Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 Power Level
My wife won $1000 off an Expert amplifier at Visalia maybe 5 years ago. I ended up getting a 1.3K because I had noticed many DXpeditions using it. Mine is still working well, knock on wood. I run in on 120V at theMedium power setting. I get 700-800 watts out. I'm always thinking of selling it and getting an Elecraft Amp, but so far no action. My latest station dream has the antennas 150-200 feet from the operating area. I could put the amp in the barn to shorten the feed lines. 73 Bill AE6JV On 9/18/21 at 9:46 PM, jkb...@usa.net (Jerry Kirshenbaum) wrote: re: it'd pay to review the SPE In May 2021 I bought a SPE 1.5K-FA 2nd generator new from the distributor in Texas. I’ve been using a SunSDR2 DX 100W transceiver while I wait to receive my K4D. The 1st time the finals blew may have been operator error. Subsequently, I discovered that the software allows one to limit the power on each band. So I set the SPE to mid power (it has low, mid, high settings) and determined the correct output for 700-800W. That left at least 20% head room. Despite this seem lying failsafe procedure, the finals blew again. The distributor would not cover this under warranty on the grounds that my radio has spurious spikes which blew the finals. In fact, if you run the “wrong” radio with this amp, you don’t have any warranty because the radio is indicted as the cause of failure sight unseen. The amp when it works is wonderful. One case, 24 lbs, very quiet. I had everything linked together with my SteppIR DB18E through DxLab. Two times back to the distributor for repair in 3 months was enough. I sold it and now have a KPA1500 which is working great. BTW, the distributor also says the IC-7300 (my backup) has spurious spikes as well and presumably is another transceiver not covered under their warranty. --- Bill Frantz| "I wish there was a knob on the TV to turn up the 408-348-7900 | intelligence. There's a knob called "brightness", but www.pwpconsult.com | it doesn't work. -- Gallagher __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 Power Level
I believe the SPE 1.5K-FA uses one 1800W Mosfet and the KPA1500 uses two 1400W Mosfets. In general, the KPA500 and KPA1500 are more robust than most of the competitors. I've made mistakes a few times with my KPA500 and it is still ticking. Everyone I've talked to with an ALS-600 has blown the finals, sometimes multiple times. I'm using it with a TS-590 that has the spike fix, but it still is not perfect. 73, Mark W7MLG On Sat, Sep 18, 2021 at 6:47 PM Jerry Kirshenbaum wrote: > re: it'd pay to review the SPE > > In May 2021 I bought a SPE 1.5K-FA 2nd generator new from the distributor > in Texas. I’ve been using a SunSDR2 DX 100W transceiver while I wait to > receive my K4D. The 1st time the finals blew may have been operator error. > Subsequently, I discovered that the software allows one to limit the power > on each band. So I set the SPE to mid power (it has low, mid, high > settings) and determined the correct output for 700-800W. That left at > least 20% head room. Despite this seem lying failsafe procedure, the > finals blew again. The distributor would not cover this under warranty on > the grounds that my radio has spurious spikes which blew the finals. In > fact, if you run the “wrong” radio with this amp, you don’t have any > warranty because the radio is indicted as the cause of failure sight unseen. > > The amp when it works is wonderful. One case, 24 lbs, very quiet. I had > everything linked together with my SteppIR DB18E through DxLab. > > Two times back to the distributor for repair in 3 months was enough. I > sold it and now have a KPA1500 which is working great. > > BTW, the distributor also says the IC-7300 (my backup) has spurious spikes > as well and presumably is another transceiver not covered under their > warranty. > > 73, Jerry / K0ES > > > __ > 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 marklgoldb...@gmail.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 arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 Power Level
Does Expert publish a list of radios they will not warranty their amp on? Mike va3mw > On Sep 18, 2021, at 10:16 PM, Jim Brown wrote: > > For a long time, W8JI, who has designed ham power amps, has observed that > some JA rigs have this problem. And for a long time, the mfrs have failed to > fix them. Just like they have taken decades to fix clicks, and at least one > (Yaesu) has been building rigs with lots of splatter on SSB. > > 73, Jim K9YC > >> On 9/18/2021 6:46 PM, Jerry Kirshenbaum wrote: >> re: it'd pay to review the SPE >> In May 2021 I bought a SPE 1.5K-FA 2nd generator new from the distributor in >> Texas. I’ve been using a SunSDR2 DX 100W transceiver while I wait to receive >> my K4D. The 1st time the finals blew may have been operator error. >> Subsequently, I discovered that the software allows one to limit the power >> on each band. So I set the SPE to mid power (it has low, mid, high settings) >> and determined the correct output for 700-800W. That left at least 20% head >> room. Despite this seem lying failsafe procedure, the finals blew again. >> The distributor would not cover this under warranty on the grounds that my >> radio has spurious spikes which blew the finals. In fact, if you run the >> “wrong” radio with this amp, you don’t have any warranty because the radio >> is indicted as the cause of failure sight unseen. >> The amp when it works is wonderful. One case, 24 lbs, very quiet. I had >> everything linked together with my SteppIR DB18E through DxLab. >> Two times back to the distributor for repair in 3 months was enough. I sold >> it and now have a KPA1500 which is working great. >> BTW, the distributor also says the IC-7300 (my backup) has spurious spikes >> as well and presumably is another transceiver not covered under their >> warranty. >> 73, Jerry / K0ES >> __ >> 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 j...@audiosystemsgroup.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 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 arch...@mail-archive.com
[Elecraft] Elecraft CW Net Announcement
Good Evening, It was a chilly week. Mostly sunny with one night near freezing. Fall weather in mid-September. I better collect more wood. Today deer are walking around eating the fallen moss. A lot of it was ripped from the trees in last night's storm. There is no runoff after two inches of rain, the land was thirsty. The air is cleaner with a spicy scent of cedar. The sun began the week covered in sunspots. Today it is blank. Solar flux has dropped back down. Propagation should remain the same as last week with some thunderstorms adding noise. My forecast is for thunderstorms tomorrow. If I disappear it may be because one passed through. They are rare here so that probably won't happen. They tend to follow the Columbia River valley east and north of me. Please join us on (or near): 14050 kHz at 2200z Sunday (3 PM PDT Sunday) 7047 kHz at z Monday (5 PM PDT Sunday) 73, Kevin. KD5ONS - You were caught in the crossfire of childhood and stardom, blown on the steel breeze. Come on you target for faraway laughter, come on you stranger, you legend, you martyr, and shine! __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 Power Level
For a long time, W8JI, who has designed ham power amps, has observed that some JA rigs have this problem. And for a long time, the mfrs have failed to fix them. Just like they have taken decades to fix clicks, and at least one (Yaesu) has been building rigs with lots of splatter on SSB. 73, Jim K9YC On 9/18/2021 6:46 PM, Jerry Kirshenbaum wrote: re: it'd pay to review the SPE In May 2021 I bought a SPE 1.5K-FA 2nd generator new from the distributor in Texas. I’ve been using a SunSDR2 DX 100W transceiver while I wait to receive my K4D. The 1st time the finals blew may have been operator error. Subsequently, I discovered that the software allows one to limit the power on each band. So I set the SPE to mid power (it has low, mid, high settings) and determined the correct output for 700-800W. That left at least 20% head room. Despite this seem lying failsafe procedure, the finals blew again. The distributor would not cover this under warranty on the grounds that my radio has spurious spikes which blew the finals. In fact, if you run the “wrong” radio with this amp, you don’t have any warranty because the radio is indicted as the cause of failure sight unseen. The amp when it works is wonderful. One case, 24 lbs, very quiet. I had everything linked together with my SteppIR DB18E through DxLab. Two times back to the distributor for repair in 3 months was enough. I sold it and now have a KPA1500 which is working great. BTW, the distributor also says the IC-7300 (my backup) has spurious spikes as well and presumably is another transceiver not covered under their warranty. 73, Jerry / K0ES __ 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 j...@audiosystemsgroup.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 arch...@mail-archive.com
[Elecraft] KPA1500 Power Level
re: it'd pay to review the SPE In May 2021 I bought a SPE 1.5K-FA 2nd generator new from the distributor in Texas. I’ve been using a SunSDR2 DX 100W transceiver while I wait to receive my K4D. The 1st time the finals blew may have been operator error. Subsequently, I discovered that the software allows one to limit the power on each band. So I set the SPE to mid power (it has low, mid, high settings) and determined the correct output for 700-800W. That left at least 20% head room. Despite this seem lying failsafe procedure, the finals blew again. The distributor would not cover this under warranty on the grounds that my radio has spurious spikes which blew the finals. In fact, if you run the “wrong” radio with this amp, you don’t have any warranty because the radio is indicted as the cause of failure sight unseen. The amp when it works is wonderful. One case, 24 lbs, very quiet. I had everything linked together with my SteppIR DB18E through DxLab. Two times back to the distributor for repair in 3 months was enough. I sold it and now have a KPA1500 which is working great. BTW, the distributor also says the IC-7300 (my backup) has spurious spikes as well and presumably is another transceiver not covered under their warranty. 73, Jerry / K0ES __ 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
[Elecraft] KV5J's line of Digital Displays for Elecraft's W2, KXPA100, KPA500, KAT500 and KPA1500
KV5J's line of Digital Displays for Elecraft's W2, KXPA100, KPA500, KAT500 and KPA1500 - Digital Display Unit for Elecraft's W2 Watt Meter: The digital read out on the Display Unit takes the guess work out of the LED light bars. - Digital Display Unit for Elecraft's KXPA100 amplifier: - Don't wait for a fault light to come on. Keep an eye on 5 crucial readings at all times. 1. Power amplifier's heat sink temperature 2. Power amplifier's high voltage supply voltage 3. Power amplifier's current 4. Power amplifier's output power 5. SWR that the KXPA100 sees at its output - - Digital Display Unit for Elecraft's KPA500 amplifier: - Instead of seeing only 1 crucial reading, monitor all 7 at the same time. - 1. Power amplifier's heat sink temperature 2. Power amplifier's high voltage supply voltage 3. Power amplifier's current 4. Power amplifier's output power 5. SWR that the KPA500 sees at its output 6. Displays Operate/Standby mode 7. Displays Band amp is tuned to - Digital Display Unit for KAT500: - This unit displays the front panel settings. If the tuner is in bypass or not. Displays the capacitance and inductance used. What type of circuit is used. LC or CL. SWR of both before and after a tune cycle is completed. - - Digital Display Unit for Elecraft's KPA1500 amplifier: Displays the same display that is on the KPA1500 Amplifier Change the display on the KPA1500 and the display changes to show this same screen - - All of the Digital Display Units: - Display Unit can be located at a more visible location Up to the RS232 limit from unit - Easy to read 2 line display No USB or serial cable to computer No com port in Windows to manage No computer needed Plug and Play Simply connect the SUPPLIED dc power cable (with inline on/off switch) from the DDU to power supply and SUPPLIED SERIAL data jumper cable to the device Retains all functions of the front panel All displayed info obtained directly from the device - Only 4" x 4" x 2" - For more information and ordering go to: http://www.kv5j.com/store Reviews: https://www.eham.net/reviews/view-product?id=14701 - https://www.eham.net/reviews/view-product?id=14820 Keith, KV5J http://www.kv5j.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 arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] Subject: KPA1500 Power Level
I've found the KPA1500 runs cooler (and resulting quieter fan noise) at 1500w than at 1000w on CW. Noticeably cooler. 73 Eric WD6DBM On Thu, Sep 16, 2021, 5:28 PM Steve Hall <99sun...@gmail.com> wrote: > I looked at the link given in part of this discussion regarding efficiency > and dissipated power data at various output levels. Very revealing. > During a recent virtual hamfest I spoke to the Elecraft designer of the > KPA1500 and he confirmed that the heat dissipated remains nearly unchanged > whether you are running 500 out or 1500 Watts out. If owners of the > KPA1500 reduce power output to "go easy" on their amp by reducing power, > they are not. > __ > 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 norrislawfi...@gmail.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 arch...@mail-archive.com
