Re: [Elecraft] KPA500 Power Supply Environmental/Ergonomic Issue

2017-02-02 Thread Eric Swartz - WA6HHQ, Elecraft 

Hi Everyone - This thread was closed earlier this week.

73
Eric
List moderator etc.
/elecraft.com/

On 2/1/2017 4:25 PM, Kevin wrote:

It's been that way with PC's and Mac's for 15 years.

Your PC is not truly "off" when you hit the power switch. That is the ATX 
specification. To start a PC all that happens is the shorting of two pins on 
the motherboard with the switch. There is power on the motherboard until you 
reach behind and flip the switch on the power supply itself.


Before it gets brought up, the battery on all PC's is to keep the CMOS clock 
settings alive, not to boot the PC.


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Re: [Elecraft] KPA500 Power Supply Environmental/Ergonomic Issue

2017-02-01 Thread Don Wilhelm 

John,

Because after power off, the fans are powered by the charge in the 
KPA500 capacitors discharging, I do not think that is a requirement - 
but not a bad idea in any case.


73,
Don W3FPR

On 2/1/2017 7:53 PM, John Marvin wrote:

I know this thread is supposed to be closed now, and hopefully this
would be obvious, but you should also wait for the fans to stop before
"pulling the plug". You should always turn the KPA500 off with the
switch (or the KPA utility) first, wait for the fans to stop, then you
can use the back switch or a power cord switch.

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Re: [Elecraft] KPA500 Power Supply Environmental/Ergonomic Issue

2017-02-01 Thread John Marvin 
I know this thread is supposed to be closed now, and hopefully this 
would be obvious, but you should also wait for the fans to stop before 
"pulling the plug". You should always turn the KPA500 off with the 
switch (or the KPA utility) first, wait for the fans to stop, then you 
can use the back switch or a power cord switch.


73,

John
AC0ZG


On 2/1/2017 5:25 PM, Kevin wrote:
Get ye to the local hardware emporium and buy the $10 power strip with 
a switch. Plug the KPA 500 into said switch. When done using the amp 
use the front panel switch to shut it "off" so it saves settings 
properly then hit the switch on the power strip. Viola! You've saved 
six watts and won't end up on some ridiculous website as a planet hater.




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Re: [Elecraft] KPA500 Power Supply Environmental/Ergonomic Issue

2017-02-01 Thread Kevin 

It's been that way with PC's and Mac's for 15 years.

Your PC is not truly "off" when you hit the power switch. That is the 
ATX specification. To start a PC all that happens is the shorting of two 
pins on the motherboard with the switch. There is power on the 
motherboard until you reach behind and flip the switch on the power 
supply itself.


Before it gets brought up, the battery on all PC's is to keep the CMOS 
clock settings alive, not to boot the PC.


Get ye to the local hardware emporium and buy the $10 power strip with a 
switch. Plug the KPA 500 into said switch. When done using the amp use 
the front panel switch to shut it "off" so it saves settings properly 
then hit the switch on the power strip. Viola! You've saved six watts 
and won't end up on some ridiculous website as a planet hater.


That little tidbit was taken from chapter one of the environmentalist 
playbook.


My house and garage are 100% led lit now. ALL of my "toys" are on 
switched inputs. I live in Iowa. My HVAC system is set to 67 in the 
winter and 77 in the summer. I have a tank less water heater. All my 
toilets are 1.5 gallon flush.


I didn't do this because I'm some kind of environmentalist, I did this 
because I'm CHEAP.



n 1/31/2017 9:45 PM, Dave AD6A 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




--
R. Kevin Stover
AC0H
ARRL
FISTS #11993
SKCC #215
NAQCC #3441


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Re: [Elecraft] KPA500 Power Supply Environmental/Ergonomic Issue

2017-02-01 Thread John Marvin 

Dave,

Perhaps you want to turn on your amp manually each time. But what you 
may have missed is that 7 watts is doing more than just detecting 
whether the power switch on the front is used or not. When the KPA500 is 
"off" the RS-232 connection on the back is still live, and there is a 
processor in the KPA500 that is monitoring that connection. You can 
remotely turn on the KPA500 using the KPA utility.  For those whose 
KPA500's are in a remote location, or just in an inconvenient location 
(i.e. not adjacent or within easy reach of your operating position), 
this is a very nice feature. It would be more than just the "power 
supply system" that would need to be redesigned.


73,

John
AC0ZG

On 1/31/2017 8:45 PM, Dave AD6A 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




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Re: [Elecraft] KPA500 Power Supply Environmental/Ergonomic Issue

2017-02-01 Thread Eric Swartz - WA6HHQ, Elecraft 
Guys - this is getting beat to death and to be honest, a few of the comments 
have strayed outside of our 'keep it respectful' list guidelines.


Let's close the thread at this time.

73,
Eric
/elecraft.com/
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Re: [Elecraft] KPA500 Power Supply Environmental/Ergonomic Issue

2017-02-01 Thread Clay Autery 
"Incredibly wasteful" - Seems like a little bit of an overstatement.

That's only 4.968 Kilowatt-Hours a month assuming it is idling 24/7 for
30 days.

For me, that'd be about $0.49 in electricity.  At $0.22 a KW-Hr, it'd
still be under a buck per month.

If this is still "incredibly wasteful" then you need to check every
other appliance and electrical device in your house, because most of
them are likely consuming "incredible" amounts of electricity when they
are "OFF".

If you really must avoid consuming this 5 KWHr (it won't be that much
"waste" because you have to subtract the actual usage time), then you
can place an accessible switch like a properly sized multiplug inline
with the KPA500, et al. to switch off the power altogether AFTER you
shut it down at the front panel.

Have a great day...

73,

__
Clay Autery, KY5G
MONTAC Enterprises
(318) 518-1389

> In all good conscience, I can't live with the PA consuming 7W all day, every
> day - that's incredibly wasteful.
>
>

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Re: [Elecraft] KPA500 Power Supply Environmental/Ergonomic Issue

2017-02-01 Thread Lynn W. Taylor, WB6UUT 

AD6A wrote:

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).

Am I missing something?

Didn't it take power to to charge that supercap or backup battery?

Is there really a difference between drawing a tiny bit of mains power 
when "off" and drawing a tiny bit of mains power to maintain these when 
"on?"


Too often, it's easier to move a problem around than to actually solve it.

73 -- Lynn
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Re: [Elecraft] KPA500 Power Supply Environmental/Ergonomic Issue

2017-02-01 Thread KENT TRIMBLE 
Leave it to an environmentalist (I'll spare the engineers) to advocate 
the spending of thousands of dollars in redesigning something that can 
be fixed with a quick trip to a local hardware store for a $25 (or less) 
master kill-switch.


Kent, K9ZTV



There is one thing about the way it works that bugs the engineer and
environmentalist in me.


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).





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Re: [Elecraft] KPA500 Power Supply Environmental/Ergonomic Issue

2017-02-01 Thread Charlie T, K3ICH 
Desk top PC can eat over 400 watts of power just sitting there.
When finished, I always put mine in "standby" or "sleep" mode which drops
the power usage to a few watts.
I verified these readings with one of those handy little "Kill-O-Watt" power
line devices.

73, Charlie k3ICH



-Original Message-
From: Elecraft [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Guy
Olinger K2AV
Sent: Wednesday, February 01, 2017 7:37 AM
To: Dave AD6A <d...@ad6a.com>; Elecraft Reflector <elecraft@mailman.qth.net>
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KPA500 Power Supply Environmental/Ergonomic Issue

While without reference to quantities I certainly agree with the sentiment,
but to be focused on a night light level power is kind of like swatting at
gnats while pidgeons are flying around in the kitchen.

Does your attic insulation need replacing. Are all of the light fixtures in
your house converted to LED. Are your refrigerators made in the current
decade. Are all of your windows gas-filled double pane. Are your water
heater and all the hot water piping in your house insulated. The list of
things that would bury that 6 watts by a couple of orders of magnitude is
quite long.

Then there is this other thing specific to CPU based equipment. And that is
maintaining signal states relative to other equipment. They get confused
when things go cold off and aren't brought back on in a particular sequence.

It was always fun when the PC folks at SAS (which is buried in PCs) had to
take down a thousand or so functionally shared PCs for maintenance or
something. They had to be taken off in sequence and brought back in service
with a very complex and specifically ordered startup. Every now and then
that group had to work all hands on deck 48 hour weekends and took naps on
cots put out for the purpose. Those PCs were kept on their own AC mains with
a honking monster UPS that would power my house for weeks off the grid.
Power blips taking down a couple floors of PCs could put a building full of
very high paid advanced programmer types sitting on their hands for a day or
worse. They figured that out early and spent the money.

Your Elecraft gear has some related if not so killer issues on cold starts
that nevertheless result in tech support calls. Think Big E just trying to
keep the noise and confusion down on the TS lines, with a method that has
become pretty much standard practice.

Seems to me it's been a long time since TVs had batteries in them unless it
was a portable intended to be operated off mains. Paying for a service call
to replace a battery gone bad was drummed out long time back.

If you have a PC in the shack, do you do a shutdown when you leave? Or leave
it on to get OS and virus security updates and email?  Check the power draw
on that.

I'm trying to convince the wife to replace our 23 year old kitchen
refrigerator that still works perfectly.

I wish that my KPA's off state power draw was the prime offender at my house
:>).

73, Guy K2AV

On Tue, Jan 31, 2017 at 10:46 PM Dave AD6A <d...@ad6a.com> 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 d

Re: [Elecraft] KPA500 Power Supply Environmental/Ergonomic Issue

2017-02-01 Thread Guy Olinger K2AV 
While without reference to quantities I certainly agree with the sentiment,
but to be focused on a night light level power is kind of like swatting at
gnats while pidgeons are flying around in the kitchen.

Does your attic insulation need replacing. Are all of the light fixtures in
your house converted to LED. Are your refrigerators made in the current
decade. Are all of your windows gas-filled double pane. Are your water
heater and all the hot water piping in your house insulated. The list of
things that would bury that 6 watts by a couple of orders of magnitude is
quite long.

Then there is this other thing specific to CPU based equipment. And that is
maintaining signal states relative to other equipment. They get confused
when things go cold off and aren't brought back on in a particular
sequence.

It was always fun when the PC folks at SAS (which is buried in PCs) had to
take down a thousand or so functionally shared PCs for maintenance or
something. They had to be taken off in sequence and brought back in service
with a very complex and specifically ordered startup. Every now and then
that group had to work all hands on deck 48 hour weekends and took naps on
cots put out for the purpose. Those PCs were kept on their own AC mains
with a honking monster UPS that would power my house for weeks off the
grid. Power blips taking down a couple floors of PCs could put a building
full of very high paid advanced programmer types sitting on their hands for
a day or worse. They figured that out early and spent the money.

Your Elecraft gear has some related if not so killer issues on cold starts
that nevertheless result in tech support calls. Think Big E just trying to
keep the noise and confusion down on the TS lines, with a method that has
become pretty much standard practice.

Seems to me it's been a long time since TVs had batteries in them unless it
was a portable intended to be operated off mains. Paying for a service call
to replace a battery gone bad was drummed out long time back.

If you have a PC in the shack, do you do a shutdown when you leave? Or
leave it on to get OS and virus security updates and email?  Check the
power draw on that.

I'm trying to convince the wife to replace our 23 year old kitchen
refrigerator that still works perfectly.

I wish that my KPA's off state power draw was the prime offender at my
house :>).

73, Guy K2AV

On Tue, Jan 31, 2017 at 10:46 PM Dave AD6A  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

Re: [Elecraft] KPA500 Power Supply Environmental/Ergonomic Issue

2017-01-31 Thread Nr4c 
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  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
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
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Re: [Elecraft] KPA500 Power Supply Environmental/Ergonomic Issue

2017-01-31 Thread Ron D'Eau Claire 
I agree Dave. It's probably done for the same reason your TV and almost all
other electronics in your household (including things like TVs, modern
dishwashers, washing machines, etc.) in addition to your computer(s) are not
truly "off" unless you unplug them. 

It's the current "fashion" in engineering. Note that your K3/K3S works the
same way but has no rear panel switch.  

The so-called 'parasitic power drain' of all those appliances in their "off"
state adds up costs for the individual and for the community and the nation.

In addition, the soft glow from LED's on the various appliances (thankfully
not the Elecraft gear) can be deleterious to your health if they are allowed
where you sleep. Studies have shown that even though you are not aware of
it, their presence can interfere with normal sleep rhythms. A starry bright
sky can be a pleasure at times but, frankly, us Humans evolved getting our
best rest sleeping in a very dark cave.  

Personally, I have a master switch on my station that removes all power from
everything. I power down individual equipment like the KPA500, K3, etc.,
then pull the "big switch". 

73, Ron AC7AC

-Original Message-
From: Elecraft [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Dave
AD6A
Sent: Tuesday, January 31, 2017 7:45 PM
To: 'Elecraft Reflector'
Subject: [Elecraft] KPA500 Power Supply Environmental/Ergonomic Issue

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

 

 



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[Elecraft] KPA500 Power Supply Environmental/Ergonomic Issue

2017-01-31 Thread Dave AD6A 
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

 

 



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