K3 Suddenly Putting Out Only 25 watts at 100 watts indicated
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Transmitted on my K3 for the first time since the 10-meter contest, and
it is only showing 25 watts out on the built-in meter into a dummy load. Power output setting of the K3 is 100W, and same results seen on all bands. What could possibly be going on here? Back to Watsonville? The cruel karma of it all is that *yesterday* I ordered a KPA-1500. -- 73, Pete N4ZR Check out the Reverse Beacon Network at <http://reversebeacon.net>, now spotting RTTY activity worldwide. For spots, please use your favorite "retail" DX cluster. ______________________________________________________________ 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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Not enough info, how are you transmitting?
Chuck KE9UW Sent from my iPhone, cjack > On Dec 12, 2018, at 1:47 PM, N4ZR <[hidden email]> wrote: > > Transmitted on my K3 for the first time since the 10-meter contest, and it is only showing 25 watts out on the built-in meter into a dummy load. Power output setting of the K3 is 100W, and same results seen on all bands. What could possibly be going on here? Back to Watsonville? > > The cruel karma of it all is that *yesterday* I ordered a KPA-1500. > > -- > > 73, Pete N4ZR > Check out the Reverse Beacon Network > at <http://reversebeacon.net>, now > spotting RTTY activity worldwide. > For spots, please use your favorite > "retail" DX cluster. > > ______________________________________________________________ > 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]
Chuck, KE9UW
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In reply to this post by N4ZR
Sorry, this was on CW. It occurs on all bands. Is there a test (perhaps
using TXCAL) that I could do to narrow down the cause? 73, Pete N4ZR Check out the Reverse Beacon Network at <http://reversebeacon.net>, now spotting RTTY activity worldwide. For spots, please use your favorite "retail" DX cluster. On 12/12/2018 3:40 PM, K9ZTV wrote: > Pete ... > > The K3 is capable of power output on a per-band basis. Any chance you have it set for 25 watts on ten meters? > > 73, > > Kent K9ZTV > >> On Dec 12, 2018, at 1:47 PM, N4ZR <[hidden email]> wrote: >> >> Transmitted on my K3 for the first time since the 10-meter contest, and it is only showing 25 watts out on the built-in meter into a dummy load. Power output setting of the K3 is 100W, and same results seen on all bands. What could possibly be going on here? Back to Watsonville? >> >> The cruel karma of it all is that *yesterday* I ordered a KPA-1500. >> >> -- >> >> 73, Pete N4ZR >> Check out the Reverse Beacon Network >> at <http://reversebeacon.net>, now >> spotting RTTY activity worldwide. >> For spots, please use your favorite >> "retail" DX cluster. >> >> ______________________________________________________________ >> 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] |
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In reply to this post by N4ZR
Ran the TX Gain calibration from the K3 Utility and it failed on 160 and
80, then aborted because power readings did not converge 73, Pete N4ZR Check out the Reverse Beacon Network at <http://reversebeacon.net>, now spotting RTTY activity worldwide. For spots, please use your favorite "retail" DX cluster. On 12/12/2018 3:40 PM, K9ZTV wrote: > Pete ... > > The K3 is capable of power output on a per-band basis. Any chance you > have it set for 25 watts on ten meters? > > 73, > > Kent K9ZTV > >> On Dec 12, 2018, at 1:47 PM, N4ZR <[hidden email]> wrote: >> >> Transmitted on my K3 for the first time since the 10-meter contest, >> and it is only showing 25 watts out on the built-in meter into a >> dummy load. Power output setting of the K3 is 100W, and same results >> seen on all bands. What could possibly be going on here? Back to >> Watsonville? >> >> The cruel karma of it all is that *yesterday* I ordered a KPA-1500. >> >> -- >> 73, Pete N4ZR >> Check out the Reverse Beacon Network >> at <http://reversebeacon.net>, now >> spotting RTTY activity worldwide. >> For spots, please use your favorite >> "retail" DX cluster. >> >> ______________________________________________________________ >> 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] |
Re: K3 Suddenly Putting Out Only 25 watts at 100 watts indicated
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Make sure the dummy load is connected; the cable is 'good'; that you are
not routing the serial data via the P3 (as if you were updating firmware; there is sometimes a slight stumble in communications otherwise) and that your supply is giving appropriate voltages under load. Try this a few times, it sometimes needs that to pass. Once it passes, save that config, then make sure it passes again. And again until you're satisfied. Then check the power out at 100W. Failing that, time to call support. Rick nhc On 12/12/2018 1:09 PM, N4ZR wrote: > Ran the TX Gain calibration from the K3 Utility and it failed on 160 > and 80, then aborted because power readings did not converge > > 73, Pete N4ZR > Check out the Reverse Beacon Network > at <http://reversebeacon.net>, now > spotting RTTY activity worldwide. > For spots, please use your favorite > "retail" DX cluster. > > On 12/12/2018 3:40 PM, K9ZTV wrote: >> Pete ... >> >> The K3 is capable of power output on a per-band basis. Any chance you >> have it set for 25 watts on ten meters? >> >> 73, >> >> Kent K9ZTV >> >>> On Dec 12, 2018, at 1:47 PM, N4ZR <[hidden email]> wrote: >>> >>> Transmitted on my K3 for the first time since the 10-meter contest, >>> and it is only showing 25 watts out on the built-in meter into a >>> dummy load. Power output setting of the K3 is 100W, and same results >>> seen on all bands. What could possibly be going on here? Back to >>> Watsonville? >>> >>> The cruel karma of it all is that *yesterday* I ordered a KPA-1500. >>> >>> -- >>> 73, Pete N4ZR >>> Check out the Reverse Beacon Network >>> at <http://reversebeacon.net>, now >>> spotting RTTY activity worldwide. >>> For spots, please use your favorite >>> "retail" DX cluster. >>> >>> ______________________________________________________________ >>> 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] 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] |
Re: K3 Suddenly Putting Out Only 25 watts at 100 watts indicated
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In reply to this post by N4ZR
Pete,
On one or both of the bands that failed, try running the TX Gain Calibration as described in the manual - that is done on a per band basis, and the manual method gives more time for the power to settle. If it still fails, contact Elecraft support. 73, Don W3FPR On 12/12/2018 4:09 PM, N4ZR wrote: > Ran the TX Gain calibration from the K3 Utility and it failed on 160 and > 80, then aborted because power readings did not converge > > 73, Pete N4ZR > Check out the Reverse Beacon Network > at <http://reversebeacon.net>, now > spotting RTTY activity worldwide. > For spots, please use your favorite > "retail" DX cluster. > > On 12/12/2018 3:40 PM, K9ZTV wrote: >> Pete ... >> >> The K3 is capable of power output on a per-band basis. Any chance you >> have it set for 25 watts on ten meters? >> >> 73, >> >> Kent K9ZTV >> >>> On Dec 12, 2018, at 1:47 PM, N4ZR <[hidden email]> wrote: >>> >>> Transmitted on my K3 for the first time since the 10-meter contest, >>> and it is only showing 25 watts out on the built-in meter into a >>> dummy load. Power output setting of the K3 is 100W, and same results >>> seen on all bands. What could possibly be going on here? Back to >>> Watsonville? >>> >>> The cruel karma of it all is that *yesterday* I ordered a KPA-1500. >>> >>> -- >>> 73, Pete N4ZR >>> Check out the Reverse Beacon Network >>> at <http://reversebeacon.net>, now >>> spotting RTTY activity worldwide. >>> For spots, please use your favorite >>> "retail" DX cluster. >>> >>> ______________________________________________________________ >>> 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] > 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] |
Re: K3 Suddenly Putting Out Only 25 watts at 100 watts indicated
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In reply to this post by N4ZR
If you have another receiver, run a two-test and listen to the K3 output in a
narrow BW. Ideally, the two tones will be considerably stronger than the first pair of sidebands. I suspect they won't be, you'll have a lot more than two and you have a blown FET in the HPA. Wes N7WS On 12/12/2018 12:47 PM, N4ZR wrote: > Transmitted on my K3 for the first time since the 10-meter contest, and it is > only showing 25 watts out on the built-in meter into a dummy load. Power > output setting of the K3 is 100W, and same results seen on all bands. What > could possibly be going on here? Back to Watsonville? > > The cruel karma of it all is that *yesterday* I ordered a KPA-1500. > ______________________________________________________________ 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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Is there any advantage to use 220 V over 110 V on the KPA500?
Is it worth having an electrician come to the house and install a 220 V outlet for it? Thanks Tom AA4VV ______________________________________________________________ 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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Mine's plugged into 110. Someone could probably copy cw from the
flickering lights in my shack. 73, Dennis NJ6G On 12/12/2018 16:13, Tom Berry wrote: > Is there any advantage to use 220 V over 110 V on the KPA500? > > Is it worth having an electrician come to the house and install a 220 > V outlet for it? > > > Thanks > > Tom AA4VV ______________________________________________________________ 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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In reply to this post by Tom Berry
Tom ...
I vote yes and did so myself. The amp just loafs along and probably prefers that voltage. However, properly configured at the transformer, it runs fine on 120v which is what I power it when portable for Boy Scout events. At some point you may want a 1500w amp which will definitely need 240v. Might as well do it at today’s electrician rates than tomorrow’s. 73, Kent K9ZTV > On Dec 12, 2018, at 6:13 PM, Tom Berry <[hidden email]> wrote: > > Is there any advantage to use 220 V over 110 V on the KPA500? > > Is it worth having an electrician come to the house and install a 220 V outlet for it? > > > Thanks > > Tom AA4VV > > ______________________________________________________________ > 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] |
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In reply to this post by Tom Berry
Depends on your 120 V supply. I had good wiring, through a sub-panel
[an accident of previous construction] and it ran fine for me, no light dimming. I also had 240 V available, but not located conveniently to the KPA500. KPA1500 is probably something else again. Now, here in Sparks, my antenna is on the fence. I sold the KPA/KAT500, but on 160/80, I flash the touch lamps in the bedroom at 100 W. Navy radiomen to the south of us could intercept my CW. 73, Fred ["Skip"] K6DGW Sparks NV DM09dn Washoe County On 12/12/2018 4:13 PM, Tom Berry wrote: > Is there any advantage to use 220 V over 110 V on the KPA500? > > Is it worth having an electrician come to the house and install a 220 > V outlet for it? > > > Thanks > > Tom AA4VV ______________________________________________________________ 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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In reply to this post by Tom Berry
I’ve wondered the same thing here. While I don’t have the flashing lights that Dennis NJ6G does, I DO have a ton of other things plugged in to outlets in this room.
Am I off in left field on this: if the amp were to run on a 220 circuit it would obviously draw half the current, and thus (to my uneducated brain) less current “might” mean less heat generated and a lower temperature inside the unit. Does that make sense? I had an estimate from a licensed electrician who said it would run me about $600 to put a 220 outlet in the shack, due to it’s distance (and obstacles in the way) from the electrical entry panel. Kinda pricy, but eliminating some heat in the shack and keeping the KPA500 fans running slower would be nice…. Jim / W6JHB > On Dec 12, 2018, at 4:13 PM, Tom Berry <[hidden email]> wrote: > > Is there any advantage to use 220 V over 110 V on the KPA500? > > Is it worth having an electrician come to the house and install a 220 V outlet for it? > > > Thanks > > Tom AA4VV > > ______________________________________________________________ > 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] |
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In reply to this post by Tom Berry
Yes. The current draw when running at 220V will be half that needed for 110V, which means the heat losses in the power cord and wall wiring will be cut by about one-fourth. This also means the voltage drop on the power cord and wall wiring will be much less at 220V.
So, there is a pretty good advantage to running the amplifier at 220V. Having said that, I wasn’t willing to go through the trouble to add 220V outlets to my workshop, so my KPA500s run on 110V. You will hear many folks saying they run the KPA500 just fine at that voltage. Generally if the lights blink when you key the radio it is a good indicator that the wall wiring is too small. In that case you may want to have the electrician install the higher-voltage line. From experience I know that changing out wall wiring is a major effort involving wall patching. Basically, if you want to go through the trouble, go for it. Otherwise enjoy your KPA500 at 110V. 73 and enjoy the KPA500! Jack, W6FB > On Dec 12, 2018, at 4:13 PM, Tom Berry <[hidden email]> wrote: > > Is there any advantage to use 220 V over 110 V on the KPA500? > > Is it worth having an electrician come to the house and install a 220 V outlet for it? > > > Thanks > > Tom AA4VV > > ______________________________________________________________ > 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] |
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In reply to this post by Elecraft mailing list
James;
There would be no difference in the heat generated inside the KPA500 since the KPA’s transformer is delivering the same voltage and current in either case. The entire difference would be voltage drop on the power line and KPA’s power cord due to the higher current at 110V. The losses are I*I*R, where I is the current and R the power line resistance. Noting that the current is double for 110V, the heat losses in the power line will actually be quadrupled. If you have #12 wire in your walls (the current NEC code), and use the supplied power cord, things should be just fine. 73! Jack, W6FB > On Dec 12, 2018, at 4:27 PM, James Bennett via Elecraft <[hidden email]> wrote: > > I’ve wondered the same thing here. While I don’t have the flashing lights that Dennis NJ6G does, I DO have a ton of other things plugged in to outlets in this room. > > Am I off in left field on this: if the amp were to run on a 220 circuit it would obviously draw half the current, and thus (to my uneducated brain) less current “might” mean less heat generated and a lower temperature inside the unit. Does that make sense? > > I had an estimate from a licensed electrician who said it would run me about $600 to put a 220 outlet in the shack, due to it’s distance (and obstacles in the way) from the electrical entry panel. > > Kinda pricy, but eliminating some heat in the shack and keeping the KPA500 fans running slower would be nice…. > > Jim / W6JHB > >> On Dec 12, 2018, at 4:13 PM, Tom Berry <[hidden email]> wrote: >> >> Is there any advantage to use 220 V over 110 V on the KPA500? >> >> Is it worth having an electrician come to the house and install a 220 V outlet for it? >> >> >> Thanks >> >> Tom AA4VV >> >> ______________________________________________________________ >> 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] |
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In reply to this post by Tom Berry
Tom,
If you have a dedicated 120 volt receptacle in the shack, that would be OK to use, but if it is shared with other receptacles in the house, you will find blinking lights with CW or SSB speech. If you have to run new wiring to the shack, run 240 volts and if you run a 4 wire system, it can be split out to 2 120 volt receptacles that you can use exclusively in the hamshack. Your electrician will know how to split it out. Ask him to use #12 wire, or better yet #10 for a lower voltage drop from the breaker box. Many receptacles are wired with #14 wire (except for kitchen circuits which must be #12 wire according to code). If you have an older house, definitely get dedicated wiring to the shack - who knows what older wiring may entail, it was wired only to the codes at the time of construction. 73, Don W3FPR On 12/12/2018 7:13 PM, Tom Berry wrote: > Is there any advantage to use 220 V over 110 V on the KPA500? > > Is it worth having an electrician come to the house and install a 220 V > outlet for it? ______________________________________________________________ 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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In reply to this post by Tom Berry
No, I have run mine both ways. Works FB on 120v
73 Eric WD6DBM On Wed, Dec 12, 2018, 4:13 PM Tom Berry <[hidden email] wrote: > Is there any advantage to use 220 V over 110 V on the KPA500? > > Is it worth having an electrician come to the house and install a 220 V > outlet for it? > > > Thanks > > Tom AA4VV > > > 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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In reply to this post by Tom Berry
Depends. If you have a stiff 120 V service from the breaker panel, a
service that doesn't loop through other outlets, specially the ones that use the push in the wire type connections, then the KPA500 will run OK on 120 volts. If you have other stuff on that circuit, or have the maximum legal number of duplex outlets of 5 on that circuit, then you may be approaching the limit of a 20 Amp circuit. The IR drop between 120 volts and 240 volts is noticeable, more so as the distance from the breaker panel to the load increases. The IR drop in the wire from the breaker panel to the outlet will be reduced by 1/4th when operated on 240 as compared to 120. There is drop in the outlet, the power cord and such, all will likewise be reduced when a 240 volt service is used. And then if you ever go to the KPA-1500, there is no choice except 240 volts. I ran a dedicated 240 volt service, 20A from the breaker panel with #10-4 wire and feed it from 2 single breakers. The larger than required wire size makes for less IR drop. I also have 2 duplex 20A 120V outlets which are fed from each leg of the 240 V service thus the reason for using #10-4. That provides L1, L2, Neutral, and Ground as required for the 120V duplex outlets. This way I have a good solid power feed to the station. Labor is the most expensive part, copper wire is the next. 73 Bob, K4TAX On 12/12/2018 6:13 PM, Tom Berry wrote: > Is there any advantage to use 220 V over 110 V on the KPA500? > > Is it worth having an electrician come to the house and install a 220 > V outlet for it? > > > Thanks > > Tom AA4VV > > ______________________________________________________________ > 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] |
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In reply to this post by Tom Berry
Lower current.
But why on this thread? Sent from my iPhone ...nr4c. bill > On Dec 12, 2018, at 7:13 PM, Tom Berry <[hidden email]> wrote: > > Is there any advantage to use 220 V over 110 V on the KPA500? > > Is it worth having an electrician come to the house and install a 220 V outlet for it? > > > Thanks > > Tom AA4VV > > ______________________________________________________________ > 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] |
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In reply to this post by Elecraft mailing list
Jack - great answer, many thanks for clearing it up for me. Our home was built in ‘91 so I would guess that it is fairly up to current code, wire-wise. Guess I’ll save my $600 for something else. Maybe a trip to the casinos in Tahoe! Or paying some bills. Hmmmmm... :-)
Jim Bennett / W6JHB Folsom, CA > On Dec 12, 2018, at 4:44 PM, Jack Brindle <[hidden email]> wrote: > > James; > > There would be no difference in the heat generated inside the KPA500 since the KPA’s transformer is delivering the same voltage and current in either case. The entire difference would be voltage drop on the power line and KPA’s power cord due to the higher current at 110V. The losses are I*I*R, where I is the current and R the power line resistance. Noting that the current is double for 110V, the heat losses in the power line will actually be quadrupled. > > If you have #12 wire in your walls (the current NEC code), and use the supplied power cord, things should be just fine. > > 73! > Jack, W6FB > >> On Dec 12, 2018, at 4:27 PM, James Bennett via Elecraft <[hidden email]> wrote: >> >> I’ve wondered the same thing here. While I don’t have the flashing lights that Dennis NJ6G does, I DO have a ton of other things plugged in to outlets in this room. >> >> Am I off in left field on this: if the amp were to run on a 220 circuit it would obviously draw half the current, and thus (to my uneducated brain) less current “might” mean less heat generated and a lower temperature inside the unit. Does that make sense? >> >> I had an estimate from a licensed electrician who said it would run me about $600 to put a 220 outlet in the shack, due to it’s distance (and obstacles in the way) from the electrical entry panel. >> >> Kinda pricy, but eliminating some heat in the shack and keeping the KPA500 fans running slower would be nice…. >> >> Jim / W6JHB >> >>> On Dec 12, 2018, at 4:13 PM, Tom Berry <[hidden email]> wrote: >>> >>> Is there any advantage to use 220 V over 110 V on the KPA500? >>> >>> Is it worth having an electrician come to the house and install a 220 V outlet for it? >>> >>> >>> Thanks >>> >>> Tom AA4VV >>> >>> ______________________________________________________________ >>> 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] |
Re: K3 Suddenly Putting Out Only 25 watts at 100 watts indicated
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In reply to this post by Wes Stewart-2
This happened to me at the start of CQWW-SSB in October. My K3s is finally enroute back home after a 6 week stay in the Elecraft Repair Department with a blown FET in the HPA, cause unknown. And I know I've been told I'm not the only one to suffer this failure, and it sounds like this is now a known issue.
Does anybody have an idea as to what could be causing these FETs to fail, or steps to consider to lessen the chances of it happening? I can't speak for anybody else, but I baby the heck out of my gear and was shocked to discover it failed, when feeding directly into a KPA-1500. ---------------------------------------------------- Regards, Peter Dougherty, W2IRT -----Original Message----- From: [hidden email] [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Wes Stewart Sent: Wednesday, December 12, 2018 4:55 PM To: [hidden email] Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Suddenly Putting Out Only 25 watts at 100 watts indicated If you have another receiver, run a two-test and listen to the K3 output in a narrow BW. Ideally, the two tones will be considerably stronger than the first pair of sidebands. I suspect they won't be, you'll have a lot more than two and you have a blown FET in the HPA. Wes N7WS On 12/12/2018 12:47 PM, N4ZR wrote: > Transmitted on my K3 for the first time since the 10-meter contest, and it is > only showing 25 watts out on the built-in meter into a dummy load. Power > output setting of the K3 is 100W, and same results seen on all bands. What > could possibly be going on here? Back to Watsonville? > > The cruel karma of it all is that *yesterday* I ordered a KPA-1500. > ______________________________________________________________ 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]
Lovin' my K3S (S/N 10023)
73, Peter W2IRT |
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