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Creaking KPA-500

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Phillip Zminda

Creaking KPA-500

My kit-built KPA-500 is about 8 months old. Lately I’ve been running a lot of FT8 and FT4 at around 150 to 200 watts. I have really noticed a lot of loud creaking from the KPA-500 after a few QSOs on digital modes. The manual does indicate that some noise is normal but this does seem excessive, I don’t recall noticing it when on CW or SSB, although I haven’t done much contesting where the amp would have a lot of running time.

I expect I may need to tighten some screws inside. I really don’t want to do any more disassembly than necessary and would prefer not to ship back to Elecraft either. What is the likely culprit and how much disassembly is required to get to the necessary screws?

Thanks,

Phil N3ZP
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Bob McGraw - K4TAX

Re: Creaking KPA-500

Phil et al;

My factory built KPA500 did a good be of cracking and popping for 3 or 4
months when first received.   But it has stopped. Guess all the metal
parts settled into a comfortable position and all is now well.    I
considered opening it up, tightening or loosing bolts and screws.    But
procrastinator me just waited and it stopped by itself.   I think
that's good.

Love the amp, it is a great performer.

73

Bob, K4TAX

On 9/30/2019 7:59 AM, Phillip Zminda wrote:

> My kit-built KPA-500 is about 8 months old. Lately I’ve been running a lot of FT8 and FT4 at around 150 to 200 watts. I have really noticed a lot of loud creaking from the KPA-500 after a few QSOs on digital modes. The manual does indicate that some noise is normal but this does seem excessive, I don’t recall noticing it when on CW or SSB, although I haven’t done much contesting where the amp would have a lot of running time.
>
> I expect I may need to tighten some screws inside. I really don’t want to do any more disassembly than necessary and would prefer not to ship back to Elecraft either. What is the likely culprit and how much disassembly is required to get to the necessary screws?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Phil N3ZP
> ______________________________________________________________
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> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
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Michael Walker

Re: Creaking KPA-500

The creaking is due to the Heatsink expanding and contracting and the
screws trying to hold them in place.

It is normal and if you loosen screws, you may hear the noise go away. If
you tighten them, you might break the screws.

I'm not sure which way it will go, but it is normal.

Mike va3mw

On Mon, Sep 30, 2019 at 1:32 PM Bob McGraw K4TAX <[hidden email]>
wrote:

> Phil et al;
>
> My factory built KPA500 did a good be of cracking and popping for 3 or 4
> months when first received. But it has stopped. Guess all the metal
> parts settled into a comfortable position and all is now well. I
> considered opening it up, tightening or loosing bolts and screws. But
> procrastinator me just waited and it stopped by itself. I think
> that's good.
>
> Love the amp, it is a great performer.
>
> 73
>
> Bob, K4TAX
>
> On 9/30/2019 7:59 AM, Phillip Zminda wrote:
> > My kit-built KPA-500 is about 8 months old. Lately I’ve been running a
> lot of FT8 and FT4 at around 150 to 200 watts. I have really noticed a lot
> of loud creaking from the KPA-500 after a few QSOs on digital modes. The
> manual does indicate that some noise is normal but this does seem
> excessive, I don’t recall noticing it when on CW or SSB, although I haven’t
> done much contesting where the amp would have a lot of running time.
> >
> > I expect I may need to tighten some screws inside. I really don’t want
> to do any more disassembly than necessary and would prefer not to ship back
> to Elecraft either. What is the likely culprit and how much disassembly is
> required to get to the necessary screws?
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > Phil N3ZP
> > ______________________________________________________________
> > Elecraft mailing list
> > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> > Post: mailto:[hidden email]
> >
> > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> > Message delivered to [hidden email]
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
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Buck

Re: Creaking KPA-500

My creaking went away after a while.

Buck, k4ia
Honor Roll
8BDXCC
EasyWayHamBooks.com

On 9/30/2019 1:21 PM, Michael Walker wrote:

> The creaking is due to the Heatsink expanding and contracting and the
> screws trying to hold them in place.
>
> It is normal and if you loosen screws, you may hear the noise go away. If
> you tighten them, you might break the screws.
>
> I'm not sure which way it will go, but it is normal.
>
> Mike va3mw
>
>
> On Mon, Sep 30, 2019 at 1:32 PM Bob McGraw K4TAX <[hidden email]>
> wrote:
>
>> Phil et al;
>>
>> My factory built KPA500 did a good be of cracking and popping for 3 or 4
>> months when first received. But it has stopped. Guess all the metal
>> parts settled into a comfortable position and all is now well. I
>> considered opening it up, tightening or loosing bolts and screws. But
>> procrastinator me just waited and it stopped by itself. I think
>> that's good.
>>
>> Love the amp, it is a great performer.
>>
>> 73
>>
>> Bob, K4TAX
>>
>> On 9/30/2019 7:59 AM, Phillip Zminda wrote:
>>> My kit-built KPA-500 is about 8 months old. Lately I’ve been running a
>> lot of FT8 and FT4 at around 150 to 200 watts. I have really noticed a lot
>> of loud creaking from the KPA-500 after a few QSOs on digital modes. The
>> manual does indicate that some noise is normal but this does seem
>> excessive, I don’t recall noticing it when on CW or SSB, although I haven’t
>> done much contesting where the amp would have a lot of running time.
>>>
>>> I expect I may need to tighten some screws inside. I really don’t want
>> to do any more disassembly than necessary and would prefer not to ship back
>> to Elecraft either. What is the likely culprit and how much disassembly is
>> required to get to the necessary screws?
>>>
>>> Thanks,
>>>
>>> Phil N3ZP
>>> ______________________________________________________________
>>> Elecraft mailing list
>>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>>> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>>>
>>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>>> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>>
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> Elecraft mailing list
>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>>
>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>> Message delivered to [hidden email]
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>

Phillip Zminda

Re: Creaking KPA-500

In reply to this post by Phillip Zminda

Thanks for the comments. I’ll just leave it alone for a while and see if it improves over time.

Phil N3ZP
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