Re: [Elecraft] KPA500 no power out

2019-10-15 Thread Lyn Norstad 
As I have previously posted, my KPA500 (factory built, purchased new a few
months ago) failed after a couple weeks of use in the same manner.

I sent it to Elecraft, and they repaired it at no cost to me (of course)
except the nearly $100 it cost me to ship it to them, insured.

There were a number of parts replaced ... including one resistor that was
missing.

And yes, it also took out the transceiver (IC7300, not in warranty) which
Icom took care of very quickly and at reasonable cost.

73
Lyn, WØLEN


-Original Message-
From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net
[mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of iain macdonnell -
N6ML
Sent: Tuesday, October 15, 2019 11:14 AM
To: w5zzt
Cc: Elecraft Reflector
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KPA500 no power out

On Tue, Oct 15, 2019 at 7:04 AM w5zzt  wrote:
>
> Well my T/R circuit just failed yesterday.  Mine is a 2016 model that was
a
> kit.  serial number 3032.
>
> It's out of warranty so waiting for Elecraft to call me so I can send it
in
> to be fixed.  No smoke just quit and disconnected it before it blew the
> finals of my radio.

What does "just quit and disconnected" mean?

My KPA500's T/R also died recently, and also damaged my K3. The
initial symptom was that the KPA500 would throw a fault 09 (high
reflected power) immediately on attempt to transmit on any band. While
attempting to diagnose this remotely, at one point I turned the K3's
output level below 12W (so just using the LPA, not the KPA3). After
that, the K3's TX was dead - "long story short", the final FETs in the
LPA were fried. Seems like something in the KPA500's T/R allowed big
RF to get fed back to the K3 - apparently the KPA3 finals could take
it, but the LPA ones couldn't. I've since replaced the two FETs, and
my K3 is back to life. When I brought the KPA500 home, the symptom
changed. On attempting to transmit, if I provided any RF drive, the
asterisk on the display would disappear - so it seemed to be unkeying
itself. It seemed like RF may be leaking into the keying circuit. In
an email exchange with support, some voltage readings suggested a
diode problem. I replaced the D7 thru D10. That made the voltages look
better, but the symptom of the amp unkeying itself persisted. Support
said that no one has heard of that happening before. Since I don't
have a supply of parts at hand, and have limited diagnostic skill, I
sent it to Watsonville Hospital. It's now waiting in the queue
(supposedly 10-15 days).

> Anyone had this repair done lately?  I just wondered what the cost is to
> repair if anyone knows.

Minimum $95 (one hour), plus parts and any additional labour. Waiting
to find out

73/GL,

~iain / N6ML
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Re: [Elecraft] KPA500 no power out

2019-10-15 Thread iain macdonnell - N6ML 
On Tue, Oct 15, 2019 at 7:04 AM w5zzt  wrote:
>
> Well my T/R circuit just failed yesterday.  Mine is a 2016 model that was a
> kit.  serial number 3032.
>
> It's out of warranty so waiting for Elecraft to call me so I can send it in
> to be fixed.  No smoke just quit and disconnected it before it blew the
> finals of my radio.

What does "just quit and disconnected" mean?

My KPA500's T/R also died recently, and also damaged my K3. The
initial symptom was that the KPA500 would throw a fault 09 (high
reflected power) immediately on attempt to transmit on any band. While
attempting to diagnose this remotely, at one point I turned the K3's
output level below 12W (so just using the LPA, not the KPA3). After
that, the K3's TX was dead - "long story short", the final FETs in the
LPA were fried. Seems like something in the KPA500's T/R allowed big
RF to get fed back to the K3 - apparently the KPA3 finals could take
it, but the LPA ones couldn't. I've since replaced the two FETs, and
my K3 is back to life. When I brought the KPA500 home, the symptom
changed. On attempting to transmit, if I provided any RF drive, the
asterisk on the display would disappear - so it seemed to be unkeying
itself. It seemed like RF may be leaking into the keying circuit. In
an email exchange with support, some voltage readings suggested a
diode problem. I replaced the D7 thru D10. That made the voltages look
better, but the symptom of the amp unkeying itself persisted. Support
said that no one has heard of that happening before. Since I don't
have a supply of parts at hand, and have limited diagnostic skill, I
sent it to Watsonville Hospital. It's now waiting in the queue
(supposedly 10-15 days).

> Anyone had this repair done lately?  I just wondered what the cost is to
> repair if anyone knows.

Minimum $95 (one hour), plus parts and any additional labour. Waiting
to find out

73/GL,

~iain / N6ML
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Re: [Elecraft] KPA500 no power out

2019-10-15 Thread Petr, OK1RP/M0SIS 
Tony,

no s/n known but rev.D9 or earlier with SMD parts assmbled... BUT no A/B
rev. as these are thru hole parts populated LPF/PA boards.

Simply if your LPF/PA board is thru hole yellow caps populated then it is
not rework kit for you (Elecraft parts kit: E850607) and if you have the SMD
parts assembled then check if it is rev. D9 or earlier. 

The LPF/PA boards where this mod is applied already is marked rev. D10 or
higher.

Petr 



-
73 - Petr, OK1RP 
"Apple & Elecraft freak"
B:http://ok1rp.blogspot.com
MeWe: https://bit.ly/2HGPoDx
MeWe: https://bit.ly/2FmwvDt
--
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Re: [Elecraft] KPA500 no power out

2019-10-15 Thread Petr, OK1RP/M0SIS 
Dear Frank,

it should help you.

http://ok1rp.blogspot.com/2017/02/elecraft-kpa500-lpf-tr-switch-rework.html

Petr



-
73 - Petr, OK1RP 
"Apple & Elecraft freak"
B:http://ok1rp.blogspot.com
MeWe: https://bit.ly/2HGPoDx
MeWe: https://bit.ly/2FmwvDt
--
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Re: [Elecraft] KPA500 no power out

2019-10-15 Thread w5zzt 
Well my T/R circuit just failed yesterday.  Mine is a 2016 model that was a
kit.  serial number 3032.

It's out of warranty so waiting for Elecraft to call me so I can send it in
to be fixed.  No smoke just quit and disconnected it before it blew the
finals of my radio.

Anyone had this repair done lately?  I just wondered what the cost is to
repair if anyone knows.

Harold
W5ZZT



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Re: [Elecraft] KPA500 no power out

2015-11-06 Thread N2TK, Tony 
Does anyone know if there is a serial number cutoff where this mod is in
place?
I am assuming the LPF board wil be marked to tell which rev lewvel it is?
Tnx
N2TK, Tony

-Original Message-
From: Elecraft [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Arie
Kleingeld PA3A
Sent: Friday, November 06, 2015 2:38 AM
To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KPA500 no power out

Frank,

This looks like the problem I had with my KPA500 that turned out to be a
fault in the T/R switch. My troubles also started on 7MHz.
There's a modkit for that: E850607. I installed it myself.

This has been in the reflector before. Look e.g. for the thread on
KPA500 troubles of last October.

73
Arie


Op 5-11-2015 om 22:48 schreef n...@comcast.net:
> Can someone advise me on the following?
>
> My KPA500 (S/N 2663) Amplifier stopped working in the middle of a CW 
> QSO on 7MHz.
> It has been working flawlessly for the past two months (since new).
>
> At the time:
> Driver is a K3 running 20w and KPA500 running 400 watts.
> Antenna tuner is a KAT500.
> Antenna is a GAP Challenger.
> Frequency was 7.07 MHz.
> While transmitting, the SWR on the KPA500 went high and a Fault flashed.
> The KPA500 seemed to reset its self and I continued sending.
> The sequence repeated a few seconds later except that the KPA500 had 
> no output power.
> Further testing resulted in the following findings:
>
> Reloaded the firmware.
>
> K3, KPA500 and KAT500 was connected in accordance with Figure 1, Page 
> 5, of the Owners manual.
> For the following tests, the output of the KPA500 was connected 
> directly to the SWR meter and the SWR meter was connected directly to 
> the dummy load eliminating the KAT500.
>
> Frequency: 3.57 MHz, All works well.
>
> Frequency: 7.07MHz, K3: (ON) 100w, KPA500: (Standby), SWR on KPA500: 
> 1, SWR on SWR meter between KAT500 and dummy load: 1.1:1
>K3 power reduced to 10w, Switch the KPA500 to Operate, KPA500 no 
> lights indicating SWR or Power.  K3: SWR and RF indicators jumping up 
> and down. Raspy tone heard in station monitor (TS-850).  The LCD
> shows: "7.0 MHZ" no matter which switch around the display I push or 
> how many times I push them or how long I hold the switch.
>
> Frequency 14.07 MHz, All works well.
>
> The KPA500 (kit) is under warranty, anyone know what s going on here?  
> Did I do something wrong?  Is it time to send it back to Elecraft?
>
> Frank
> N7FN
>
>
>
>
>
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Re: [Elecraft] KPA500 no power out

2015-11-05 Thread Arie Kleingeld PA3A 

Frank,

This looks like the problem I had with my KPA500 that turned out to be a 
fault in the T/R switch. My troubles also started on 7MHz.

There's a modkit for that: E850607. I installed it myself.

This has been in the reflector before. Look e.g. for the thread on 
KPA500 troubles of last October.


73
Arie


Op 5-11-2015 om 22:48 schreef n...@comcast.net:

Can someone advise me on the following?

My KPA500 (S/N 2663) Amplifier stopped working in the middle of a CW 
QSO on 7MHz.

It has been working flawlessly for the past two months (since new).

At the time:
Driver is a K3 running 20w and KPA500 running 400 watts.
Antenna tuner is a KAT500.
Antenna is a GAP Challenger.
Frequency was 7.07 MHz.
While transmitting, the SWR on the KPA500 went high and a Fault flashed.
The KPA500 seemed to reset its self and I continued sending.
The sequence repeated a few seconds later except that the KPA500 had 
no output power.

Further testing resulted in the following findings:

Reloaded the firmware.

K3, KPA500 and KAT500 was connected in accordance with Figure 1, Page 
5, of the Owners manual.
For the following tests, the output of the KPA500 was connected 
directly to the SWR meter and the SWR meter was connected directly to 
the dummy load eliminating the KAT500.


Frequency: 3.57 MHz, All works well.

Frequency: 7.07MHz, K3: (ON) 100w, KPA500: (Standby), SWR on KPA500: 
1, SWR on SWR meter between KAT500 and dummy load: 1.1:1
   K3 power reduced to 10w, Switch the KPA500 to Operate, KPA500 no 
lights indicating SWR or Power.  K3: SWR and RF indicators jumping up 
and down. Raspy tone heard in station monitor (TS-850).  The LCD 
shows: "7.0 MHZ" no matter which switch around the display I push or 
how many times I push them or how long I hold the switch.


Frequency 14.07 MHz, All works well.

The KPA500 (kit) is under warranty, anyone know what s going on here?  
Did I do something wrong?  Is it time to send it back to Elecraft?


Frank
N7FN





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Re: [Elecraft] [KPA500] No power out in "OPER" mode

2012-04-17 Thread Jack Brindle 
This is not a common problem. Reports are few and far between. But, if  
and when you do see a problem of this sort, please send a very  
detailed report so that we can try to figure out what is going on and  
correct it if we are able. It might be something in the amplifier,  
something in your environment or some combination. So when it happens,  
please let us know, along with all the details. We really do want all  
our products to be as perfect as possible.

Jack Brindle, W6FB
Elecraft Engineering



On Apr 17, 2012, at 5:37 AM, k2z...@aol.com wrote:

> Hi Larry,
>
>
> My KPA500 exhibits the same problem at times, don't know why. I turn  
> off the amp and then back on and then it will operate in "OPER"  
> mode. I guess it is a common problem.
> Jim  K2ZF
>
>
>
>
> -Original Message-
> From: K2GN 
> To: Elecraft 
> Sent: Mon, Apr 16, 2012 10:42 pm
> Subject: [Elecraft] [KPA500] No power out in "OPER" mode
>
>
> Today, I was on 15M CW in a pile-up calling, when I looked at the  
> meters I
> had no output.
>
> AMP was in "OPER". Put AMP in "STBY" and I had output, but at the  
> drive
> level, naturally.
>
> I did NOT see any faults or hear a beep. I check all Menu items and  
> found
> them right on the factory settings.
>
> I read a few reflector messages via Nabble that described the same  
> symptoms
> but there wasn't any solutions offered or follow up fixes.
>
> There was something about low voltage, so I checked my 2nd KPA500.   
> Running
> just fine. Switch power sources on the AMPs and the problem stayed  
> with the
> 1st AMP.
>
> I'm stumped but it doesn't take much to do that.
>
> I'll call Elecraft tomorrow but in the meantime, any suggestions?
>
> Larry/K2GN
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Larry/K2GN - http://k2gn.com 
>
>
>
>
> __
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Re: [Elecraft] [KPA500] No power out in "OPER" mode

2012-04-17 Thread KENT TRIMBLE 
Guessing is always just guessing.

At least one KPA500 has operated flawlessly and nightly since its 
purchase as a kit more than a year ago.  Most recently it performed 
perfectly for 48 continuous hours at Titanic Special Event Station WØS 
in Branson, Missouri.  On my desk or in the field, it has /never /failed 
to function as designed.

On a different but related subject . . .

I would strongly encourage those not physically handicapped to purchase 
their Elecraft equipment in kit-form.  Frankly, I trust my own skills a 
lot more than I trust a cadre of strangers hired for that particular 
purpose, no matter how proficient they might be.  For significant 
dollars spent, I want the knowledge and experience acquired in putting 
that kit together to end up in MY brain, not the brain of someone else.

Elecraft has several low-cost, useful, high-performance kits available, 
both soldered and non-soldered, to help anyone gain self-confidence.  
The Heath Company inspired and educated a whole generation of today's 
finest electronic minds.  What a shame to have those same opportunities 
available and not take advantage of them, even if it's only a hobby for us.

Instant gratification comes with a price, and I fear the next "greatest 
generation" is growing up outside our borders.

My opinion only . . .

73,

Kent Trimble, K9ZTV
Jefferson City, MO



On 4/17/2012 7:37 AM, someone wrote:
> My KPA500 exhibits the same problem at times, don't know why. I turn off the 
> amp and then back on and then it will operate in "OPER" mode./I guess it is a 
> common problem/.
>
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Re: [Elecraft] [KPA500] No power out in "OPER" mode

2012-04-17 Thread k2zf50 
Hi Larry,


My KPA500 exhibits the same problem at times, don't know why. I turn off the 
amp and then back on and then it will operate in "OPER" mode. I guess it is a 
common problem.
Jim  K2ZF




-Original Message-
From: K2GN 
To: Elecraft 
Sent: Mon, Apr 16, 2012 10:42 pm
Subject: [Elecraft] [KPA500] No power out in "OPER" mode


Today, I was on 15M CW in a pile-up calling, when I looked at the meters I
had no output.

AMP was in "OPER". Put AMP in "STBY" and I had output, but at the drive
level, naturally.

I did NOT see any faults or hear a beep. I check all Menu items and found
them right on the factory settings.

I read a few reflector messages via Nabble that described the same symptoms
but there wasn't any solutions offered or follow up fixes.

There was something about low voltage, so I checked my 2nd KPA500.  Running
just fine. Switch power sources on the AMPs and the problem stayed with the
1st AMP.

I'm stumped but it doesn't take much to do that.

I'll call Elecraft tomorrow but in the meantime, any suggestions?

Larry/K2GN

 

 

 

 

 

Larry/K2GN - http://k2gn.com  

 


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