Is this the Tim Allen reflector? :o) Brian Denley KB1VBF Sent from my iPad
> On Nov 20, 2018, at 7:45 PM, Fred VE3FAL <flesn...@tbaytel.net> wrote: > > In my years in the radio and electronics hobby I have learnt that the magic > smoke wants out as well > > Fred > VE3FAL > > Sent from my iPhone > Fred VE3FAL/CIW649 > > >> On Nov 20, 2018, at 19:40, John Simmons <jasimm...@pinewooddata.com> wrote: >> >> Ha! I would venture to say that anyone that says they haven't done this kind >> of thing would be fibbing. I've blown up lots of stuff: >> >> * When I was in high school electronics class, I wired an AC power >> switch in some long-forgotten transmitter in PARALLEL with the power >> line instead of SERIES. Fuse? Nah. >> * I built a Heathkit SW receiver. I swapped the germanium diodes for >> the RF detector with the silicon diodes for the power supply >> rectifier. This time there was a fuse. >> * I've put many transistors in backwards. The transistors protect the >> fuse. >> * Many times I've tried to work the local repeater without remembering >> to connect the antenna to the radio. I've done this both in mobile >> and home stations. I've never blown a final, though. >> * Another Heathkit was a vacuum tube voltmeter. I wired all of the >> resistors on the 10 position range switch EXACTLY one switch >> position off. >> * I blew up a $200 LDMOS transistor for an HF amp. I recorded the >> whole thing on video and posted it to YouTube. I STILL don't know >> how or why the transistor blew. RF Parts was happy to sell me >> another one though. >> * I had an old pickup truck that I used only for snow plowing. Both >> battery cables were black (don't ask why). Every fall I would put >> the battery in to prepare for the season. EVERY fall I would hook >> the battery cables up backwards. BZZZT! >> * I built my own house while working 60 hour weeks at a two-way radio >> shop. I did all the electric wiring in the house. The first circuit >> I hooked up was for basement outlets. By mistake I used the cable >> for the water heater for the outlet string. BANG! GFI outlets don't >> like 240V. >> >> That's just the electronic stuff I can remember right now. We had the >> kitchen floor replaced THREE TIMES because the pipe for the self-installed >> dishwasher leaked. >> >> Don't feel bad. >> >> -John NI0K >> >> P.S. Many, many years ago there was an article in 73 Magazine written by a >> ham claiming that being a klutz was his specialty. He gave lots of examples, >> but the crowning one described how he put out a fire in his car (which was >> in the driveway) with the liquid from his septic tank that he happened to be >> pumping at the same time. I saved the article. Every time I read it I get >> the giggles. >> >> kd...@frawg.org wrote: >>> Thanks Michael, Andy, and all for the original thread. It made me focus on >>> proper use of my KPA500 which has really done a great job for me since I >>> acquired it and a KAT500 over the summer. >>> >>> Retitled this message because I do not want to hijack/derail the original >>> conversation. >>> >>> What I want to know... is there no repair for absent minded button pushing >>> and thoughtless antenna positioning? >>> >>> So that I don't forget again... A hopefully instructional "mea culpa" >>> follows: >>> >>> I have been using the IC-7000 for 2M APRS ops with a Diamond VX2000 >>> vertical. Also have been experimenting with HF simplex D-Star and Free DV >>> digital voice recently. The KPA500 has been instrumental for DV ops because >>> of recent squirrely propagation... >>> >>> Mistake 1: Over the summer, I forgot to shut down the packet ops and ground >>> 6/2/440 tri-band antenna while using a "nearby" halo with 350 watts 6M DV. >>> That blew the 2M front end of the IC-7000. Matt at SARTS/ICOM in Michigan >>> repaired it and I put together a protection relay circuit to ground the >>> vertical if I forgot again. That should have solved the issue... >>> >>> Mistake 2: A relay contact was faulty (and I did not test it properly) and >>> a month later, an adventure on 6M DV mode took the 7000 front end again! >>> Matt was kind about fixing it ...again... >>> >>> Here I claim total stupidity along with absent mindedness - I rebuilt the >>> protection circuit, tested it, it "seemed" to work fine... but it failed >>> again a month later! >>> >>> Mistake 3: Failed, because I had removed the dummy load and *forgotten* to >>> replace it along with a key ground strap, which again left the receiver 2M >>> front end exposed. Kindly, Matt agreed to fix the 7000 a 3rd time... >>> >>> The 7000 will not go back into service until I have completely re-arranged >>> the station set up because, to top off this comedy of errors... I totally >>> ignored one basic issue: >>> >>> Original Mistake: the vertical and halo antennas were mounted on the same >>> mast because "I never planned" to use them at the same time. This is where >>> stupidity/laziness compounded with my absent minded operating practices to >>> create the "perfect storm". Until I started using the KPA500, the halo >>> antenna field strength was not such that the 7000's 2M receiver section was >>> stressed by the signal strength from vertical, so I got complacent. Add in >>> the KPA500 and smoke is let out of Q551 in the IC-7000. >>> >>> I am *sure* that no one on this group does this sort of sloppy >>> engineering, but let it serve as a not-so-subtle reminder that a station >>> layout should not be organically grown, but should be planned carefully >>> with this sort of damaging interaction in mind. Enjoy the laugh at my >>> expense. >>> >>> KD4IZ >>> Jack Spitznagel >>> FM19oo >>> >>> >>> >>> -----Original Message----- >>> From: Michael Walker<va...@portcredit.net> >>> Sent: Monday, November 19, 2018 19:52 >>> To: ANDY DURBIN<a.dur...@msn.com> >>> Cc: elecraft@mailman.qth.net >>> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Killed the KPA500 :) >>> >>> Knowing what I did while transmitting at 100 watts of msk144, I’m surprised >>> the damage isn’t worse. >>> >>> The protection circuits did the best they could of. >>> >>> If you own any amp, you always need to be aware of the risk. I would never >>> rely on the automation to 100% protected any amp. >>> >>> If you are worried about your amplifier and anyway I highly recommend you >>> have checklist handy every time you turn it on and change Bands. Never >>> depend on the protection circuits. >>> >>> I know I’m preaching to the choir too many people, however it is imperative >>> you understand exactly how your amp works, how it’s wired, and how it >>> interfaces with any HF radio. >>> >>> Mike va3mw >>> >>> >>> >>> Sent from my iPad >>> >>>> On Nov 19, 2018, at 6:45 PM, ANDY DURBIN<a.dur...@msn.com> wrote: >>>> >>>> "The support team at Elecraft got back to me and the required parts to >>>> repair the board are on the way. Nice job guys." >>>> >>>> >>>> But the question remains - Why didn't the designed-in protections work? >>>> This new KPA500 owner would appreciate an answer from Elecraft. >>>> >>>> >>>> Andy, k3wyc >>>> >>>> >>>> ______________________________________________________________ >>>> 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 >>>> va...@portcredit.net >>> >>> >>> ______________________________________________________________ >>> 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 jasimm...@pinewooddata.com >> >> ______________________________________________________________ >> 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 flesn...@tbaytel.net >> > > ______________________________________________________________ > 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 b.den...@comcast.net ______________________________________________________________ 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 arch...@mail-archive.com
