Normally, I don't use my KPA500, as I like to run the low power status
in contests. BUT, when I do kick in the amplifier, I immediately set
the fan level to 5, if it's going to be an extended period of
operation.
The amp is located about 1 foot above and 4 feet away from my head, I
use
John et al:
With my KPA500 and SSB rag chews I keep the fan on NORMAL. It does
cycle on and up from time to time. When operating digital modes at 400
to 500 watts, I set the fan to 1. It still does move to higher speeds
during transmissions as the TEMP gets to 60 degrees or so. Then
I do the same thing for the same reason when operating FT8 (40 watts out)
but at fan speed 1 - the temp then never goes even close to where it would
normally turn on (50C). In fact, I wish there was a speed half of what 1 is
for lower noise and probably the same effect.
John AE5X
John,
It is good to hear that you have had success with a fan setting of 2.
Like most mechanical components, there is a wearout time, but I suspect
it is in the vicinity of 1000 to 5000 hours. That is a lot of operating
time.
If you are concerned about wearout, just turn the KPA off (or
Is there any harm in setting the fan at level 2 and just leaving it
there? I would think the fan might wear out a little faster, but how
much faster? The reason I ask is that when the fan control is set to
NOR I find that the fan eventually...and understandably... kicks into
a super high speed
I have not found a way to change the minimum fan speed from the utility. Am
I overlooking it?
I find that when in a qso, if the fan control is set to NOR, then sometimes
the fan kicks up really high, I can tell it is at least up to level 5. If I
have it set to level 3, then it sometimes kicks
Hi Chuck,
You could use the Command Tester tab, and enter a command like
^FC5; (without the quotes).
If seems like a valid RFE for the KPA Utility, to add a user-friendly
control for this. Maybe contact support and suggest it or maybe
K6KR is listening...
73,
~iain / N6ML
On Thu,
Why didn't I think of this? I should have realized I could handle it this
way. Works great. I tested first with ^FC3; since that is the highest
minimum speed I want and at first thought it did not work because of other
noises in the shack. But ^FC5; left no doubt!
I should have posted my
On Thu, 17 Oct 2013 12:27:53 -0700 (PDT), W5UXH wrote:
I tested first with ^FC3; since that is the highest
minimum speed I want and at first thought it did not work because of other
noises in the shack. But ^FC5; left no doubt!
But why not let the thermostatic controller do its thing? And,
The reason is because then it does sometimes get up to level 5 and I prefer
to keep it below that, if using level 3 as the minimum happens to accomplish
that. Level 4 with headphones on is fine, level 5 is just a tad too
noticeable.
My only type of operation is CW, no monologues, sometimes as
On Thu, 17 Oct 2013 13:46:46 -0700 (PDT), W5UXH wrote:
My daily sked has had his amp for a year or more and he experiences the same
behavior, he also leaves his at level 3 for the same reason.
Very interesting usage and heating results. You've obviously done your
homework. I think for most
Hi Gary,
Since I leave the fan at NOR most of the day, just bumping it up to
level 3 during the long qsos, the fan mostly does not run at all.
I still don't really understand why the fan sometimes kicks up a step
higher when I have it set to NOR than when I have it set to level 3. It
is not
I too have found that setting the KPA500 fan control for a slightly higher
speed all the time means that I don't have a big thermal buildup that
causes the fan to kick into high momentarily. Once I made that adjustment
the fan hardly ever goes above the middle setting.
73, Bob, WB4SON
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