Re: [Elecraft] KPA500 shutting down
A final update on this, as the problem is solved. Jack looked at the logs and had a number of things to comment on, all very helpful. I knew this was not going to be solved without a trip to the remote base. It was not a simple software problem. I am a big fan of looking at the facts (not guessing) and trying to work out what may be contributing to the problem. One of the things that Jack said was: *At this point I highly suspect the power source or the KPA supply. The hypothesis is that when the power drain from the KPA rises, it causes the supply source to drop, ending in * *the problems you are seeing. The problem could be in the KPA’s power connections, either through the switch or the power cord, or beyond this. This is further supported by the High Voltage (too high) faults.* *This usually means a wide swing on the AC supply, which could be due to the power company or further point at the AC supply feed. Unfortunately this means a long trip to the site to check on things, but if you have an AC supply problem, this is warranted. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. If my analysis is indeed correct, you will want to correct the issue, then check the supply voltage from the transformer to make sure it stays below the maximum for the HV (90 volts).* When I got to my remote base, I found 2 trees had landed on my power feeder lines. While the lines were not broken, the Neutral line was and this was the problem as the system was unbalanced. I called Ontario Hydro (Hydro One) and they had 2 guys and a bucket truck onsite within 30 minutes. The line was fixed within another 30 minutes and after that, the Amp worked as it should. It is a good thing it wasn't during the summer as I would have lost a lot of appliances. The only things running had switching power supplies in them, so they survived. Thanks to Elecraft for the excellent customer support and the smarts to have good logging data in their amplifier to assist in diagnosing issue. Many 73, Mike va3mw On Wed, Nov 23, 2016 at 7:42 AM, Michael Walker wrote: > I wanted to say thanks to Jack for spending time after hours analyzing my > KPA500 log and providing some detailed analysis. > > While I haven't solved the problem yet, I have enough clues that possibly > support my theory of a bad AC supply line. > > I will likely get to my remote base over the weekend, so I should have the > next clue on why it fails by then. > > It is thanks to the support of Elecraft that I buy their product. In > fact, when it comes to HF, I only use US manufactures for radios and > supporting products. That is because they all provide amazing service! > > Mike va3mw > > > On Tue, Nov 22, 2016 at 2:04 PM, Guy Olinger K2AV > wrote: > >> Perhaps outdoors you have had a ground go bad, or a connector go bad, to >> all of a sudden have RF in the shack. Connection work loose, that kind of >> thing. These could happen without your seeing SWR on the line you are >> transmitting on. >> >> 73, Guy K2AV >> >> On Tue, Nov 22, 2016 at 8:53 AM, Michael Walker >> wrote: >> >>> I run a remote base with a KPA500. The Amp is a 3 hour drive away. >>> >>> I can control just about everything remotely without effort. The >>> installation has been rock solid for years (Flex 6300 / KPA500) and lots >>> of chokes everwhere. >>> >>> Last week the unit worked fine. Today the KPA500 appears to shut down >>> based on the Remote GUI. >>> >>> I will be on SSB, and then I see the bar at the bottom go to PWR OFF, >>> reset >>> and go back to Powering ON/ Amp On. This is when the amp is only >>> producing >>> about 300 watts peak (about 24 watts drive). >>> >>> There are no error messages displayed at all and the only thing I suspect >>> it might be is low AC voltage into the amp. >>> >>> RF could be the problem, however in 2 years running contests, this is the >>> first time I have seen a shutdown like this. I run many Mix 43 chokes on >>> all coax and signal lines. >>> >>> Are there other messages I can see by monitoring the Serial port at all? >>> Any thing else I can do remotely? >>> >>> I can recreate this on 160/80/40m. Those antennas are at least 150 ft >>> from >>> the station. >>> >>> Also, at times, the GUI will seem to freeze. The buttons work, but the >>> bar >>> graphs are stuck frozen in time at a peak reading. Yet, I can power off >>> the amp when this happens. >>> >>> Currently, the amp is about 34F ambient temp. In the past, I have used >>> it >>> well below that (-25F) without issue (last winter). >>> >>> My question is to the Elecraft guru's. Any thoughts? I am trying to >>> retrieve more data from the KPA500 remotely. >>> >>> Mike va3mw >>> __ >>> 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
Re: [Elecraft] KPA500 shutting down
I wanted to say thanks to Jack for spending time after hours analyzing my KPA500 log and providing some detailed analysis. While I haven't solved the problem yet, I have enough clues that possibly support my theory of a bad AC supply line. I will likely get to my remote base over the weekend, so I should have the next clue on why it fails by then. It is thanks to the support of Elecraft that I buy their product. In fact, when it comes to HF, I only use US manufactures for radios and supporting products. That is because they all provide amazing service! Mike va3mw On Tue, Nov 22, 2016 at 2:04 PM, Guy Olinger K2AV wrote: > Perhaps outdoors you have had a ground go bad, or a connector go bad, to > all of a sudden have RF in the shack. Connection work loose, that kind of > thing. These could happen without your seeing SWR on the line you are > transmitting on. > > 73, Guy K2AV > > On Tue, Nov 22, 2016 at 8:53 AM, Michael Walker > wrote: > >> I run a remote base with a KPA500. The Amp is a 3 hour drive away. >> >> I can control just about everything remotely without effort. The >> installation has been rock solid for years (Flex 6300 / KPA500) and lots >> of chokes everwhere. >> >> Last week the unit worked fine. Today the KPA500 appears to shut down >> based on the Remote GUI. >> >> I will be on SSB, and then I see the bar at the bottom go to PWR OFF, >> reset >> and go back to Powering ON/ Amp On. This is when the amp is only >> producing >> about 300 watts peak (about 24 watts drive). >> >> There are no error messages displayed at all and the only thing I suspect >> it might be is low AC voltage into the amp. >> >> RF could be the problem, however in 2 years running contests, this is the >> first time I have seen a shutdown like this. I run many Mix 43 chokes on >> all coax and signal lines. >> >> Are there other messages I can see by monitoring the Serial port at all? >> Any thing else I can do remotely? >> >> I can recreate this on 160/80/40m. Those antennas are at least 150 ft >> from >> the station. >> >> Also, at times, the GUI will seem to freeze. The buttons work, but the >> bar >> graphs are stuck frozen in time at a peak reading. Yet, I can power off >> the amp when this happens. >> >> Currently, the amp is about 34F ambient temp. In the past, I have used it >> well below that (-25F) without issue (last winter). >> >> My question is to the Elecraft guru's. Any thoughts? I am trying to >> retrieve more data from the KPA500 remotely. >> >> Mike va3mw >> __ >> 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 k2av@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] KPA500 shutting down
Mike I totally agree with this assessment. As you know I have a remote contest site. As you are probably aware the systems in a remote site can go long periods with no problems, but usually if all the telemetry looks ok there are various other factors that may require eyes on check. Most of the time I have discovered to "trust my instruments". Fortunately my remote KPA-500/KAT-500 combo have provided years of very reliable service in a less than hospitable environment at K6LRG. I wish you the best of luck in tracking this down! Chris N6WM From: Elecraft [elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] on behalf of Rick Bates (WA6NHC) [wa6...@gmail.com] Sent: Tuesday, November 22, 2016 1:35 PM To: Guy Olinger K2AV Cc: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KPA500 shutting down It could also be tiny livestock nibbling at the wiring, making nests etc. (or large livestock tripping, kicking ...) Just because you didn't do anything doesn't mean they're idle. Natural events such as lightning, icing of the antennas or something else could make things go wonky (usually a reset of power clears electrical issues and it might NOT be KPA related if one of the other connected devices went whack). If you haven't been there in a year, perhaps loneliness? ;-) If you are using a remote computer, the readings you seek to know (voltage, current, SWR) are available via the utility program (that's how I control mine remotely). I'd be VERY curious if shutdown was truly random as opposed to happening when the transmitter was on. But that would tend to point to a non-RF issue. Ultimately, it appears you'll have to take a day trip to investigate. 73, Rick Spell Czech happens > On Nov 22, 2016, at 11:04 AM, Guy Olinger K2AV wrote: > > Perhaps outdoors you have had a ground go bad, or a connector go bad, to > all of a sudden have RF in the shack. Connection work loose, that kind of > thing. These could happen without your seeing SWR on the line you are > transmitting on. > > 73, Guy K2AV > > On Tue, Nov 22, 2016 at 8:53 AM, Michael Walker > wrote: > >> I run a remote base with a KPA500. The Amp is a 3 hour drive away. >> >> I can control just about everything remotely without effort. The >> installation has been rock solid for years (Flex 6300 / KPA500) and lots >> of chokes everwhere. >> >> Last week the unit worked fine. Today the KPA500 appears to shut down >> based on the Remote GUI. >> >> I will be on SSB, and then I see the bar at the bottom go to PWR OFF, reset >> and go back to Powering ON/ Amp On. This is when the amp is only producing >> about 300 watts peak (about 24 watts drive). >> >> There are no error messages displayed at all and the only thing I suspect >> it might be is low AC voltage into the amp. >> >> RF could be the problem, however in 2 years running contests, this is the >> first time I have seen a shutdown like this. I run many Mix 43 chokes on >> all coax and signal lines. >> >> Are there other messages I can see by monitoring the Serial port at all? >> Any thing else I can do remotely? >> >> I can recreate this on 160/80/40m. Those antennas are at least 150 ft from >> the station. >> >> Also, at times, the GUI will seem to freeze. The buttons work, but the bar >> graphs are stuck frozen in time at a peak reading. Yet, I can power off >> the amp when this happens. >> >> Currently, the amp is about 34F ambient temp. In the past, I have used it >> well below that (-25F) without issue (last winter). >> >> My question is to the Elecraft guru's. Any thoughts? I am trying to >> retrieve more data from the KPA500 remotely. >> >> Mike va3mw >> __ >> 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 k2av@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 wa6...@gmail.com __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Re: [Elecraft] KPA500 shutting down
It could also be tiny livestock nibbling at the wiring, making nests etc. (or large livestock tripping, kicking ...) Just because you didn't do anything doesn't mean they're idle. Natural events such as lightning, icing of the antennas or something else could make things go wonky (usually a reset of power clears electrical issues and it might NOT be KPA related if one of the other connected devices went whack). If you haven't been there in a year, perhaps loneliness? ;-) If you are using a remote computer, the readings you seek to know (voltage, current, SWR) are available via the utility program (that's how I control mine remotely). I'd be VERY curious if shutdown was truly random as opposed to happening when the transmitter was on. But that would tend to point to a non-RF issue. Ultimately, it appears you'll have to take a day trip to investigate. 73, Rick Spell Czech happens > On Nov 22, 2016, at 11:04 AM, Guy Olinger K2AV wrote: > > Perhaps outdoors you have had a ground go bad, or a connector go bad, to > all of a sudden have RF in the shack. Connection work loose, that kind of > thing. These could happen without your seeing SWR on the line you are > transmitting on. > > 73, Guy K2AV > > On Tue, Nov 22, 2016 at 8:53 AM, Michael Walker > wrote: > >> I run a remote base with a KPA500. The Amp is a 3 hour drive away. >> >> I can control just about everything remotely without effort. The >> installation has been rock solid for years (Flex 6300 / KPA500) and lots >> of chokes everwhere. >> >> Last week the unit worked fine. Today the KPA500 appears to shut down >> based on the Remote GUI. >> >> I will be on SSB, and then I see the bar at the bottom go to PWR OFF, reset >> and go back to Powering ON/ Amp On. This is when the amp is only producing >> about 300 watts peak (about 24 watts drive). >> >> There are no error messages displayed at all and the only thing I suspect >> it might be is low AC voltage into the amp. >> >> RF could be the problem, however in 2 years running contests, this is the >> first time I have seen a shutdown like this. I run many Mix 43 chokes on >> all coax and signal lines. >> >> Are there other messages I can see by monitoring the Serial port at all? >> Any thing else I can do remotely? >> >> I can recreate this on 160/80/40m. Those antennas are at least 150 ft from >> the station. >> >> Also, at times, the GUI will seem to freeze. The buttons work, but the bar >> graphs are stuck frozen in time at a peak reading. Yet, I can power off >> the amp when this happens. >> >> Currently, the amp is about 34F ambient temp. In the past, I have used it >> well below that (-25F) without issue (last winter). >> >> My question is to the Elecraft guru's. Any thoughts? I am trying to >> retrieve more data from the KPA500 remotely. >> >> Mike va3mw >> __ >> 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 k2av@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 wa6...@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] KPA500 shutting down
Perhaps outdoors you have had a ground go bad, or a connector go bad, to all of a sudden have RF in the shack. Connection work loose, that kind of thing. These could happen without your seeing SWR on the line you are transmitting on. 73, Guy K2AV On Tue, Nov 22, 2016 at 8:53 AM, Michael Walker wrote: > I run a remote base with a KPA500. The Amp is a 3 hour drive away. > > I can control just about everything remotely without effort. The > installation has been rock solid for years (Flex 6300 / KPA500) and lots > of chokes everwhere. > > Last week the unit worked fine. Today the KPA500 appears to shut down > based on the Remote GUI. > > I will be on SSB, and then I see the bar at the bottom go to PWR OFF, reset > and go back to Powering ON/ Amp On. This is when the amp is only producing > about 300 watts peak (about 24 watts drive). > > There are no error messages displayed at all and the only thing I suspect > it might be is low AC voltage into the amp. > > RF could be the problem, however in 2 years running contests, this is the > first time I have seen a shutdown like this. I run many Mix 43 chokes on > all coax and signal lines. > > Are there other messages I can see by monitoring the Serial port at all? > Any thing else I can do remotely? > > I can recreate this on 160/80/40m. Those antennas are at least 150 ft from > the station. > > Also, at times, the GUI will seem to freeze. The buttons work, but the bar > graphs are stuck frozen in time at a peak reading. Yet, I can power off > the amp when this happens. > > Currently, the amp is about 34F ambient temp. In the past, I have used it > well below that (-25F) without issue (last winter). > > My question is to the Elecraft guru's. Any thoughts? I am trying to > retrieve more data from the KPA500 remotely. > > Mike va3mw > __ > 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 k2av@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] KPA500 shutting down
Thanks Jack for taking the time to reply. No faults are shown on the GUI. There is no connection to Pin 8 of the Aux connector either. I will try to pull a dump tonight when I get home. I will also do a trap on the serial line to see if I can capture any data during a failure. That will hopefully point us in the correct direction. 73, Mike va3mw On Tue, Nov 22, 2016 at 11:40 AM, Jack Brindle wrote: > Mike; > > There is no event in the firmware that should cause power down other that > activating the power on/off signal, either through the front panel button > or the AUX/IO signal. Having said this, obviously something is going on. > You don’t report any faults being shown, but that doesn’t mean there > aren’t any. Is there anything anomalous that you are seeing other than the > KPA powering off? Is there any connection to pin 8 of the KPA’s AUX > connector? If so, it could be triggering the power-off. > > Let’s try to gather more information to determine what is going on. If you > can capture a current fault dump using the KPA Utility I will analyze it to > see what it might reveal. I don’t know if you can get that remotely, but it > is worth a try. > > 73, > > Jack Brindle, W6FB > Elecraft Engineering > > > On Nov 22, 2016, at 7:31 AM, Michael Walker > wrote: > > > > Not an SWR issue. I can see the SWR on the KPA500 and on the external > W2. > > Both would alarm if the SWR got above got above 3:1. > > > > At least, for the moment, I have eliminated that. > > > > It could be breakdown in an antenna switch, but that would again show up > as > > something other than the until powering off and on. > > > > Yes, it does seem like RF, but when nothing has changed in a year (and I > > mean nothing), I have to set that aside too until I have eliminated a few > > other things. > > > > I appreciate the idea though. > > > > Mike va3mw > > > > > > On Tue, Nov 22, 2016 at 10:24 AM, Bill wrote: > > > >> First thing that comes to mind - high SWR. > >> > >> Bill W2BLC K-Line > >> __ > >> 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 jackbrin...@me.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] KPA500 shutting down
Mike; There is no event in the firmware that should cause power down other that activating the power on/off signal, either through the front panel button or the AUX/IO signal. Having said this, obviously something is going on. You don’t report any faults being shown, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t any. Is there anything anomalous that you are seeing other than the KPA powering off? Is there any connection to pin 8 of the KPA’s AUX connector? If so, it could be triggering the power-off. Let’s try to gather more information to determine what is going on. If you can capture a current fault dump using the KPA Utility I will analyze it to see what it might reveal. I don’t know if you can get that remotely, but it is worth a try. 73, Jack Brindle, W6FB Elecraft Engineering > On Nov 22, 2016, at 7:31 AM, Michael Walker wrote: > > Not an SWR issue. I can see the SWR on the KPA500 and on the external W2. > Both would alarm if the SWR got above got above 3:1. > > At least, for the moment, I have eliminated that. > > It could be breakdown in an antenna switch, but that would again show up as > something other than the until powering off and on. > > Yes, it does seem like RF, but when nothing has changed in a year (and I > mean nothing), I have to set that aside too until I have eliminated a few > other things. > > I appreciate the idea though. > > Mike va3mw > > > On Tue, Nov 22, 2016 at 10:24 AM, Bill wrote: > >> First thing that comes to mind - high SWR. >> >> Bill W2BLC K-Line >> __ >> 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 jackbrin...@me.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] KPA500 shutting down
Not an SWR issue. I can see the SWR on the KPA500 and on the external W2. Both would alarm if the SWR got above got above 3:1. At least, for the moment, I have eliminated that. It could be breakdown in an antenna switch, but that would again show up as something other than the until powering off and on. Yes, it does seem like RF, but when nothing has changed in a year (and I mean nothing), I have to set that aside too until I have eliminated a few other things. I appreciate the idea though. Mike va3mw On Tue, Nov 22, 2016 at 10:24 AM, Bill wrote: > First thing that comes to mind - high SWR. > > Bill W2BLC K-Line > __ > 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
Re: [Elecraft] KPA500 shutting down
First thing that comes to mind - high SWR. Bill W2BLC K-Line __ 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] KPA500 shutting down
I run a remote base with a KPA500. The Amp is a 3 hour drive away. I can control just about everything remotely without effort. The installation has been rock solid for years (Flex 6300 / KPA500) and lots of chokes everwhere. Last week the unit worked fine. Today the KPA500 appears to shut down based on the Remote GUI. I will be on SSB, and then I see the bar at the bottom go to PWR OFF, reset and go back to Powering ON/ Amp On. This is when the amp is only producing about 300 watts peak (about 24 watts drive). There are no error messages displayed at all and the only thing I suspect it might be is low AC voltage into the amp. RF could be the problem, however in 2 years running contests, this is the first time I have seen a shutdown like this. I run many Mix 43 chokes on all coax and signal lines. Are there other messages I can see by monitoring the Serial port at all? Any thing else I can do remotely? I can recreate this on 160/80/40m. Those antennas are at least 150 ft from the station. Also, at times, the GUI will seem to freeze. The buttons work, but the bar graphs are stuck frozen in time at a peak reading. Yet, I can power off the amp when this happens. Currently, the amp is about 34F ambient temp. In the past, I have used it well below that (-25F) without issue (last winter). My question is to the Elecraft guru's. Any thoughts? I am trying to retrieve more data from the KPA500 remotely. Mike va3mw __ 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
