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How much power can a KPA500 handle in bypass?

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Tom-4

How much power can a KPA500 handle in bypass?

HI,
I am setting up a multi-radio to one antenna switch and to get the maximum
flexibility I would like to pass all of them through a KPA500 / KAT500
combination. So several radios connected to a switch, the output of the
switch to the input of the KPA500 and from there out to the KAT500.
All of the radios are under 100W but one is 200W. Will this be an issue
with the KPA500 in bypass?
A related question, what if I accidently put the 200W in in operate? Just
covering all my bases here.
Thanks, Tom
Va2fsq.com

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Jim Rhodes-3

Re: How much power can a KPA500 handle in bypass?

Well, if you overdrive it in operate mode it just drops out to standby. So
no problem there (I wouldn't make a habit of it though). As far as 200
watts in standby I will have to defer to the group.

On Wed, Aug 21, 2019 at 10:16 PM Tom <[hidden email]> wrote:

> HI,
> I am setting up a multi-radio to one antenna switch and to get the maximum
> flexibility I would like to pass all of them through a KPA500 / KAT500
> combination. So several radios connected to a switch, the output of the
> switch to the input of the KPA500 and from there out to the KAT500.
> All of the radios are under 100W but one is 200W. Will this be an issue
> with the KPA500 in bypass?
> A related question, what if I accidently put the 200W in in operate? Just
> covering all my bases here.
> Thanks, Tom
> Va2fsq.com
>
>
> ---
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ANDY DURBIN

How much power can a KPA500 handle in bypass?

In reply to this post by Tom-4

According to the KPA500 Owner's Manual you can input 200 W in standby (page 16).

"A related question, what if I accidentally put the 200W in in operate? Just covering all my bases here."

Put some money away for the repair bill. I think the theory is that that KPA500 will switch in 3 dB attenuation then fault and drop to bypass but I have seen a least one report of a KPA500 damaged with 100 W drive. It's not worth the risk.

Design your station so the KPA500 cannot be keyed if transceiver power setting is more than about 40 W. At that power input the 3 dB attenuator should protect the KPA500.

73,
Andy, k3wyc

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Nr4c

Re: How much power can a KPA500 handle in bypass?

In reply to this post by Jim Rhodes-3

Yeah, the group. We could take a vote. Or just ask Elecraft directly. This seems more of a tech support question to me.

Sent from my iPhone
...nr4c. bill

> On Aug 21, 2019, at 11:49 PM, Jim Rhodes <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> Well, if you overdrive it in operate mode it just drops out to standby. So
> no problem there (I wouldn't make a habit of it though). As far as 200
> watts in standby I will have to defer to the group.
>
>> On Wed, Aug 21, 2019 at 10:16 PM Tom <[hidden email]> wrote:
>>
>> HI,
>> I am setting up a multi-radio to one antenna switch and to get the maximum
>> flexibility I would like to pass all of them through a KPA500 / KAT500
>> combination. So several radios connected to a switch, the output of the
>> switch to the input of the KPA500 and from there out to the KAT500.
>> All of the radios are under 100W but one is 200W. Will this be an issue
>> with the KPA500 in bypass?
>> A related question, what if I accidently put the 200W in in operate? Just
>> covering all my bases here.
>> Thanks, Tom
>> Va2fsq.com
>>
>>
>> ---
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>> https://www.avast.com/antivirus
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k4vd

Re: How much power can a KPA500 handle in bypass?

I believe accidentally hitting the KPA500 with 200 w while in operate
stands a real chance of damaging the KPA500. I have a broken KPA500 in the
shack that was damaged with a 100 watt rig (not sure if 100 watts was being
sent). Paper troubleshooting here on the list seems to indicate one of the
PIN switching diodes broke. History of the conversation should be in the
list archives.

73,
Kev N4TT

On Thu, Aug 22, 2019 at 7:29 AM Nr4c <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Yeah, the group. We could take a vote. Or just ask Elecraft directly. This
> seems more of a tech support question to me.
>
> Sent from my iPhone
> ...nr4c. bill
>
>
> > On Aug 21, 2019, at 11:49 PM, Jim Rhodes <[hidden email]> wrote:
> >
> > Well, if you overdrive it in operate mode it just drops out to standby.
> So
> > no problem there (I wouldn't make a habit of it though). As far as 200
> > watts in standby I will have to defer to the group.
> >
> >> On Wed, Aug 21, 2019 at 10:16 PM Tom <[hidden email]>
> wrote:
> >>
> >> HI,
> >> I am setting up a multi-radio to one antenna switch and to get the
> maximum
> >> flexibility I would like to pass all of them through a KPA500 / KAT500
> >> combination. So several radios connected to a switch, the output of the
> >> switch to the input of the KPA500 and from there out to the KAT500.
> >> All of the radios are under 100W but one is 200W. Will this be an issue
> >> with the KPA500 in bypass?
> >> A related question, what if I accidently put the 200W in in operate?
> Just
> >> covering all my bases here.
> >> Thanks, Tom
> >> Va2fsq.com
> >>
> >>
> >> ---
> >> This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software.
> >> https://www.avast.com/antivirus
> >>
> >> ______________________________________________________________
> >> 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]
> >>
> > ______________________________________________________________
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> > Post: mailto:[hidden email]
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Macy monkeys

Re: How much power can a KPA500 handle in bypass?

I have my FTdx101D set to 50 watts max output. Been guilty of forgetting to turn it back to 20 watts a couple of times. So far been lucky. It seems to have survived 50 watts but it sure set the alarm off.

John K7FD

> On Aug 22, 2019, at 8:55 AM, Kevin, N4TT <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> I believe accidentally hitting the KPA500 with 200 w while in operate
> stands a real chance of damaging the KPA500. I have a broken KPA500 in the
> shack that was damaged with a 100 watt rig (not sure if 100 watts was being
> sent). Paper troubleshooting here on the list seems to indicate one of the
> PIN switching diodes broke. History of the conversation should be in the
> list archives.
>
> 73,
> Kev N4TT
>
>> On Thu, Aug 22, 2019 at 7:29 AM Nr4c <[hidden email]> wrote:
>>
>> Yeah, the group. We could take a vote. Or just ask Elecraft directly. This
>> seems more of a tech support question to me.
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone
>> ...nr4c. bill
>>
>>
>>> On Aug 21, 2019, at 11:49 PM, Jim Rhodes <[hidden email]> wrote:
>>>
>>> Well, if you overdrive it in operate mode it just drops out to standby.
>> So
>>> no problem there (I wouldn't make a habit of it though). As far as 200
>>> watts in standby I will have to defer to the group.
>>>
>>>> On Wed, Aug 21, 2019 at 10:16 PM Tom <[hidden email]>
>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> HI,
>>>> I am setting up a multi-radio to one antenna switch and to get the
>> maximum
>>>> flexibility I would like to pass all of them through a KPA500 / KAT500
>>>> combination. So several radios connected to a switch, the output of the
>>>> switch to the input of the KPA500 and from there out to the KAT500.
>>>> All of the radios are under 100W but one is 200W. Will this be an issue
>>>> with the KPA500 in bypass?
>>>> A related question, what if I accidently put the 200W in in operate?
>> Just
>>>> covering all my bases here.
>>>> Thanks, Tom
>>>> Va2fsq.com
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> ---
>>>> This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software.
>>>> https://www.avast.com/antivirus
>>>>
>>>> ______________________________________________________________
>>>> 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
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>>
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