Mine has been OFF for a one week vacation once in three or four years since I built it. I have a nite light that consumes more power.
Sent from my iPhone ...nr4c. bill > On Jan 31, 2017, at 10:45 PM, Dave AD6A <[email protected]> wrote: > > I recently added a KPA500 kit for my home station. It went together just > fine, and overall I love it. > > There is one thing about the way it works that bugs the engineer and > environmentalist in me. > > > > Before I bought the PA, I thought I'd be able to turn it on/off entirely > using the ON button on the front panel. > > I thought that maybe there was a supercap or backup battery that kept the > button's electronics alive to perform the ON button function (like TV's have > in them). > > However, it doesn't work like this. In order to turn the PA off completely, > you have to turn off the main power switch on the rear panel. > > > > The front panel ON button powers up the PA from what looks like a cold > state, however, my measurements are as follows: > > > > 1. With the main power switch on the back panel turned OFF, the PA > takes no power at all (0.0W) > 2. When you turn the main power switch on the back panel to ON, the PA > draws 6.9W continuously from the 120V AC power supply > 3. When you press the front panel ON button, the PA turns "ON" and > takes around 13W (measured) in STBY mode > > > > My home station line up (K3s, P3, 2x SP3, KPA500, KAT500) sits on a large > operating desk with a shelf unit that I build above the station. My computer > monitors sit on the shelf above the radios. > > There is only just enough height clearance (about 2.5") between the top of > the KPA500 and the underside of the shelf to allow me to put my hand over > the top of the PA to reach the main power switch. > > It's fiddly but I can do it, it's just that it's a major inconvenience not > being able to turn the KPA500 truly off from the front panel. > > > > Why is the KPA500 designed this way? > > In all good conscience, I can't live with the PA consuming 7W all day, every > day - that's incredibly wasteful. > > I suppose I could put a more-easily-reachable external AC power switch on > the side of my shelf unit to cut power to the whole desk, but that'd be > ugly. > > I'd prefer that either a) the KPA500's main power switch was on the front > panel, or b) the power supply system was redesigned so it only takes a few > microwatts when power is applied but the ON button is OFF (not pressed, or > pressed an even number of times). > > > > Comments? Ideas? > > > > Cheers, > Dave AD6A > > > > > > > > --- > This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. > https://www.avast.com/antivirus > ______________________________________________________________ > 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 > Message delivered to [email protected] ______________________________________________________________ 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 Message delivered to [email protected]
