at 03:15:09 PM EDT, Dynolab 
 wrote:  
 
 While the higher voltage ratings of the ART1K6 or ART2K0 series looks very
attractive, it is extremely important to remember that heat is the number
one killer of LDMOS RF power FETs!
That being said, take a look at the specifications of the ART1K6 and ART2K0
and note that the Rds(on) drain-source on-state resistance of these devices
is significantly higher than that of the devices presently being used in the
KPA1500.
And this higher Rds(on) would result in higher drain-source saturation
voltage when the amplifier is running near its limits which would in turn
result in higher heat dissipation.
It is therefore possible that the ART1K6 or ART2K0 devices may be less
reliable than the devices currently being used in the KPA1500.

73,
Hal
W7YNC

-Original Message-
From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net
[mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of M Cresap via Elecraft
Sent: Tuesday, November 01, 2022 10:21 AM
To: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net
Subject: [Elecraft] KPA1500 replacement devices

Anyone have an educated guess whether the ART1K6xx or ART2K0xx devices would
be a drop in replacement for the currently used device in the KPA1500? Most
of the interesting specs are within 10% of the current device, the open loop
gain may be a dB or two higher (if the data sheets are really comparing
apples to apples). 

The main attraction of the ART1K6 and ART2K0 devices is the higher peak
voltage handling capability - 177 or 200 volts vice 135 volts for the
current device. Maybe a higher peak voltage capability will keep the
amplifier out of the repair shop due to external events like arcing baluns
or antennas flexing in the wind.

The package styles are identical, the ART devices are in stock from a few of
your favorite distributors, similar price to the current device, maybe the
quiescent bias voltage would have to be tweaked a bit...

73, Mike, W3IP
  
  -    


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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 RELIABILITY

[BRUCE WW8II]

I have a KPA1500 . One of the first ones built, ran perfectly until earlier
this year, when without reason it went from 1400 watts to 700 watts while
running CW, NO WARNING. The LDMOS DIED..  Returned to the factory for
repair, cost me $718 plus my shipping costs.   After about 12 weeks I
received it back. .  I have not yet put it back on the air because I have
since gone back to my reliable Ameritron AL1500 . I can repair it without
having to send it back for special repair because I do not have the tools
to replace the LDMOS.  Tubes are easy to change.
Although it is nice to be able to change bands and be ready to transmit no
tuning, 160-6 meters, I'm just not sure I trust it though, I need
reliability.  NOT SURPRISES.
The question is, is there a common component failing? and it looks like
that it is the LDMOS from the posts I am reading.

Bruce WW8II

On Sun, Oct 30, 2022 at 11:44 AM  wrote:

> Is there a common component failure with this KPA1500 amp or does something
> different break every time?  Is there a certain mode, power level or type
> of
> antenna/feedline that causes failures?  I also monitor the SPE Expert list
> and some people have multiple LDMOS failures while others have no issues
> ever. N4ZR posted a similar question two months ago when someone else had
> multiple LDMOS failures and I did not see any responses.
> http://mailman.qth.net/pipermail/elecraft/2022-August/290628.html
>
> GL,
> John KK9A
>
>
> W3AB wrote:
>
> I don't have one but I do have access to one. It is making UPS rich
> going back and forth. Is there a reliability issue with these amps?
>
> ---
> 73 de W3AB/GEO
>
>
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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 RELIABILITY

[Tim Tucker]

Mine has worked flawlessly for the year or so that I've had it.  I've
pushed it pretty hard and for pretty long durations with some digital
modes, as well.  So far, so good.

Tim

On Mon, Oct 31, 2022 at 3:18 PM Frank Scolaro 
wrote:

> Of the 5 people I know with the KPA1500, 3 of them have made a return trip
> for LDMOS failure.  Also had my RF-Kit blow up twice.  Will have to fix my
> old Henry 3k!
>
> Frank W2YK
>
> -Original Message-
> From: Wes 
> Sent: Oct 31, 2022 6:02 PM
> To: 
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 RELIABILITY
>
> In my modest station (120V 20A)  I run a KPA500, which has been fine, if
> noisy.
>
> If I was to QRO I think I would opt for tubes.  Less expensive, more
> reliable, better linearity and quieter.
>
> Wes  N7WS
>
> ps.  Thanks for the J68HQ Qs
>
>
>
> On 10/31/2022 1:40 PM, Dr. William J. Schmidt wrote:
> > --- Thinking of going back to tube amps because they are much more
> > forgiving!
> >
> >
> > Dr. William J. Schmidt - K9HZ J68HZ 8P6HK ZF2HZ PJ4/K9HZ VP5/K9HZ
> PJ2/K9HZ
> > VP2EHZ
> >
>
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-- 
Owner, worldwidedx.com
AE6LX, Amateur Radio
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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 RELIABILITY

[Frank Scolaro]

Of the 5 people I know with the KPA1500, 3 of them have made a return trip for 
LDMOS failure.  Also had my RF-Kit blow up twice.  Will have to fix my old 
Henry 3k!

Frank W2YK

-Original Message-
From: Wes 
Sent: Oct 31, 2022 6:02 PM
To: 
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 RELIABILITY

In my modest station (120V 20A)  I run a KPA500, which has been fine, if noisy.

If I was to QRO I think I would opt for tubes.  Less expensive, more reliable, 
better linearity and quieter.

Wes  N7WS

ps.  Thanks for the J68HQ Qs



On 10/31/2022 1:40 PM, Dr. William J. Schmidt wrote:
> --- Thinking of going back to tube amps because they are much more
> forgiving!
>
>
> Dr. William J. Schmidt - K9HZ J68HZ 8P6HK ZF2HZ PJ4/K9HZ VP5/K9HZ PJ2/K9HZ
> VP2EHZ
>

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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 RELIABILITY

[Wes]

In my modest station (120V 20A)  I run a KPA500, which has been fine, if noisy.

If I was to QRO I think I would opt for tubes.  Less expensive, more reliable, 
better linearity and quieter.


Wes  N7WS

ps.  Thanks for the J68HQ Qs



On 10/31/2022 1:40 PM, Dr. William J. Schmidt wrote:

--- Thinking of going back to tube amps because they are much more
forgiving!


Dr. William J. Schmidt - K9HZ J68HZ 8P6HK ZF2HZ PJ4/K9HZ VP5/K9HZ PJ2/K9HZ
VP2EHZ



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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 RELIABILITY

[Jim Brown]

Hi William,

Is the station using this amplifier operated in person, or remotely? If 
remotely, what operating conditions are being monitored by the remote 
operator?  What "traps" are provided by the control circuitry to prevent 
an operator from doing something dumb? This is one of the things I 
learned from a very good A/V contractor (K9IKZ was the chief engineer) 
whose programming team designed a lot of automation systems.


K5RC has reported reliability issues with power amps in the W7RN 
super-station, which is set up for remote operation. Don't recall which 
models, but I suspect Tom would be willing to share his experience. He 
did at the time on the NCCC reflector.


73, Jim K9YC

On 10/31/2022 1:40 PM, Dr. William J. Schmidt wrote:

My KPA1500 just blew up for the third time... gonna go back again.  Forced
us to run LP in CQWW this weekend as it exploded just two days ahead of the
contest.  No reason for the explosion that I can tell... radio worked fine
on the antenna system without the amp after the explosion.

Previously it went back for:
1.  MeanWell Power Supply failure.  (Hey, it happens).
2.  Blew up the blocking capacitors in the final output circuit (teeny
suckers, no reason for it).

This time I got a hard failure/low gain so figure it's gonna be final
transistors.  Thinking of going back to tube amps because they are much more
forgiving!



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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 RELIABILITY

[Dr. William J. Schmidt]

My KPA1500 just blew up for the third time... gonna go back again.  Forced
us to run LP in CQWW this weekend as it exploded just two days ahead of the
contest.  No reason for the explosion that I can tell... radio worked fine
on the antenna system without the amp after the explosion.

Previously it went back for:
1.  MeanWell Power Supply failure.  (Hey, it happens).
2.  Blew up the blocking capacitors in the final output circuit (teeny
suckers, no reason for it).

This time I got a hard failure/low gain so figure it's gonna be final
transistors.  Thinking of going back to tube amps because they are much more
forgiving!


Dr. William J. Schmidt - K9HZ J68HZ 8P6HK ZF2HZ PJ4/K9HZ VP5/K9HZ PJ2/K9HZ
VP2EHZ


email:  b...@wjschmidt.com


-Original Message-
From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net  On
Behalf Of j...@kk9a.com
Sent: Sunday, October 30, 2022 10:44 AM
To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 RELIABILITY

Is there a common component failure with this KPA1500 amp or does something
different break every time?  Is there a certain mode, power level or type of
antenna/feedline that causes failures?  I also monitor the SPE Expert list
and some people have multiple LDMOS failures while others have no issues
ever. N4ZR posted a similar question two months ago when someone else had
multiple LDMOS failures and I did not see any responses. 
http://mailman.qth.net/pipermail/elecraft/2022-August/290628.html

GL,
John KK9A
  

W3AB wrote:

I don't have one but I do have access to one. It is making UPS rich going
back and forth. Is there a reliability issue with these amps?

---
73 de W3AB/GEO


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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 RELIABILITY

[Jim Brown]

On 10/29/2022 5:00 PM, W3AB/GEO wrote:

Is there a reliability issue with these amps?


Mine's been running with no issues since late June 2019. I use it 
extensively with legal limit CW, SSB, and RTTY contesting on HF and 
160M, as well as seriously chasing grids on 6M using WSJT modes, where I 
limit the power to about 1200W.


Initially, I was running the fans high on 6M to keep temp down on the 
devices, but on advice from Elecraft engineer K6XX, backed the default 
speed to minimum and let the firmware take care of protect the amp. Runs 
fine that way.


73, Jim K9YC
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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 RELIABILITY

[Rick Tavan]

Remember, almost no one posts messages saying "My xxx hasn't failed." Only
the bad news shows up on the reflectors.

/Rick N6XI

On Sun, Oct 30, 2022 at 2:29 AM Mark Musick  wrote:

> Hi George,
> We need a little more information.
> How many times have you sent it back?
> What were the issues? Was it the same issue each time you sent it back?
> Give us some detailed information about the issue(s).
> I have KPA1500 serial number 112. I took delivery in April 2017. It has
> never been back to CA.
> I have used it on 6 meters FT8, MSK144, Q65 and CW a lot. I finished my 6
> meter DXCC in July 2021. I've used it in many QSO parties. It hasn't missed
> a beat.
> It has been a pleasant upgrade from the Alpha 9500 that it replaced.
> I don't know how many KPA1500s are out there, but I'm sure it is a lot. I
> don't think there is a reliability issue with these amps.
> If you have been watching this reflector, yes there have been amps with
> failures. And yes, some have failed due to a bad component. However, the
> vast majority of the returns are because the operator was subjecting the
> amp to something it didn't like.
>
> 73,
> Mark, WB9CIF
>
> -Original Message-
> From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net 
> On Behalf Of W3AB/GEO
> Sent: Sunday, October 30, 2022 00:01
> To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 RELIABILITY
>
> I don't have one but I do have access to one. It is making UPS rich going
> back and forth. Is there a reliability issue with these amps?
>
> ---
> 73 de W3AB/GEO
> AFA9GB
>
> WA2LSI, KE6RJW, W7B, AAR9AG
> __
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-- 
--

Rick Tavan
Truckee and Saratoga, CA
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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 RELIABILITY

[john]

Is there a common component failure with this KPA1500 amp or does something
different break every time?  Is there a certain mode, power level or type of
antenna/feedline that causes failures?  I also monitor the SPE Expert list
and some people have multiple LDMOS failures while others have no issues
ever. N4ZR posted a similar question two months ago when someone else had
multiple LDMOS failures and I did not see any responses. 
http://mailman.qth.net/pipermail/elecraft/2022-August/290628.html

GL,
John KK9A
  

W3AB wrote:

I don't have one but I do have access to one. It is making UPS rich 
going back and forth. Is there a reliability issue with these amps?

---
73 de W3AB/GEO


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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 RELIABILITY

[Mark Musick]

Hi George,
We need a little more information. 
How many times have you sent it back?
What were the issues? Was it the same issue each time you sent it back?
Give us some detailed information about the issue(s).
I have KPA1500 serial number 112. I took delivery in April 2017. It has never 
been back to CA.
I have used it on 6 meters FT8, MSK144, Q65 and CW a lot. I finished my 6 meter 
DXCC in July 2021. I've used it in many QSO parties. It hasn't missed a beat.
It has been a pleasant upgrade from the Alpha 9500 that it replaced.
I don't know how many KPA1500s are out there, but I'm sure it is a lot. I don't 
think there is a reliability issue with these amps.
If you have been watching this reflector, yes there have been amps with 
failures. And yes, some have failed due to a bad component. However, the vast 
majority of the returns are because the operator was subjecting the amp to 
something it didn't like. 

73,
Mark, WB9CIF

-Original Message-
From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net  On 
Behalf Of W3AB/GEO
Sent: Sunday, October 30, 2022 00:01
To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 RELIABILITY

I don't have one but I do have access to one. It is making UPS rich going back 
and forth. Is there a reliability issue with these amps?

---
73 de W3AB/GEO
AFA9GB

WA2LSI, KE6RJW, W7B, AAR9AG
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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 RELIABILITY

[W3AB/GEO]

I don't have one but I do have access to one. It is making UPS rich 
going back and forth. Is there a reliability issue with these amps?


---
73 de W3AB/GEO
AFA9GB

WA2LSI, KE6RJW, W7B, AAR9AG
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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 Fault:LPF VMON

[charles respess]

Thank you Chuck, Mark, Pete, Dick and others for the information.

Based on everyone's feedback I will submit a request to
supp...@elecraft.com for
next steps.  Definitely appears to be some kind of critical failure with
the LPF board regarding Transmit / Receive PIN Diodes and related control
voltages.  Unit is 4.5 years old and this is the only problem I have had
thankfully.

73, Charles - AC1FC

On Fri, Oct 21, 2022 at 11:04 AM Chuck Stover  wrote:

> I had one of those a year or so back.  It resulted in a trip to
> Watsonville for the KPA1500.
>
> Can't find the paperwork right now, but as I recall it was a failed PIN
> diode.
>
> 73,  Chuck K4QS
>
> On Friday, October 21, 2022 at 03:40:21 AM EDT, charles respess <
> charles.resp...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
> Hello,
>
> Does anyone know how to troubleshoot KPA1500 Fault:LPF VMON?
>
> Amplifier powers up fine into standby mode, however any attempt to change
> into operate mode causes this hard fault condition 'Fault:LPF VMON'.  I
> searched archives but found no details on how to troubleshoot.
>
> Charles
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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 Fault:LPF VMON

[Chuck Stover via Elecraft]

 I had one of those a year or so back.  It resulted in a trip to Watsonville 
for the KPA1500.
Can't find the paperwork right now, but as I recall it was a failed PIN diode.
73,  Chuck K4QS
On Friday, October 21, 2022 at 03:40:21 AM EDT, charles respess 
 wrote:  
 
 Hello,

Does anyone know how to troubleshoot KPA1500 Fault:LPF VMON?

Amplifier powers up fine into standby mode, however any attempt to change
into operate mode causes this hard fault condition 'Fault:LPF VMON'.  I
searched archives but found no details on how to troubleshoot.

Charles
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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 Fault:LPF VMON

[Mark Musick]

Charles,

>From page 34 of the KPA1500 manual: LCD Message
Fault  LPF VMON  Incorrect bias voltages at the TR switch.
Fault Type  Hard

73,
Mark, WB9CIF

-Original Message-
From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net  On 
Behalf Of charles respess
Sent: Friday, October 21, 2022 07:38
To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net
Subject: [Elecraft] KPA1500 Fault:LPF VMON

Hello,

Does anyone know how to troubleshoot KPA1500 Fault:LPF VMON?

Amplifier powers up fine into standby mode, however any attempt to change into 
operate mode causes this hard fault condition 'Fault:LPF VMON'.  I searched 
archives but found no details on how to troubleshoot.

Charles
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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 Amplifiers are now shipping from Stock

[Julia Tuttle]

If I were in that situation, I would in fact appreciate an email every so
often saying "we still need widgets and they're still out of stock and
there's still no ETA" (or "we got the widgets but they are of substandard
quality", or "we're working on re-engineering it to use a doodad instead").

Periodic status updates are a way of showing you're still working on the
problem, even if there's no new news.

On Fri, Oct 7, 2022, 18:43 Gary Memory  wrote:

> Sorry, but it is not that simple to know exact status of every product
> these days.  I'm not sticking up for Elecraft, either.  I just retired from
> the military tactical commo world and since late 2019 info from component
> suppliers began to be, and still is now, nothing less than meaningless
> drivel.  I ordered parts from Mouser for my own needs over a year ago.  The
> last note I received has marked it for delivery in 2024.  COVID ravaged the
> way my old company did customer service.  Like it or not, life has changed
> and never will be what we used to know as "normal".
>  "...regularly informed" nowadays is nothing more than copy and paste of
> the update 6 months ago.
>
> On Fri, Oct 7, 2022 at 4:54 PM David Gilbert  wrote:
>
> >
> > That isn't the point at all, it isn't what I said, and you know it.   I
> > simply believe that the folks who have paid for stuff many months ago
> > should be kept regularly informed ... directly, not via word of mouth.
> > It's not expensive for Elecraft to do so.  They just have to care a bit
> > more.  They know exactly what the status of everything is at any point
> > in time.
> >
> > Dave   AB7E
> >
> >
> > On 10/7/2022 12:43 PM, Richard Hill wrote:
> > > I understood that ordered microphone parts were substandard when
> > > delivered and new parts had to be sourced, delaying production.
> > >
> > > Would you have preferred they delayed shipping the shack in a box
> > > until the mics were available?
> > >
> > > NU6T
> > >
> >
> > > On Fri, Oct 7, 2022, 12:12 PM David Gilbert  wrote:
> > >
> > >
> > > I believe his point includes the lack of any communication
> > > updates. I've
> > > suggested before that a single clerk could post regular updates
> > > here on
> > > any backorder situations.  Even if they just stated the same thing,
> > > people would know where they stood instead of wondering if they had
> > > simply been forgotten (as some folks actually have been).
> > >
> > > Other companies I've been associated with and have worked for
> > > understand
> > > this much better.
> > >
> > > Dave   AB7E
> > >
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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 Amplifiers are now shipping from Stock

[jerry]

On 2022-10-07 15:41, Gary Memory wrote:
 I ordered parts from Mouser for my own needs over a year ago.  The

last note I received has marked it for delivery in 2024.


*** I never order anything that's not "in stock".  If Mouser doesn't 
have it, I look

at digikey etc - if those run dry, I find a different part.

   - Jerry, KF6VB


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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 Amplifiers are now shipping from Stock

[Gary Memory]

Sorry, but it is not that simple to know exact status of every product
these days.  I'm not sticking up for Elecraft, either.  I just retired from
the military tactical commo world and since late 2019 info from component
suppliers began to be, and still is now, nothing less than meaningless
drivel.  I ordered parts from Mouser for my own needs over a year ago.  The
last note I received has marked it for delivery in 2024.  COVID ravaged the
way my old company did customer service.  Like it or not, life has changed
and never will be what we used to know as "normal".
 "...regularly informed" nowadays is nothing more than copy and paste of
the update 6 months ago.

On Fri, Oct 7, 2022 at 4:54 PM David Gilbert  wrote:

>
> That isn't the point at all, it isn't what I said, and you know it.   I
> simply believe that the folks who have paid for stuff many months ago
> should be kept regularly informed ... directly, not via word of mouth.
> It's not expensive for Elecraft to do so.  They just have to care a bit
> more.  They know exactly what the status of everything is at any point
> in time.
>
> Dave   AB7E
>
>
> On 10/7/2022 12:43 PM, Richard Hill wrote:
> > I understood that ordered microphone parts were substandard when
> > delivered and new parts had to be sourced, delaying production.
> >
> > Would you have preferred they delayed shipping the shack in a box
> > until the mics were available?
> >
> > NU6T
> >
>
> > On Fri, Oct 7, 2022, 12:12 PM David Gilbert  wrote:
> >
> >
> > I believe his point includes the lack of any communication
> > updates. I've
> > suggested before that a single clerk could post regular updates
> > here on
> > any backorder situations.  Even if they just stated the same thing,
> > people would know where they stood instead of wondering if they had
> > simply been forgotten (as some folks actually have been).
> >
> > Other companies I've been associated with and have worked for
> > understand
> > this much better.
> >
> > Dave   AB7E
> >
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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 Amplifiers are now shipping from Stock

[David Gilbert]

That isn't the point at all, it isn't what I said, and you know it.   I 
simply believe that the folks who have paid for stuff many months ago 
should be kept regularly informed ... directly, not via word of mouth.  
It's not expensive for Elecraft to do so.  They just have to care a bit 
more.  They know exactly what the status of everything is at any point 
in time.


Dave   AB7E


On 10/7/2022 12:43 PM, Richard Hill wrote:
I understood that ordered microphone parts were substandard when 
delivered and new parts had to be sourced, delaying production.


Would you have preferred they delayed shipping the shack in a box 
until the mics were available?


NU6T




On Fri, Oct 7, 2022, 12:12 PM David Gilbert  wrote:


I believe his point includes the lack of any communication
updates. I've
suggested before that a single clerk could post regular updates
here on
any backorder situations.  Even if they just stated the same thing,
people would know where they stood instead of wondering if they had
simply been forgotten (as some folks actually have been).

Other companies I've been associated with and have worked for
understand
this much better.

Dave   AB7E


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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 Amplifiers are now shipping from Stock

[Richard Hill]

I understood that ordered microphone parts were substandard when delivered
and new parts had to be sourced, delaying production.

Would you have preferred they delayed shipping the shack in a box until the
mics were available?

NU6T

On Fri, Oct 7, 2022, 12:12 PM David Gilbert  wrote:

>
> I believe his point includes the lack of any communication updates. I've
> suggested before that a single clerk could post regular updates here on
> any backorder situations.  Even if they just stated the same thing,
> people would know where they stood instead of wondering if they had
> simply been forgotten (as some folks actually have been).
>
> Other companies I've been associated with and have worked for understand
> this much better.
>
> Dave   AB7E
>
>
>
> On 10/7/2022 11:46 AM, Jim Brown wrote:
> > The missed point here is that the ability to buy parts to build stuff
> > has been ongoing for more than three years!
> >
> > 73, Jim K9YC
> >
> > On 10/7/2022 11:36 AM, Mike Smith VE9AA wrote:
> >> You may be missing the point.  Some of us have ordered and already
> >> paid for
> >> the KX2-shack-in-a-box which*INCLUDES*  an MH3 microphone.
> >>
> >> In my case, in a month or so it'll be about 1 year since I've paid
> >> for this.
> >
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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 Amplifiers are now shipping from Stock

[Pete Smith N4ZR]

So the KIO3BUPKT is now 3 months past worst-case, which was 12 weeks

73, Pete N4ZR
Check out the new Reverse Beacon Network
web server at.
For spots, please use your favorite
"retail" DX cluster.

On 10/7/2022 2:35 PM, j...@kk9a.com wrote:

The last update was 21 1/2 weeks ago:
http://mailman.qth.net/pipermail/elecraft/2022-May/289523.html   According to
that post everyone in groups 1 through 4 should have received their product
by now.  I am still waiting.

John KK9A


n6lrv wrote:

Thank Eric. How about an update on the K3 upgrade kits? It's been quite a
while since your last update on that subject.

73,
Gary

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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 Amplifiers are now shipping from Stock

[David Gilbert]

I believe his point includes the lack of any communication updates. I've 
suggested before that a single clerk could post regular updates here on 
any backorder situations.  Even if they just stated the same thing, 
people would know where they stood instead of wondering if they had 
simply been forgotten (as some folks actually have been).


Other companies I've been associated with and have worked for understand 
this much better.


Dave   AB7E



On 10/7/2022 11:46 AM, Jim Brown wrote:
The missed point here is that the ability to buy parts to build stuff 
has been ongoing for more than three years!


73, Jim K9YC

On 10/7/2022 11:36 AM, Mike Smith VE9AA wrote:
You may be missing the point.  Some of us have ordered and already 
paid for

the KX2-shack-in-a-box which*INCLUDES*  an MH3 microphone.

In my case, in a month or so it'll be about 1 year since I've paid 
for this.


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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 Amplifiers are now shipping from Stock

[Jim Brown]

The missed point here is that the ability to buy parts to build stuff 
has been ongoing for more than three years!


73, Jim K9YC

On 10/7/2022 11:36 AM, Mike Smith VE9AA wrote:

You may be missing the point.  Some of us have ordered and already paid for
the KX2-shack-in-a-box which*INCLUDES*  an MH3 microphone.

In my case, in a month or so it'll be about 1 year since I've paid for this.


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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 Amplifiers are now shipping from Stock

[Jim Brown]

Thanks Carl.

To those of use who have kept current with the news over the last three 
years, it comes as no surprise that Elecraft, like the rest of world's 
manufacturers, has problems obtaining parts for existing designs. For 
years, prices for new cars have skyrocketed because mfrs couldn't buy 
chips for the multiple computers each vehicle carries. The small mfr 
located in California's Sierra, from whom my wife has purchased several 
looms, has had difficulty buying parts and materials. Often, a part goes 
extinct, requiring redesign of existing products that depended on it 
introducing further delays.


For Elecraft, it isn't a matter of priorities -- neighbor and Elecraft 
mfg engineer K6XX told me that all he's doing nowadays is chasing down 
parts for existing products.


73, Jim K9YC

On 10/7/2022 11:20 AM, Carl Yaffey wrote:


I tried to order an MH3. I was told they are waiting for some parts for a new 
model of it.

Carl Yaffey  K8NU



On Oct 7, 2022, at 11:46 AM, Mike Smith VE9AA  wrote:

That's great that you're selling these expensive amps, rigs and whatnot and
keeping yourselves going, but how about updates on stuff we've paid for an
not fully rec'd?



Before last Xmas I ordered a KX2 shack-in-a-box kit and rec'd it a couple
months later(no complaints- I knew there was a small backorder), but there
was no MH3 microphone included.


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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 Amplifiers are now shipping from Stock

[Mike Smith VE9AA]

Carl

 

Yes, I totally understand.

 

If I went to the Elecraft site today and wanted to order an MH3, it's on
backorder.  I get it. I would not be allowed to order it.

 

You may be missing the point.  Some of us have ordered and already paid for
the KX2-shack-in-a-box which *INCLUDES* an MH3 microphone.

 

In my case, in a month or so it'll be about 1 year since I've paid for this.

 

I am not sure if I could've/would've not ordered the Kit or not if they had
told me it would not ship complete, but it would've been nice to be given
that option. As it was, it showed up incomplete.

 

Seems like a small complaint, I know, but I've rec'd a number of private
emails already from folks in similar situations, some not as lucky as myself
(I own multiple radios).

 

I've found in my life, usually "honesty is the best policy" and especially
being a ham I believe "communication is key" (in life, business, etc.)

 

Happy Thanksgiving everyone ! (VE Thanksgiving this weekend)

 

Mike VE9AA

 

From: Carl Yaffey [mailto:cyaf...@gmail.com] 
Sent: October 7, 2022 3:20 PM
To: Mike Smith VE9AA
Cc: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 Amplifiers are now shipping from Stock

 

I tried to order an MH3. I was told they are waiting for some parts for a
new model of it. 

 

Carl Yaffey  K8NU
614 268 6353, Columbus OH
http://www.carl-yaffey.com
http://www.bluesswing.com
http://www.timbrewolvesband.com
http://www.folkramblers.carl-yaffey.com
http://www.clintonvillegrass.com





On Oct 7, 2022, at 11:46 AM, Mike Smith VE9AA  wrote:

 

That's great that you're selling these expensive amps, rigs and whatnot and
keeping yourselves going, but how about updates on stuff we've paid for an
not fully rec'd?



Before last Xmas I ordered a KX2 shack-in-a-box kit and rec'd it a couple
months later(no complaints- I knew there was a small backorder), but there
was no MH3 microphone included.

(nor was it indicated on the paperwork that Elecraft even knew it was
missing)

I had to complain via several channels and then subsequent emails to Wayne
told me I'd receive it at some point.



Soon it'll be 1 year since I placed my order and still no mic. (and zero
updates)



Yes, it's very small potatoes and yes, I am a big fan of Elecraft equipment
owning a multitude of your transceivers (K1, KX2, KX3 and two K3's), all in
the shack here but when I see messages about K4's and KPA1500's and not even
a single update to my private email (or publicly) about my microphone it
just is upsetting.  Like myself and others got lost in the dust but 'Hey,
spend your hard earned dollars on these big ticket items y'all"



I hope that makes sense.



Sometimes it's the little things fellas.



Respectfully



Mike VE9AA



Mike, Coreen & Corey

Keswick Ridge, NB



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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 Amplifiers are now shipping from Stock

[john]

The last update was 21 1/2 weeks ago:
http://mailman.qth.net/pipermail/elecraft/2022-May/289523.html  According to
that post everyone in groups 1 through 4 should have received their product
by now.  I am still waiting.

John KK9A


n6lrv wrote:

Thank Eric. How about an update on the K3 upgrade kits? It's been quite a
while since your last update on that subject.

73,
Gary

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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 Amplifiers are now shipping from Stock

[Carl Yaffey]

I tried to order an MH3. I was told they are waiting for some parts for a new 
model of it. 

Carl Yaffey  K8NU
614 268 6353, Columbus OH
http://www.carl-yaffey.com
http://www.bluesswing.com
http://www.timbrewolvesband.com
http://www.folkramblers.carl-yaffey.com
http://www.clintonvillegrass.com

> On Oct 7, 2022, at 11:46 AM, Mike Smith VE9AA  wrote:
> 
> That's great that you're selling these expensive amps, rigs and whatnot and
> keeping yourselves going, but how about updates on stuff we've paid for an
> not fully rec'd?
> 
> 
> 
> Before last Xmas I ordered a KX2 shack-in-a-box kit and rec'd it a couple
> months later(no complaints- I knew there was a small backorder), but there
> was no MH3 microphone included.
> 
> (nor was it indicated on the paperwork that Elecraft even knew it was
> missing)
> 
> I had to complain via several channels and then subsequent emails to Wayne
> told me I'd receive it at some point.
> 
> 
> 
> Soon it'll be 1 year since I placed my order and still no mic. (and zero
> updates)
> 
> 
> 
> Yes, it's very small potatoes and yes, I am a big fan of Elecraft equipment
> owning a multitude of your transceivers (K1, KX2, KX3 and two K3's), all in
> the shack here but when I see messages about K4's and KPA1500's and not even
> a single update to my private email (or publicly) about my microphone it
> just is upsetting.  Like myself and others got lost in the dust but 'Hey,
> spend your hard earned dollars on these big ticket items y'all"
> 
> 
> 
> I hope that makes sense.
> 
> 
> 
> Sometimes it's the little things fellas.
> 
> 
> 
> Respectfully
> 
> 
> 
> Mike VE9AA
> 
> 
> 
> Mike, Coreen & Corey
> 
> Keswick Ridge, NB
> 
> 
> 
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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 Amplifiers are now shipping from Stock

[David Gilbert]

Well, to be fair, you did get to hear several updates about Wayne's 
pedestrian mobile operations.  Does that count?


I just think that Elecraft priorities are a bit skewed here.  The 
complaints about poor and inconsistent communications have been going on 
for a long time.  Great responsiveness was once an Elecraft trademark.


Dave  AB7E


On 10/7/2022 8:46 AM, Mike Smith VE9AA wrote:

That's great that you're selling these expensive amps, rigs and whatnot and
keeping yourselves going, but how about updates on stuff we've paid for an
not fully rec'd?

Before last Xmas I ordered a KX2 shack-in-a-box kit and rec'd it a couple
months later(no complaints- I knew there was a small backorder), but there
was no MH3 microphone included.

(nor was it indicated on the paperwork that Elecraft even knew it was
missing)

I had to complain via several channels and then subsequent emails to Wayne
told me I'd receive it at some point.

Soon it'll be 1 year since I placed my order and still no mic. (and zero
updates)

Yes, it's very small potatoes and yes, I am a big fan of Elecraft equipment
owning a multitude of your transceivers (K1, KX2, KX3 and two K3's), all in
the shack here but when I see messages about K4's and KPA1500's and not even
a single update to my private email (or publicly) about my microphone it
just is upsetting.  Like myself and others got lost in the dust but 'Hey,
spend your hard earned dollars on these big ticket items y'all"

I hope that makes sense.

Sometimes it's the little things fellas.

Respectfully
Mike VE9AA

Mike, Coreen & Corey
Keswick Ridge, NB



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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 Amplifiers are now shipping from Stock

[Dean Felz]

I would also like the status on the MH3.
I purchased the kx2 shack in the box in Feb and still no mic

On Fri, Oct 7, 2022 at 8:47 AM Mike Smith VE9AA  wrote:

> That's great that you're selling these expensive amps, rigs and whatnot and
> keeping yourselves going, but how about updates on stuff we've paid for an
> not fully rec'd?
>
>
>
> Before last Xmas I ordered a KX2 shack-in-a-box kit and rec'd it a couple
> months later(no complaints- I knew there was a small backorder), but there
> was no MH3 microphone included.
>
> (nor was it indicated on the paperwork that Elecraft even knew it was
> missing)
>
> I had to complain via several channels and then subsequent emails to Wayne
> told me I'd receive it at some point.
>
>
>
> Soon it'll be 1 year since I placed my order and still no mic. (and zero
> updates)
>
>
>
> Yes, it's very small potatoes and yes, I am a big fan of Elecraft equipment
> owning a multitude of your transceivers (K1, KX2, KX3 and two K3's), all in
> the shack here but when I see messages about K4's and KPA1500's and not
> even
> a single update to my private email (or publicly) about my microphone it
> just is upsetting.  Like myself and others got lost in the dust but 'Hey,
> spend your hard earned dollars on these big ticket items y'all"
>
>
>
> I hope that makes sense.
>
>
>
> Sometimes it's the little things fellas.
>
>
>
> Respectfully
>
>
>
> Mike VE9AA
>
>
>
> Mike, Coreen & Corey
>
> Keswick Ridge, NB
>
>
>
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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 Amplifiers are now shipping from Stock

[Mike Smith VE9AA]

That's great that you're selling these expensive amps, rigs and whatnot and
keeping yourselves going, but how about updates on stuff we've paid for an
not fully rec'd?

 

Before last Xmas I ordered a KX2 shack-in-a-box kit and rec'd it a couple
months later(no complaints- I knew there was a small backorder), but there
was no MH3 microphone included.

(nor was it indicated on the paperwork that Elecraft even knew it was
missing)

I had to complain via several channels and then subsequent emails to Wayne
told me I'd receive it at some point.

 

Soon it'll be 1 year since I placed my order and still no mic. (and zero
updates)

 

Yes, it's very small potatoes and yes, I am a big fan of Elecraft equipment
owning a multitude of your transceivers (K1, KX2, KX3 and two K3's), all in
the shack here but when I see messages about K4's and KPA1500's and not even
a single update to my private email (or publicly) about my microphone it
just is upsetting.  Like myself and others got lost in the dust but 'Hey,
spend your hard earned dollars on these big ticket items y'all"

 

I hope that makes sense.

 

Sometimes it's the little things fellas.

 

Respectfully

 

Mike VE9AA

 

Mike, Coreen & Corey

Keswick Ridge, NB

 

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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 Amplifiers are now shipping from Stock

[Pete Smith N4ZR]

Indeed, and I used an SB-220 for 22 years.  Doesn't reduce my enjoyment 
of the KPA-1500 one bit


73, Pete N4ZR
Check out the new Reverse Beacon Network
web server at.
For spots, please use your favorite
"retail" DX cluster.

On 10/7/2022 8:58 AM, Wes wrote:

Unfortunately, the price is that of a 1500 watt transceiver.

On 10/6/2022 7:05 PM, Pete Smith N4ZR wrote:
An unsolicited testimonial - I've had an early KPA-1500 (#502) for 
almost 4 years, with a 2K serial number K-3.  It's like having a 
1500-watt transceiver.


73, Pete N4ZR


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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 Amplifiers are now shipping from Stock

[Wes]

Unfortunately, the price is that of a 1500 watt transceiver.

On 10/6/2022 7:05 PM, Pete Smith N4ZR wrote:
An unsolicited testimonial - I've had an early KPA-1500 (#502) for almost 4 
years, with a 2K serial number K-3.  It's like having a 1500-watt transceiver.


73, Pete N4ZR


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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 Amplifiers are now shipping from Stock

[Pete Smith N4ZR]

An unsolicited testimonial - I've had an early KPA-1500 (#502) for 
almost 4 years, with a 2K serial number K-3.  It's like having a 
1500-watt transceiver.


73, Pete N4ZR
Check out the new Reverse Beacon Network
web server at.
For spots, please use your favorite
"retail" DX cluster.

On 10/6/2022 8:08 PM, Eric Swartz wrote:

Just a heads up that we've been working hard to catch up with our order
backlog of KPA1500 solid state amps.  Interest in the 1500 has been very
strong and we have been successful getting ahead of the increasing order
rate.   (The 1500 fully integrates with our K3 and K4 Product lines and is
compatible with most HF transceivers from other manufacturers.)

KPA1500s are now available off the shelf for immediate delivery from stock
:-)  Get 'em while they're hot off the press!

Shipping for the KPA1500 is also free to the lower 48 U.S. states
this month.

More info on the KPA1500 is available at:
https://elecraft.com/products/kpa1500-amplifier

73,
Eric
*elecraft.com*
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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 Amplifiers are now shipping from Stock

[Pete Smith N4ZR]

I second the motion - I've been in line for a KIO3B for over 2 years.

73, Pete N4ZR
Check out the new Reverse Beacon Network
web server at.
For spots, please use your favorite
"retail" DX cluster.

On 10/6/2022 9:34 PM, n6...@outlook.com wrote:

Thank Eric. How about an update on the K3 upgrade kits? It's been quite a while 
since your last update on that subject.

73,
Gary

From:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.neton behalf 
of Eric Swartz
Sent: Thursday, October 6, 2022 5:08 PM
To: Elecraft list
Subject: [Elecraft] KPA1500 Amplifiers are now shipping from Stock

Just a heads up that we've been working hard to catch up with our order
backlog of KPA1500 solid state amps.  Interest in the 1500 has been very
strong and we have been successful getting ahead of the increasing order
rate.   (The 1500 fully integrates with our K3 and K4 Product lines and is
compatible with most HF transceivers from other manufacturers.)

KPA1500s are now available off the shelf for immediate delivery from stock
:-)  Get 'em while they're hot off the press!

Shipping for the KPA1500 is also free to the lower 48 U.S. states
this month.

More info on the KPA1500 is available at:
https://elecraft.com/products/kpa1500-amplifier

73,
Eric
*elecraft.com*
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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 Amplifiers are now shipping from Stock

[n6...@outlook.com]

Thank Eric. How about an update on the K3 upgrade kits? It's been quite a while 
since your last update on that subject.

73,
Gary

From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net  on 
behalf of Eric Swartz 
Sent: Thursday, October 6, 2022 5:08 PM
To: Elecraft list 
Subject: [Elecraft] KPA1500 Amplifiers are now shipping from Stock

Just a heads up that we've been working hard to catch up with our order
backlog of KPA1500 solid state amps.  Interest in the 1500 has been very
strong and we have been successful getting ahead of the increasing order
rate.   (The 1500 fully integrates with our K3 and K4 Product lines and is
compatible with most HF transceivers from other manufacturers.)

KPA1500s are now available off the shelf for immediate delivery from stock
:-)  Get 'em while they're hot off the press!

Shipping for the KPA1500 is also free to the lower 48 U.S. states
this month.

More info on the KPA1500 is available at:
https://elecraft.com/products/kpa1500-amplifier

73,
Eric
*elecraft.com *
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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 ATU question

[Jorge Diez - CX6VM]

Hi

I tried to train the ATU for 6 mts.

50.090, I do ATU Tune and after it finished show me a SWR 1.5:1
I change to ATU BYP and SWR is 1:1

So seems something is wrong with the KPA1500 tuner?

73,
Jorge
CX6VM/CW5W

El mar, 13 sept 2022 a las 15:29, Dick Dievendorff ()
escribió:

> What I do is leave the ATU function ON for all bands.  If my 6 meter SWR
> is “really good”, the ATU tune operation (done once in a “training
> session”) discovers this and selects ATU bypassed as the preferred ATU
> setting. Both ATU LEDs are illuminated, indicating that the ATU function is
> enabled, but the current ATU a setting is bypassed.
>
> Some of my HF antennas have good SWR at one end of the band but need more
> ATU assistance at other frequencies.  I don’t turn the ATU on and off, my
> ATU relay settings are “bypassed” on some frequencies.
>
> You can choose the “really good” SWR threshold, by band, in a menu or the
> KPA1500 Utility.  I think it defaults to 1.2 to 1.
>
> 73 de Dick, K6KR
>
> > On Sep 13, 2022, at 10:14, Jorge Diez - CX6VM 
> wrote:
> >
> > hello
> >
> > How can I use the KPA1500 to remember what bands need ATU IN and what
> bands
> > need ATU BYP?
> >
> > I have ATU IN on HF bands, but when I change to 6 mts I need that KPA1500
> > change to ATU BYP
> >
> > Is this possible?
> >
> > thanks!
> > --
> > 73,
> > Jorge
> > CX6VM/CW5W
> > __
> > 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
>


-- 
73,
Jorge
CX6VM/CW5W
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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 ATU question

[Pete Smith N4ZR]

IMO, the really critical thing to do is to follow the table in the 
manual and "train" the ATU at the recommended intervals on each band.  
Once you have done this it effectively becomes a 1500-watt transceiver 
(unless, of course, you have more than two antennas per band).


73, Pete N4ZR
Check out the new Reverse Beacon Network
web server at.
For spots, please use your favorite
"retail" DX cluster.

On 9/13/2022 3:03 PM, Jorge Diez - CX6VM wrote:

thanks all very much for the tips

73,
Jorge
CX6VM/CW5W

El mar, 13 sept 2022 a las 15:29, Dick Dievendorff ()
escribió:


What I do is leave the ATU function ON for all bands.  If my 6 meter SWR
is “really good”, the ATU tune operation (done once in a “training
session”) discovers this and selects ATU bypassed as the preferred ATU
setting. Both ATU LEDs are illuminated, indicating that the ATU function is
enabled, but the current ATU a setting is bypassed.

Some of my HF antennas have good SWR at one end of the band but need more
ATU assistance at other frequencies.  I don’t turn the ATU on and off, my
ATU relay settings are “bypassed” on some frequencies.

You can choose the “really good” SWR threshold, by band, in a menu or the
KPA1500 Utility.  I think it defaults to 1.2 to 1.

73 de Dick, K6KR


On Sep 13, 2022, at 10:14, Jorge Diez - CX6VM

wrote:

hello

How can I use the KPA1500 to remember what bands need ATU IN and what

bands

need ATU BYP?

I have ATU IN on HF bands, but when I change to 6 mts I need that KPA1500
change to ATU BYP

Is this possible?

thanks!
--
73,
Jorge
CX6VM/CW5W
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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 ATU question

[Jorge Diez - CX6VM]

thanks all very much for the tips

73,
Jorge
CX6VM/CW5W

El mar, 13 sept 2022 a las 15:29, Dick Dievendorff ()
escribió:

> What I do is leave the ATU function ON for all bands.  If my 6 meter SWR
> is “really good”, the ATU tune operation (done once in a “training
> session”) discovers this and selects ATU bypassed as the preferred ATU
> setting. Both ATU LEDs are illuminated, indicating that the ATU function is
> enabled, but the current ATU a setting is bypassed.
>
> Some of my HF antennas have good SWR at one end of the band but need more
> ATU assistance at other frequencies.  I don’t turn the ATU on and off, my
> ATU relay settings are “bypassed” on some frequencies.
>
> You can choose the “really good” SWR threshold, by band, in a menu or the
> KPA1500 Utility.  I think it defaults to 1.2 to 1.
>
> 73 de Dick, K6KR
>
> > On Sep 13, 2022, at 10:14, Jorge Diez - CX6VM 
> wrote:
> >
> > hello
> >
> > How can I use the KPA1500 to remember what bands need ATU IN and what
> bands
> > need ATU BYP?
> >
> > I have ATU IN on HF bands, but when I change to 6 mts I need that KPA1500
> > change to ATU BYP
> >
> > Is this possible?
> >
> > thanks!
> > --
> > 73,
> > Jorge
> > CX6VM/CW5W
> > __
> > 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
>


-- 
73,
Jorge
CX6VM/CW5W
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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 ATU question

[Dick Dievendorff]

What I do is leave the ATU function ON for all bands.  If my 6 meter SWR is 
“really good”, the ATU tune operation (done once in a “training session”) 
discovers this and selects ATU bypassed as the preferred ATU setting. Both ATU 
LEDs are illuminated, indicating that the ATU function is enabled, but the 
current ATU a setting is bypassed.  

Some of my HF antennas have good SWR at one end of the band but need more ATU 
assistance at other frequencies.  I don’t turn the ATU on and off, my ATU relay 
settings are “bypassed” on some frequencies.

You can choose the “really good” SWR threshold, by band, in a menu or the 
KPA1500 Utility.  I think it defaults to 1.2 to 1.

73 de Dick, K6KR

> On Sep 13, 2022, at 10:14, Jorge Diez - CX6VM  wrote:
> 
> hello
> 
> How can I use the KPA1500 to remember what bands need ATU IN and what bands
> need ATU BYP?
> 
> I have ATU IN on HF bands, but when I change to 6 mts I need that KPA1500
> change to ATU BYP
> 
> Is this possible?
> 
> thanks!
> -- 
> 73,
> Jorge
> CX6VM/CW5W
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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 ATU question

[Tim Tucker]

The easiest way is to set the defaults per band in the KPA1500 Utility.

Tim

On Tue, Sep 13, 2022 at 10:11 AM Jorge Diez - CX6VM 
wrote:

> hello
>
> How can I use the KPA1500 to remember what bands need ATU IN and what bands
> need ATU BYP?
>
> I have ATU IN on HF bands, but when I change to 6 mts I need that KPA1500
> change to ATU BYP
>
> Is this possible?
>
> thanks!
> --
> 73,
> Jorge
> CX6VM/CW5W
> __
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> Message delivered to ae...@worldwidedx.com
>


-- 
Owner, worldwidedx.com
AE6LX, Amateur Radio
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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 power supply (remote)

[jerry]

On 2022-08-14 08:43, Dick Dievendorff wrote:

The KPA1500 power supply container houses several power supplies. Only
a small one is on all the time. It can run a microcontroller and
switch the larger supplies, but not much else.


*** And with good reason.  It's hard to switch say 65Amps at 50V ( I 
don't know
the exact voltage of the PA, but 50 - 53V is common ).  And PA's are 
very sensitive to voltage

drop.  The less, the better.

   I have a very quiet homebrew amp with a remote mounted power supply.  
The supply lives
in a box under the bed.  Right now I duck under the bed to turn it on & 
off.  I have a high power
12V relay on the bench.  I plan to put that relay at the AC line input 
and use a separate 12V power
supply to power it.  A couple of wires to the RF deck going to a little 
tiny toggle switch on
the front panel.  Two other small wires will also go to the power supply 
to talk to it via CAN bus,
which can monitor output current and two power supply temperatures.  I 
*could* extend the CAN bus
to a processor to control the power input relay, but I don't want to 
work that hard :).


 - Jerry, KF6VB





The 50V and 12v supplies are switched completely off when the amp is
“off”. The fans are associated with the 50v supply.

It’s like a TV set that can be operated by a remote control. Or a wall
power switch that can be turned on by a microcontroller.

73 de Dick, K6KR


On Aug 14, 2022, at 08:17, Rick Tavan  wrote:

I leave my KPA1500 PS on continuously, whether I'm local or remote. 
No

observed ill effects. When the amp is off, the PS is silent. I haven't
measured its current drain in that condition but I expect it is 
minimal. I
have a remote relay box that I could use to key a larger relay in the 
230V

AC supply line but I don't see any need to do that.

73,

/Rick N6XI

On Sun, Aug 14, 2022 at 6:30 AM Jorge Diez - CX6VM 


wrote:

Hello!

when you use the KPA1500 remotely, the power is always on. With which 
it

could spend several years on continuously. Could this be harmful to
the power supply?

Is it thought and designed to withstand this?

Is there a way to turn the power on and off remotely?

thanks!

--
73,
Jorge
CX6VM/CW5W
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--
--

Rick Tavan
Truckee and Saratoga, CA
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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 power supply (remote)

[Dick Dievendorff]

The KPA1500 power supply container houses several power supplies. Only a small 
one is on all the time. It can run a microcontroller and switch the larger 
supplies, but not much else.

The 50V and 12v supplies are switched completely off when the amp is “off”. The 
fans are associated with the 50v supply.

It’s like a TV set that can be operated by a remote control. Or a wall power 
switch that can be turned on by a microcontroller.  

73 de Dick, K6KR

> On Aug 14, 2022, at 08:17, Rick Tavan  wrote:
> 
> I leave my KPA1500 PS on continuously, whether I'm local or remote. No
> observed ill effects. When the amp is off, the PS is silent. I haven't
> measured its current drain in that condition but I expect it is minimal. I
> have a remote relay box that I could use to key a larger relay in the 230V
> AC supply line but I don't see any need to do that.
> 
> 73,
> 
> /Rick N6XI
> 
>> On Sun, Aug 14, 2022 at 6:30 AM Jorge Diez - CX6VM 
>> wrote:
>> 
>> Hello!
>> 
>> when you use the KPA1500 remotely, the power is always on. With which it
>> could spend several years on continuously. Could this be harmful to
>> the power supply?
>> 
>> Is it thought and designed to withstand this?
>> 
>> Is there a way to turn the power on and off remotely?
>> 
>> thanks!
>> 
>> --
>> 73,
>> Jorge
>> CX6VM/CW5W
>> __
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> 
> 
> -- 
> --
> 
> Rick Tavan
> Truckee and Saratoga, CA
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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 power supply (remote)

[Rick Tavan]

I leave my KPA1500 PS on continuously, whether I'm local or remote. No
observed ill effects. When the amp is off, the PS is silent. I haven't
measured its current drain in that condition but I expect it is minimal. I
have a remote relay box that I could use to key a larger relay in the 230V
AC supply line but I don't see any need to do that.

73,

/Rick N6XI

On Sun, Aug 14, 2022 at 6:30 AM Jorge Diez - CX6VM 
wrote:

> Hello!
>
> when you use the KPA1500 remotely, the power is always on. With which it
> could spend several years on continuously. Could this be harmful to
> the power supply?
>
> Is it thought and designed to withstand this?
>
> Is there a way to turn the power on and off remotely?
>
> thanks!
>
> --
> 73,
> Jorge
> CX6VM/CW5W
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-- 
--

Rick Tavan
Truckee and Saratoga, CA
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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 power supply (remote)

[Jorge Diez - CX6VM]

Hello Lou

thanks very much for the information!

73,
Jorge


El dom, 14 ago 2022 a las 11:13, Lou Laderman ()
escribió:

> Here’s a thread from the Flex Community regarding remote relay setups to
> control power to 220v amps with some good ideas.
>
>
> https://community.flexradio.com/discussion/8023204/remote-220-240vac-switch#latest
>
> I built a remote 220v power switch using this relay from Amazon
>
>
> https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07FCJ39QR?psc=1=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title
>
> I’m using an old 110v to 12v wall wort that’s plugged into one of the
> receptacles on a Digital Loggers web pro switch to control the relay. Works
> extremely well. It’s behind my router so if my network goes down I can’t
> access it directly. There are web switches available that can be directly
> accessed if that’s an important need for you.
>
> 73. Lou W0FK
>
> Lou Laderman
> Sent from my mobile device
>
> On Aug 14, 2022, at 8:29 AM, Jorge Diez - CX6VM 
> wrote:
>
> Hello!
>
> when you use the KPA1500 remotely, the power is always on. With which it
> could spend several years on continuously. Could this be harmful to
> the power supply?
>
> Is it thought and designed to withstand this?
>
> Is there a way to turn the power on and off remotely?
>
> thanks!
>
> --
> 73,
> Jorge
> CX6VM/CW5W
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-- 
73,
Jorge
CX6VM/CW5W
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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 power supply (remote)

[Lou Laderman via Elecraft]

Here’s a thread from the Flex Community regarding remote relay setups to 
control power to 220v amps with some good ideas.

https://community.flexradio.com/discussion/8023204/remote-220-240vac-switch#latest

I built a remote 220v power switch using this relay from Amazon 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07FCJ39QR?psc=1=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

I’m using an old 110v to 12v wall wort that’s plugged into one of the 
receptacles on a Digital Loggers web pro switch to control the relay. Works 
extremely well. It’s behind my router so if my network goes down I can’t access 
it directly. There are web switches available that can be directly accessed if 
that’s an important need for you.

73. Lou W0FK

Lou Laderman
Sent from my mobile device 

On Aug 14, 2022, at 8:29 AM, Jorge Diez - CX6VM  wrote:

Hello!

when you use the KPA1500 remotely, the power is always on. With which it
could spend several years on continuously. Could this be harmful to
the power supply?

Is it thought and designed to withstand this?

Is there a way to turn the power on and off remotely?

thanks!

-- 
73,
Jorge
CX6VM/CW5W
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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 finals replaced...

[Pete Smith N4ZR]

It would be useful to know more about the circumstances of these final 
transistor failures.  I have been running my KPA-1500 for almost three 
years, contesting, almost always at 1400+ watts, and, fingers crossed, 
so far it continues to run with my K3 like a 1500-watt transceiver.  I 
often (more frequently than I would like) trigger SWR faults due to 
having the wrong antenna connected, but it always recovers easily.


73, Pete N4ZR
Check out the new Reverse Beacon Network
web server at .
For spots, please use your favorite
"retail" DX cluster.

On 8/9/2022 1:51 PM, wa3...@nycap.rr.com wrote:

I have lost the finals twice in my KPA1500

The first was under warrenty (about 6 months) with PA FET, T/R diodes and input 
attenuator
damaged

The second was just before the two year mark (finals + LPF PCB assy).

In addition, the power supply failed once at about 1.5 years due to a 
manufacturing defect.

A bit of my operation is NOT at the most efficient power levels (200-700 watts) 
for the
KPA1500 and I have been reassured (a couple of times) by Elecraft that the 
KPA1500 is
designed to operate at ANY power level and that is not the reason for the 
failures.  I would go
higher in power if a P5 and/or BS7 would ever appear.

I bought the KPA1500 knowing that I would not be operating at super high power. 
 I wanted a
reliable amplifier and having units that I could lift as I have been licensed 
for 58 years. My
previous amplifier was 58 pounds and the shipping cost (69 pounds) to replace a 
blown T/R
switch was heart breaking!

Yes, it took a long time sitting on the Elecraft shelf waiting for repair (each 
time), but all
repairs were done properly.

I do have a variety of antennas (12 coaxial inverted Ls in various phasing 
configurations),
steppir beam, inverted Vee and keeping them all operating (get some high winds 
here) is a
bit.  Hopefully, the SWR faults should protect the amplifier if something 
happens while
operating.

73

Bruce, WA3AFS
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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 repair times

[NS9I WI]

Thank you very much for the info - mine arrived on June 28.

73 Dwight NS9I

On 8/2/2022 12:01 PM, wa3...@nycap.rr.com wrote:

My KAP1500 arrived at Elecraft on June 8 and was shipped back to me July 27.  
(Should be
delivered tomorrow!)

I did send notes to support a couple of times asking where it was on the queue 
and each was
answered pretty quickly.

73 and good luck (hope yours is cheaper than mine.replaced finals..$733 
including
shipping back to me!)



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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500/PS SPACING

[Wes]

My boyhood neighbor and "Elmer", Lee, W7UVR (see my QRZ page) fell into a trust 
fund income and had all of the toys.  He enlisted a local ham, who was a tool 
and die maker and great builder of equipment, to build the mechanicals of a CW 
rig using a Geloso VFO driving an HK57. I begged him to let me buy and finish 
the rig.  He said, no doubt correctly at the time, that this would be beyond me, 
but his brother, W6GMC, had a DX100 that he built but no longer wanted, and that 
would be the ideal rig for me.  IIRC the kit sold for $189 and he would sell the 
assembled rig for the same amount and I could pay him $5/week. The deal was 
struck and he drove to CA to pick up the DX100.  That and my BC-342-N was the 
station.


When I got interested in two-meters in the 1960s  I did build quite a few amps; 
one of them used an 829B and I "stole" the modulated B+ from the DX100 to run it 
on AM.


Wes  N7WS


On 7/2/2022 3:35 PM, Jim Brown wrote:

On 7/2/2022 1:58 PM, Wes wrote:

Hard to believe.  A man of your age and experience.


My experience was earlier, with an Apache, and later a TV. And there were a 
DX100 and SX101 that an older ham loaned me because he couldn't pass the 13 
wpm code test. Before that, it was a couple of Command sets and a BC348, and 
before that, an S38D. No way could I have bought that DX100 in my high school 
days -- it was two summers of work for the BC348.


I bought my first amp in 2004.

73, Jim K9YC


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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500/PS SPACING

[Eric Norris]

Thanks for the responses.  The KPA1500 manual says just 1" on the sides of
the RF deck and PS is adequate, so I think I'll be OK--as will my HW-16.

73 Eric WD6DBM

On Sat, Jul 2, 2022, 6:01 PM jerry  wrote:

> On 2022-07-02 15:35, Jim Brown wrote:
> >
> > I bought my first amp in 2004.
>
> *** And I built my first amp in 1971.  It was a Command set transmitter
> chassis stuffed with 4 6LQ6's.  The roller coil served as the inductor
> in
> the output Pi network.  I remember 15 meters was something like an 8th
> of a turn.
>
>My mom gave me 25 cents a day to eat lunch in the school cafeteria.
> In 3 years
> of high school, I never once set foot in that cafeteria - in fact, I
> never even
> learned where it was.  I saved those quarters for electronic parts.
>
> - Jerry, KF6VB
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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500/PS SPACING

[jerry]

On 2022-07-02 15:35, Jim Brown wrote:


I bought my first amp in 2004.


*** And I built my first amp in 1971.  It was a Command set transmitter
chassis stuffed with 4 6LQ6's.  The roller coil served as the inductor 
in
the output Pi network.  I remember 15 meters was something like an 8th 
of a turn.


  My mom gave me 25 cents a day to eat lunch in the school cafeteria.  
In 3 years
of high school, I never once set foot in that cafeteria - in fact, I 
never even

learned where it was.  I saved those quarters for electronic parts.

   - Jerry, KF6VB
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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500/PS SPACING

[Pete Smith N4ZR]

Call you, and raise you an AT-1 (along with an S38D too).

73, Pete N4ZR
Check out the new Reverse Beacon Network
web server at .
For spots, please use your favorite
"retail" DX cluster.

On 7/2/2022 6:35 PM, Jim Brown wrote:

On 7/2/2022 1:58 PM, Wes wrote:

Hard to believe.  A man of your age and experience.


My experience was earlier, with an Apache, and later a TV. And there 
were a DX100 and SX101 that an older ham loaned me because he couldn't 
pass the 13 wpm code test. Before that, it was a couple of Command 
sets and a BC348, and before that, an S38D. No way could I have bought 
that DX100 in my high school days -- it was two summers of work for 
the BC348.


I bought my first amp in 2004.

73, Jim K9YC


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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500/PS SPACING

[john]

It is a Heathkit transceiver - you can own one if you wish:)
https://www.ebay.com/itm/185435021038?hash=item2b2cc9deee:g:wKEAAOSwH8xiiPiy

John KK9A


Jim Brown K9YC wrote:

Eric,

I don't know what an HW-16 is. The PSU for my KPA-1500 sits on a shelf 
below it. The limitation is the length of the cables that connect the 
PSU to the RF deck. I don't remember the length -- check the poop sheet 
on the Elecraft website.

73, Jim K9YC

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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500/PS SPACING

[Jim Brown]

On 7/2/2022 1:58 PM, Wes wrote:

Hard to believe.  A man of your age and experience.


My experience was earlier, with an Apache, and later a TV. And there 
were a DX100 and SX101 that an older ham loaned me because he couldn't 
pass the 13 wpm code test. Before that, it was a couple of Command sets 
and a BC348, and before that, an S38D. No way could I have bought that 
DX100 in my high school days -- it was two summers of work for the BC348.


I bought my first amp in 2004.

73, Jim K9YC


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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500/PS SPACING

[Julia Tuttle]

Wes, don't be like that.

You do that, and people get afraid to ask questions, and we miss an
opportunity to pass on knowledge. Randall Munroe has a good take on this:
https://xkcd.com/1053/

For those who are curious, the HW-16 is a HeathKit CW rig covering (part
of) 80, 40, and 15 meters. I'm unfamiliar with it myself, but this page
seems to have some good info: https://wd8rif.com/hw16.htm

I learned something today. Maybe next time you'll get to teach it.

73,

Julie

On Sat, Jul 2, 2022, 16:59 Wes  wrote:

> Hard to believe.  A man of your age and experience.
>
> On 7/2/2022 12:16 PM, Jim Brown wrote:
> >
> > I don't know what an HW-16 is.
>
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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500/PS SPACING

[Wes]

Hard to believe.  A man of your age and experience.

On 7/2/2022 12:16 PM, Jim Brown wrote:


I don't know what an HW-16 is.


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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500/PS SPACING

[Jim Brown]

On 7/2/2022 3:18 AM, eric norris via Elecraft wrote:

I am considering a new shack layout that would place on a single shelf, in left 
to right order, KPA1500 RF DECK--HW-16--KPA1500 PS.  My question for the brain 
trust is:  How much space is required between components?


Eric,

I don't know what an HW-16 is. The PSU for my KPA-1500 sits on a shelf 
below it. The limitation is the length of the cables that connect the 
PSU to the RF deck. I don't remember the length -- check the poop sheet 
on the Elecraft website.


73, Jim K9YC
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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 reduces power as it gets warmer?

[Ed Cole]

Disclaimer: OK the title is about the KPA1500; Elecraft advice probably 
extends to all their amps.  KL7UW


***
"You should be running fans full-speed under those conditions if you 
want it to live long! "


Please share any data you have that supports any claim than running 
continuous full fan on any Elecraft amplifier has any advantage over 
letting the firmware control the fans based on PA temperature.

Andy, k3wyc
-
If talking about CW, SSB, other low duty cycle modes that is fine, But:
Running digital modes that run "Key down" full output for longer time 
periods (eme cycles Tx=50sec/ Rx=70-seconds sometimes for for 
significant parts of a hour).  The safest procedure is to turn on fans 
full time.


Letting temp control logic control speed is also good (with Elecraft) 
but you are depending on reliability of more ckts.  What is the risk? 
How much to repair blown amp?

KL7UW

***
It?s actually better than that. FT8 only transmits for 12.6 seconds 
giving a duty cycle of 42%. The 7.4 seconds left over are used for 
decode so you can have an answer to send in the next transmit slot.


73 Bill AE6JV
-
Assuming you are running FT8 in 15-second sequencing. But FT8 can be run 
30-sec or 1-min seq, where Tx time is extended.  FT8 on HF or 6m using 
skip or sporadic-E, signals are probably strong enough for short receive 
sequences.  Not true if you are trying true weak-signal methods (example 
eme).  KL7UW


***
The engineer that created the amp recently said that you should let the
amp handle the fans.? It should be in the archives here on this list.
W0MU
--

OK, how much risk you take is up to you.  Regarding fan wear, I'm sure 
Elecraft chose long life-cycle fans (what is the MTBF?)


BTW does the KPA1500 display heat sink temp?  I add thermistors to all 
my amp heat sinks to real-time monitor temp.  The control board I use 
provides cktry for monitoring thermistor voltage plus auto-shutdown if 
temp exceeds trip point (or I can switch fans on, Full Time, bypassing 
the fan control ckt).


I operate eme 99% of the time.

73, Ed - KL7UW
Only Elecraft amp I own is KXPA100
the rest are W6PQL LDMOS amps
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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 reduces power as it gets warmer?

[Mike Fatchett W0MU]

The engineer that created the amp recently said that you should let the 
amp handle the fans.  It should be in the archives here on this list.


W0MU

On 6/6/2022 9:52 AM, Andy Durbin wrote:

"You should be running fans full-speed under those conditions if you want it to live 
long!"

Please share any data you have that supports any claim than running continuous 
full fan on any Elecraft amplifier has any advantage over letting the firmware 
control the fans based on PA temperature.

The disadvantages are obvious - fan wear, noise, dust contamination.  Yet I see 
no evidence that finals run significantly cooler.

As I have posted earlier - my station controller has the option to run my 
KPA500 fan at any preset speed when TX starts and keeps it running for a 
pre-set time after TX stops.  That time is set to keep the fan running 
continuously during an FT8 QSO.  I have not used the option since I verified it 
functioned as intended as I saw no significant thermal management advantage.

73,
Andy, k3wyc
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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 reduces power as it gets warmer?

[Andy Durbin]

"You should be running fans full-speed under those conditions if you want it to 
live long! "

Please share any data you have that supports any claim than running continuous 
full fan on any Elecraft amplifier has any advantage over letting the firmware 
control the fans based on PA temperature.

The disadvantages are obvious - fan wear, noise, dust contamination.  Yet I see 
no evidence that finals run significantly cooler.

As I have posted earlier - my station controller has the option to run my 
KPA500 fan at any preset speed when TX starts and keeps it running for a 
pre-set time after TX stops.  That time is set to keep the fan running 
continuously during an FT8 QSO.  I have not used the option since I verified it 
functioned as intended as I saw no significant thermal management advantage.

73,
Andy, k3wyc
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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 reduces power as it gets warmer?

[Bill Frantz]

It’s actually better than that. FT8 only transmits for 12.6 seconds giving a 
duty cycle of 42%. The 7.4 seconds left over are used for decode so you can 
have an answer to send in the next transmit slot.

73 Bill AE6JV


> On Jun 5, 2022, at 11:18:23, Ken K6MR  wrote:
> 
> Worst case duty cycle on FT8 is never more than 50%. This assumes that you 
> are transmitting every odd or even time slot. Very few stations are able to 
> keep that rate for very long. So I would bet the actual duty cycle is more 
> like 30% to 40% in actual use.

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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 reduces power as it gets warmer?

[Julia Tuttle]

How long at 100% duty cycle does it take the KPA1500 to get sad? Is 15
seconds on short enough that it won't overheat immediately and 15 seconds
off enough that it won't overheat eventually?

On Sun, Jun 5, 2022, 11:19 Ken K6MR  wrote:

> "Given its high duty cycle, you are asking for trouble if you operate your
> power amplifier in FT8 mode using your KPA1500 at anywhere near high power."
>
> Worst case duty cycle on FT8 is never more than 50%.  This assumes that
> you are transmitting every odd or even time slot.  Very few stations are
> able to keep that rate for very long.  So I would bet the actual duty cycle
> is more like 30% to 40% in actual use.
>
> On a practical note, I tried FT8 once in a contest (the first WWDigi
> contest).  I ran SO2R, with each radio set to transmit on the alternate
> time slot.  My station uses a single KPA1500 driven by two K3s, switched
> accordingly.  I ran this setup for a whole day, and other than the fans
> getting to level 5 occasionally, it worked fine.  I regularly use this
> setup on RTTY, and see similar results.  I can run 2BISQ on RTTY without a
> problem.
>
> And to answer the original poster's question, yes, the amp will reduce
> output as it gets warmer.  In my case it drops about 100 watts (1500 ->
> 1400) which is -0.3 dB.  Hardly enough to worry about.
>
> Ken K6MR
>
>
> 
> From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net 
> on behalf of Kevin Robertson via Elecraft 
> Sent: Saturday, June 4, 2022 6:52 AM
> To: Rick NK7I 
> Cc: elecraft@mailman.qth.net 
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 reduces power as it gets warmer?
>
> FT8 is a weak signal mode, designed for low power. Given its high duty
> cycle, you are asking for trouble if you operate your power amplifier in
> FT8 mode using your KPA1500 at anywhere near high power. I burned out my
> final on my K2 at 15 watts on FT8.
>
> 73,
> Kevin Robertson KD2WCY
>
>
> > On Jun 4, 2022, at 12:42 AM, Rick NK7I  wrote:
> >
> > Yes, the KPA1500 will drop 10% of the output, as it warms up. 1500
> drops to 1350, so you have to compensate with the drive.
> >
> > I'm told this is typical of all solid state finals (my KPA500 did
> likewise).
> >
> > If you're running the station remotely; bump up the fan speed to slow
> the drop (or wear cans).
> >
> > 73,
> > Rick NK7I
> >
> >> On 6/3/2022 9:22 PM, David F. Reed wrote:
> >> I note my KPA1500 drops power at its temperature rises...
> >>
> >> Using FT8, so a relatively high duty cycle.
> >>
> >> Say I start at a heat sink temperature of 27 C, and 1,000 watts out; by
> the time the temperature is at 65 C, the power has dropped to 893 watts out.
> >>
> >> I have a couple of questions about this (not a complaint by the way):
> >>
> >> 1. Does anyone else experience this?
> >> 2. Is it normal?
> >>
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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 reduces power as it gets warmer?

[Ken K6MR]

"Given its high duty cycle, you are asking for trouble if you operate your 
power amplifier in FT8 mode using your KPA1500 at anywhere near high power."

Worst case duty cycle on FT8 is never more than 50%.  This assumes that you are 
transmitting every odd or even time slot.  Very few stations are able to keep 
that rate for very long.  So I would bet the actual duty cycle is more like 30% 
to 40% in actual use.

On a practical note, I tried FT8 once in a contest (the first WWDigi contest).  
I ran SO2R, with each radio set to transmit on the alternate time slot.  My 
station uses a single KPA1500 driven by two K3s, switched accordingly.  I ran 
this setup for a whole day, and other than the fans getting to level 5 
occasionally, it worked fine.  I regularly use this setup on RTTY, and see 
similar results.  I can run 2BISQ on RTTY without a problem.

And to answer the original poster's question, yes, the amp will reduce output 
as it gets warmer.  In my case it drops about 100 watts (1500 -> 1400) which is 
-0.3 dB.  Hardly enough to worry about.

Ken K6MR



From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net  on 
behalf of Kevin Robertson via Elecraft 
Sent: Saturday, June 4, 2022 6:52 AM
To: Rick NK7I 
Cc: elecraft@mailman.qth.net 
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 reduces power as it gets warmer?

FT8 is a weak signal mode, designed for low power. Given its high duty cycle, 
you are asking for trouble if you operate your power amplifier in FT8 mode 
using your KPA1500 at anywhere near high power. I burned out my final on my K2 
at 15 watts on FT8.

73,
Kevin Robertson KD2WCY


> On Jun 4, 2022, at 12:42 AM, Rick NK7I  wrote:
>
> Yes, the KPA1500 will drop 10% of the output, as it warms up. 1500 drops to 
> 1350, so you have to compensate with the drive.
>
> I'm told this is typical of all solid state finals (my KPA500 did likewise).
>
> If you're running the station remotely; bump up the fan speed to slow the 
> drop (or wear cans).
>
> 73,
> Rick NK7I
>
>> On 6/3/2022 9:22 PM, David F. Reed wrote:
>> I note my KPA1500 drops power at its temperature rises...
>>
>> Using FT8, so a relatively high duty cycle.
>>
>> Say I start at a heat sink temperature of 27 C, and 1,000 watts out; by the 
>> time the temperature is at 65 C, the power has dropped to 893 watts out.
>>
>> I have a couple of questions about this (not a complaint by the way):
>>
>> 1. Does anyone else experience this?
>> 2. Is it normal?
>>
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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 reduces power as it gets warmer?

[Ed Cole]

Slight drop (10%) in output with warming is normal for most solid-state 
amps.  Having fans run full speed might counter that, slightly.  Drop 
from 1500 to 1350 is 0.5 dB in signal (which is likely only noticeable 
if you are running a marginal propagation path (like eme).  In fact that 
is not significant on eme (normally) if you have sufficient antenna gain.


FT8 and many of the wsjt-x modes are weak-signal modes so one wants to 
run as much power as needed for the path.  Eg: yesterday I ran FT8 on 6m 
with a friend that was running a portable station for POTA.  He had 50w 
into a mobile vertical.  That was good for a -16 dB signal at my 6m-eme 
station (two 7-element LFA yagis into a K3).  I ran 1000w which was more 
than needed for the path (received 599 report since he was in 
contest-mode).  He was in the mountains only 100-miles from me.


Most amps are most efficient at their rated power: My converted Harris 
TV Linear runs 1000w at 48.6v at 50A (dc power is 2430w so 1430w is 
being dissipated as heat and indicates eff of 41%).  It uses 16 
transistors to do that.  Five 4-inch fans run full speed (always) 
because I normally am running "key down" digital modes 50-seconds out a 
2-minute Tx/Rx cycle. Good part of this Harris designed this amp to run 
continuous in ch2 AM for TV (100% duty cycle). Keeps shack warm in winter!


You should be running fans full-speed under those conditions if you want 
it to live long!  When I ran a 8877 on 2m running JT65, blowers ran 
continuously (and tube never failed at 1500w).  Talk about noise!


Good part about digital modes is one does not listen to received 
signals, so noise is not a hindrance; wear noise-cancelling headset if 
it bothers you (I just remove my hearing aids).


73, Ed - KL7UW
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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 reduces power as it gets warmer?

[john]

At high power the KPA1500 is the most efficient.  At lower power it will
generate the same internal heat or more.

John KK9A


Kevin Robertson KD2WCY

FT8 is a weak signal mode, designed for low power. Given its high duty
cycle, you are asking for trouble if you operate your power amplifier in FT8
mode using your KPA1500 at anywhere near high power. I burned out my final
on my K2 at 15 watts on FT8. 

73,
Kevin Robertson KD2WCY

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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 reduces power as it gets warmer?

[Jim Brown]

On 6/4/2022 6:52 AM, Kevin Robertson via Elecraft wrote:
FT8 is a weak signal mode, designed for low power. 


As others have observed, that is WRONG.

Given its high duty cycle, you are asking for trouble if you operate 
your power amplifier in FT8 mode using your KPA1500 at anywhere near 
high power.


That's a different issue, and it IS wise to be cautious about LONG 
sessions at rated power, especially on 6M.


I burned out my final on my K2 at 15 watts on FT8.

That's because at 15W, the K2 is likely still on the driver, not the 
100W amp.


73, Jim K9YC

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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 reduces power as it gets warmer?

[Mark Musick]

Hi Kevin,
The K2 is only rated 100% duty cycle at 5 Watts and 50% duty cycle at 10 Watts. 
Even though it will put out 15 Watts it should only be run there on SSB and CW 
and then sparingly. It should not be run on digital modes above 10 Watts and 
really should not be run at more than 5 Watts on digital.
I have a K2 for my QRP ops and never run it more than 7 or 8 Watts.

73,
Mark, WB9CIF

-Original Message-
From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net  On 
Behalf Of Kevin Robertson via Elecraft
Sent: Saturday, June 4, 2022 13:53
To: Rick NK7I 
Cc: elecraft@mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 reduces power as it gets warmer?

FT8 is a weak signal mode, designed for low power. Given its high duty cycle, 
you are asking for trouble if you operate your power amplifier in FT8 mode 
using your KPA1500 at anywhere near high power. I burned out my final on my K2 
at 15 watts on FT8. 

73,
Kevin Robertson KD2WCY


> On Jun 4, 2022, at 12:42 AM, Rick NK7I  wrote:
> 
> Yes, the KPA1500 will drop 10% of the output, as it warms up. 1500 drops to 
> 1350, so you have to compensate with the drive.
> 
> I'm told this is typical of all solid state finals (my KPA500 did likewise).
> 
> If you're running the station remotely; bump up the fan speed to slow the 
> drop (or wear cans).
> 
> 73,
> Rick NK7I
> 
>> On 6/3/2022 9:22 PM, David F. Reed wrote:
>> I note my KPA1500 drops power at its temperature rises...
>> 
>> Using FT8, so a relatively high duty cycle.
>> 
>> Say I start at a heat sink temperature of 27 C, and 1,000 watts out; by the 
>> time the temperature is at 65 C, the power has dropped to 893 watts out.
>> 
>> I have a couple of questions about this (not a complaint by the way):
>> 
>> 1. Does anyone else experience this?
>> 2. Is it normal?
>> 
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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 reduces power as it gets warmer?

[Wes]

It isn't "designed for low power."  I don't, nor will I have, a KPA1500, but I 
run my KAT500 at 400-500 W on FT8 without incident.


Wes  N7WS


On 6/4/2022 6:52 AM, Kevin Robertson via Elecraft wrote:

FT8 is a weak signal mode, designed for low power. Given its high duty cycle, 
you are asking for trouble if you operate your power amplifier in FT8 mode 
using your KPA1500 at anywhere near high power. I burned out my final on my K2 
at 15 watts on FT8.

73,
Kevin Robertson KD2WCY




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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 reduces power as it gets warmer?

[Dave]

It is a weak signal mode, not necessarily a low power mode. 

If a station you need for new country is -24 and is running 1500 watts then 
most likely he will not hear you at low power. You will need to run QRO. 

Use the power needed to make the contact. 

Dave wo2x

Sent from my waxed string and tin cans. 

> On Jun 4, 2022, at 9:54 AM, Kevin Robertson via Elecraft 
>  wrote:
> 
> FT8 is a weak signal mode, designed for low power. Given its high duty 
> cycle, you are asking for trouble if you operate your power amplifier in FT8 
> mode using your KPA1500 at anywhere near high power. I burned out my final on 
> my K2 at 15 watts on FT8. 
> 
> 73,
> Kevin Robertson KD2WCY
> 
> 
>> On Jun 4, 2022, at 12:42 AM, Rick NK7I  wrote:
>> 
>> Yes, the KPA1500 will drop 10% of the output, as it warms up. 1500 drops to 
>> 1350, so you have to compensate with the drive.
>> 
>> I'm told this is typical of all solid state finals (my KPA500 did likewise).
>> 
>> If you're running the station remotely; bump up the fan speed to slow the 
>> drop (or wear cans).
>> 
>> 73,
>> Rick NK7I
>> 
 On 6/3/2022 9:22 PM, David F. Reed wrote:
>>> I note my KPA1500 drops power at its temperature rises...
>>> 
>>> Using FT8, so a relatively high duty cycle.
>>> 
>>> Say I start at a heat sink temperature of 27 C, and 1,000 watts out; by the 
>>> time the temperature is at 65 C, the power has dropped to 893 watts out.
>>> 
>>> I have a couple of questions about this (not a complaint by the way):
>>> 
>>> 1. Does anyone else experience this?
>>> 2. Is it normal?
>>> 
>> __
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