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K2 Remote DC Power Control

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Tom KG3V

K2 Remote DC Power Control

I am assembling a remotely-operated K2 station. I need a timer that will
kill a "runaway transmitter." I am planning to install a kill-switch on the
12 volt DC supply, as that is the only way I can be sure to disable the
transmitter. If I have a K2 and the separate 100W power amp, is it
sufficient/safe to just disable the power to the K2 base unit (leaving
power to the amp connected)?

Anybody else experienced in auto-shutoff of a K2?

Thanks,

Tom, KG3V
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Don Wilhelm-4

Re: K2 Remote DC Power Control

Tom,

Yes, it is sufficient to kill the power to the base K2 (when the KPA100
is mounted remotely). Unlike the K3, there is little to be lost (bits
mixed up) if you turn the power source off for the K2 during normal
operation.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 1/15/2012 2:14 PM, [hidden email] wrote:

> I am assembling a remotely-operated K2 station. I need a timer that will
> kill a "runaway transmitter." I am planning to install a kill-switch on the
> 12 volt DC supply, as that is the only way I can be sure to disable the
> transmitter. If I have a K2 and the separate 100W power amp, is it
> sufficient/safe to just disable the power to the K2 base unit (leaving
> power to the amp connected)?
>
> Anybody else experienced in auto-shutoff of a K2?
>
>

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Tom KG3V

Re: K2 Remote DC Power Control

Don,

Thanks for the reply, and for all your other help in configuring my K2
station over the last 5 years.

Just out of curiosity - can this not be done if they are mounted in the
same box? I think when mine were configured that way, there still were two
separate 12V inputs - or do they get tied together? I would like to know if
my timeout-switch approach would be useable by someone with the KPA-100 in
the same chassis as the K2-base.

Interesting that it sound like it is not as "safe" to pull power from the
K3 during operation. What about a natural power outage event? Would there
be some complications in the recovery process?

73, Tom
KG3V

On , Don Wilhelm <[hidden email]> wrote:
> Tom,

> Yes, it is sufficient to kill the power to the base K2 (when the KPA100
> is mounted remotely). Unlike the K3, there is little to be lost (bits
> mixed up) if you turn the power source off for the K2 during normal
> operation.

> 73,

> Don W3FPR

> On 1/15/2012 2:14 PM, [hidden email] wrote:

> I am assembling a remotely-operated K2 station. I need a timer that will

> kill a "runaway transmitter." I am planning to install a kill-switch on
> the

> 12 volt DC supply, as that is the only way I can be sure to disable the

> transmitter. If I have a K2 and the separate 100W power amp, is it

> sufficient/safe to just disable the power to the K2 base unit (leaving

> power to the amp connected)?

> Anybody else experienced in auto-shutoff of a K2?

______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

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Don Wilhelm-4

Re: K2 Remote DC Power Control

Tom,

First the answer about the K3 - there is some "cleanup" work that must
be done when the K3 is powered off, so the power off button should be
used rather than just "pulling the plug". With the K2, there is no
difference between "pulling the plug" and using the power switch. Yes,
just like your computer, the K3 is exposed to writing bad data if the
plug is pulled (or a power outage occurs). The chances of anything
really disastrous is small, but some "strange happenings" may reveal
themselves after such an event - the real answer is "it all depends" on
what the K3 was doing at the time power went out - if it was writing
something to storage, that "last used frequency, mode, etc." may not be
preserved properly.

If the base K2 and the KPA100 are mounted in the same box, then the
situation is different - you would have to interrupt the higher current
connection (to the KPA100) if everything were connected normally.
Now, there "is a way" -- if you do not connect the AUX 12V connector
from the KPA100 to the base K2, the base K2 will not be powered by the
KPA100 power supply connection - you will have to power the base K2 from
the coaxial connector. That makes the power off conditions the same as
with the remotely mounted KPA100.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 1/15/2012 8:26 PM, [hidden email] wrote:

> Don,
>
> Thanks for the reply, and for all your other help in configuring my K2
> station over the last 5 years.
>
> Just out of curiosity - can this not be done if they are mounted in
> the same box? I think when mine were configured that way, there still
> were two separate 12V inputs - or do they get tied together? I would
> like to know if my timeout-switch approach would be useable by someone
> with the KPA-100 in the same chassis as the K2-base.
>
> Interesting that it sound like it is not as "safe" to pull power from
> the K3 during operation. What about a natural power outage event?
> Would there be some complications in the recovery process?
>
> 73, Tom
> KG3V
>
>
> On , Don Wilhelm <[hidden email]> wrote:
> > Tom,
> >
> >
> >
> > Yes, it is sufficient to kill the power to the base K2 (when the
> KPA100 is mounted remotely). Unlike the K3, there is little to be
> lost (bits mixed up) if you turn the power source off for the K2
> during normal operation.
> >
> >
> >
> > 73,
> >
> > Don W3FPR
> >
> >
> >
> > On 1/15/2012 2:14 PM, [hidden email] wrote:
> >
> >
> > I am assembling a remotely-operated K2 station. I need a timer that will
> >
> > kill a "runaway transmitter." I am planning to install a kill-switch
> on the
> >
> > 12 volt DC supply, as that is the only way I can be sure to disable the
> >
> > transmitter. If I have a K2 and the separate 100W power amp, is it
> >
> > sufficient/safe to just disable the power to the K2 base unit (leaving
> >
> > power to the amp connected)?
> >
> >
> >
> > Anybody else experienced in auto-shutoff of a K2?
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >

Tom KG3V

Re: K2 Remote DC Power Control

Don,

I get it. Thanks for the details. Just one more reason I am glad I
converted to the separate Amp/ATU box. This makes it very easy.

73, Tom
KG3V

On , Don Wilhelm <[hidden email]> wrote:
> Tom,

> First the answer about the K3 - there is some "cleanup" work that must be
> done when the K3 is powered off, so the power off button should be used
> rather than just "pulling the plug". With the K2, there is no difference
> between "pulling the plug" and using the power switch. Yes, just like
> your computer, the K3 is exposed to writing bad data if the plug is
> pulled (or a power outage occurs). The chances of anything really
> disastrous is small, but some "strange happenings" may reveal themselves
> after such an event - the real answer is "it all depends" on what the K3
> was doing at the time power went out - if it was writing something to
> storage, that "last used frequency, mode, etc." may not be preserved
> properly.

> If the base K2 and the KPA100 are mounted in the same box, then the
> situation is different - you would have to interrupt the higher current
> connection (to the KPA100) if everything were connected normally.

> Now, there "is a way" -- if you do not connect the AUX 12V connector from
> the KPA100 to the base K2, the base K2 will not be powered by the KPA100
> power supply connection - you will have to power the base K2 from the
> coaxial connector. That makes the power off conditions the same as with
> the remotely mounted KPA100.

> 73,

> Don W3FPR

> On 1/15/2012 8:26 PM, [hidden email] wrote:

> Don,

> Thanks for the reply, and for all your other help in configuring my K2
> station over the last 5 years.

> Just out of curiosity - can this not be done if they are mounted in the
> same box? I think when mine were configured that way, there still were
> two separate 12V inputs - or do they get tied together? I would like to
> know if my timeout-switch approach would be useable by someone with the
> KPA-100 in the same chassis as the K2-base.

> Interesting that it sound like it is not as "safe" to pull power from the
> K3 during operation. What about a natural power outage event? Would there
> be some complications in the recovery process?

> 73, Tom

> KG3V

> On , Don Wilhelm [hidden email]> wrote:

> > Tom,

> >

> >

> >

> > Yes, it is sufficient to kill the power to the base K2 (when the KPA100
> is mounted remotely). Unlike the K3, there is little to be lost (bits
> mixed up) if you turn the power source off for the K2 during normal
> operation.

> >

> >

> >

> > 73,

> >

> > Don W3FPR

> >

> >

> >

> > On 1/15/2012 2:14 PM, [hidden email] wrote:

> >

> >

> > I am assembling a remotely-operated K2 station. I need a timer that will

> >

> > kill a "runaway transmitter." I am planning to install a kill-switch on
> the

> >

> > 12 volt DC supply, as that is the only way I can be sure to disable the

> >

> > transmitter. If I have a K2 and the separate 100W power amp, is it

> >

> > sufficient/safe to just disable the power to the K2 base unit (leaving

> >

> > power to the amp connected)?

> >

> >

> >

> > Anybody else experienced in auto-shutoff of a K2?

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

______________________________________________________________
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