Dana: There isn't an option to connect the KPA500 to the K3 via RS-232. There's an option to connect the KPA500 to the K3 via its 15-pin ACC connector. If you use that cable, the K3 can track band changes initiated by the amplifier, the amplifier will track K3 band changed without requiring transmission, and it includes the amp keying line and the ALC voltage. This connection also includes an AUXBUS connection that the KPA500 can use to send fault indications to the K3. And the K3 can automatically adjust its output power based on its knowledge of the amplifier being in "operate".
The KPA500's "PC" serial port should instead be used for your remote control program, which could be the KPA Utility, or someone else's remote control program. When you use the KPA500 and don't switch the back panel power rocker switch, the front panel on/off button (and the equivalent software command) turns off the high voltage power supply, but leaves the microcontroller running. The microcontroller runs in its "boot block" code and part of that code recognizes a software power on command. The KPA500 Utility "Operate" page uses this technique for its remote control power turn-on. If you require the KPA500 to be "really, really off", you should first press the front panel power button to turn the amp off. Then you can remove all power by switching the back panel rocker switch or interrupt the KPA500's AC supply. It's a good idea to let the amplifier close down in a controlled way (press its front panel power button, physically or via a remote control program) so that it has a chance to write its current state into EEPROM and also dump HV filter capacitor energy into the fan. If you don't do this, you'll see fault table entries (using the KPA500 Utility's Fault Table display) showing uncontrolled power off events. Nice callsign, Dana! 73 de Dick, K6KR -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Dana Roode Sent: Sunday, July 24, 2011 12:15 PM To: Elecraft Reflector Subject: [Elecraft] KPA500 Remote Folks - who out there has set up their KPA500 as a part of a remote station? I'm planning to do so here, and wondering whether others have used the pins in the AUX cable or plan to use software commands to turn the Amp on and off, etc. It appears both may be options. There also appears to be a pin in the Aux cable that indicates a fault condition, which would be handy to monitor remotely (I have a LP-Remote board from N8LP). I need to make a custom cable between the K3 and the KPA500 to connect some lines (band indication, auxbus?) and bring out others - the ON pin for the K3 that I currently use, the toggle ON/OFF pin for the KPA500, etc. So, what are others doing? I see there are options to connect the KPA to the K3 via RS232 not sure what that would buy me. Dana, K6NR ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[email protected] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[email protected] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
