K4 Power Supply Recommendation
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Hello everyone!
Like most here I am waiting for my K4. Currently I am running the Power Werx SS30DV from the Elecraft site for my KX3 and Kxpa100. I was planning on buying another for the K4 but thought I would ask opinions first. I am assembling my first real HF station and going the cry once route. I would rather pay a bit more up front and get something solid rather than saving a few bucks now only to upgrade later. Given what I intend to spend on the K4, I don’t want to skimp on its PS if spending a bit more will improve performance. My budget is let’s say $500 and my question is would buying a bigger switching or linear PS for the K4 make sense? My KX3 PS has caused me no issues and if that is the way to go I am groovy. Since my father has passed and I inherited his call sign my wife is being very gracious in allowing me to splurge on this hobby that I have only recently taken back up in remembrance of my SK father. Help me spend some money while the wallet is open. My antennas are a Butternut HV 9v vertical, and 3 alpha delta 1/2 wave wire dipoles 80, 40, and 20 meters. Thanks! John WB3EYB Sent from my iPad Sent from my iPad ______________________________________________________________ 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: K4 Power Supply Recommendation
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Assuming the K4 likes a little extras voltage like the K3S (14.2VDC for mine), I have been running an Astron RM-50 linear for 10 years or so and would recommend it or the 35 amp version. I modified the voltage sense circuit to follow the voltage at the rear of the K3s to help with voltage drop around a power gate. The only time it has been off was for the modification and if the AC power fails.
It powers all of my station accessories with a little room to spare. The power werx switching supply is also on the bench - bought it before my K3s for VHF/UHF radios. It has been repaired once for the choke on the input power lead - it failed and made terrible broadband noise. It is 6 years old. It has a little higher ripple than the Astron - always has. Probably not a big deal though. My $0.02. Hank K4HYJ ----- Original Message ----- From: John Shingara ([hidden email]) Date: 10/05/20 10:09 To: [hidden email] Subject: [Elecraft] K4 Power Supply Recommendation Hello everyone! Like most here I am waiting for my K4. Currently I am running the Power Werx SS30DV from the Elecraft site for my KX3 and Kxpa100. I was planning on buying another for the K4 but thought I would ask opinions first. I am assembling my first real HF station and going the cry once route. I would rather pay a bit more up front and get something solid rather than saving a few bucks now only to upgrade later. Given what I intend to spend on the K4, I don’t want to skimp on its PS if spending a bit more will improve performance. My budget is let’s say $500 and my question is would buying a bigger switching or linear PS for the K4 make sense? My KX3 PS has caused me no issues and if that is the way to go I am groovy. Since my father has passed and I inherited his call sign my wife is being very gracious in allowing me to splurge on this hobby that I have only recently taken back up in remembrance of my SK father. Help me spend some money while the wallet is open. My antennas are a Butternut HV 9v vertical, and 3 alpha delta 1/2 wave wire dipoles 80, 40, and 20 meters. Thanks! John WB3EYB Sent from my iPad Sent from my iPad ______________________________________________________________ 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: K4 Power Supply Recommendation
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The power system for my K3/P3 consists of a large SLA AGM battery that is float-charged froma West Mountain Radio PGS-40 and an Astron RS-25, which I adjusted to 14.2V to accommodatethe drop through the wiring, the PGS-40 and the RigRunner. This has kept things very quiet for me,and also keeps me on the air through any AC power interruptions, and I use it at both my primaryQTH in south Florida as well as my summer residence in western NC. This should fit your budget.
73, Bayard R. "Brandy" Coolidge, N1HO ----- Original Message ----- From: John Shingara ([hidden email]) Date: 10/05/20 10:09 To: [hidden email] Subject: [Elecraft] K4 Power Supply Recommendation Hello everyone! Like most here I am waiting for my K4. Currently I am running the Power Werx SS30DV from the Elecraft site for my KX3 and Kxpa100. I was planning on buying another for the K4 but thought I would ask opinions first. I am assembling my first real HF station and going the cry once route. I would rather pay a bit more up front and get something solid rather than saving a few bucks now only to upgrade later. Given what I intend to spend on the K4, I don’t want to skimp on its PS if spending a bit more will improve performance. My budget is let’s say $500 and my question is would buying a bigger switching or linear PS for the K4 make sense? My KX3 PS has caused me no issues and if that is the way to go I am groovy. Thanks! John WB3EYB ______________________________________________________________ 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: K4 Power Supply Recommendation
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In reply to this post by John Shingara
I also have a Powerwerx SS30DV but I just use it only when I travel to
the caribbean with my K3S. I home I use an Astron 70 amp linear power supply. This is obviously oversized but it was in my shack for a decades before buying an Elecraft transceiver. If weight is not an issue I would look at the Astron linear power supplies. John KK9A John Shingara WB3EYB wrote: Hello everyone! Like most here I am waiting for my K4. Currently I am running the Power Werx SS30DV from the Elecraft site for my KX3 and Kxpa100. I was planning on buying another for the K4 but thought I would ask opinions first. I am assembling my first real HF station and going the cry once route. I would rather pay a bit more up front and get something solid rather than saving a few bucks now only to upgrade later. Given what I intend to spend on the K4, I don’t want to skimp on its PS if spending a bit more will improve performance. My budget is let’s say $500 and my question is would buying a bigger switching or linear PS for the K4 make sense? My KX3 PS has caused me no issues and if that is the way to go I am groovy. Thanks! John WB3EYB ______________________________________________________________ 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: K4 Power Supply Recommendation
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In reply to this post by John Shingara
Congratulations on your return. As do many, I've used an Astron RM-35 for
years, have done the floating battery thing, but now use an Astron SS-25. The latter out of an interest in efficiency. Wes N7WS On 10/5/2020 7:07 AM, John Shingara wrote: > Hello everyone! > > Like most here I am waiting for my K4. Currently I am running the Power Werx SS30DV from the Elecraft site for my KX3 and Kxpa100. I was planning on buying another for the K4 but thought I would ask opinions first. I am assembling my first real HF station and going the cry once route. I would rather pay a bit more up front and get something solid rather than saving a few bucks now only to upgrade later. > > Given what I intend to spend on the K4, I don’t want to skimp on its PS if spending a bit more will improve performance. My budget is let’s say $500 and my question is would buying a bigger switching or linear PS for the K4 make sense? My KX3 PS has caused me no issues and if that is the way to go I am groovy. > > Since my father has passed and I inherited his call sign my wife is being very gracious in allowing me to splurge on this hobby that I have only recently taken back up in remembrance of my SK father. Help me spend some money while the wallet is open. > > My antennas are a Butternut HV 9v vertical, and 3 alpha delta 1/2 wave wire dipoles 80, 40, and 20 meters. > > Thanks! > John > WB3EYB > > Sent from my iPad > ______________________________________________________________ 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: K4 Power Supply Recommendation
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A typo, RS-35M not RM-35.
On 10/5/2020 9:57 AM, Wes wrote: > Congratulations on your return. As do many, I've used an Astron RM-35 for > years, have done the floating battery thing, but now use an Astron SS-25. The > latter out of an interest in efficiency. > > Wes N7WS ______________________________________________________________ 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: K4 Power Supply Recommendation
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In reply to this post by John Shingara
Thanks everyone for the replies and advice; much appreciated. This is exactly the kind of question I would bring to my SK father so it was very nice to read the advice posted as if it were coming from dad. It was all practical interesting. It made me miss having these discussions in his shack while he was building some project.
I have since ordered an Astron RS-70M-AP. It’s a big old (48 lb) linear and more than I will probably ever need. The 70 was only $10 more than the 50 on HRO and it has a cooling fan where the 50 does not so I thought it may be more robust. I plan to run all of my HF from this amp (KX3, KX2, and hopefully soon a K4). I’ll use the PowerWerx SS30DV switcher for my Yaesu FTM-400DR VHF and UHF in he shack. Thanks again everyone! John WB3EYB Sent from my iPad > On Oct 5, 2020, at 10:07 AM, John Shingara <[hidden email]> wrote: > > Hello everyone! > > Like most here I am waiting for my K4. Currently I am running the Power Werx SS30DV from the Elecraft site for my KX3 and Kxpa100. I was planning on buying another for the K4 but thought I would ask opinions first. I am assembling my first real HF station and going the cry once route. I would rather pay a bit more up front and get something solid rather than saving a few bucks now only to upgrade later. > > Given what I intend to spend on the K4, I don’t want to skimp on its PS if spending a bit more will improve performance. My budget is let’s say $500 and my question is would buying a bigger switching or linear PS for the K4 make sense? My KX3 PS has caused me no issues and if that is the way to go I am groovy. > > Since my father has passed and I inherited his call sign my wife is being very gracious in allowing me to splurge on this hobby that I have only recently taken back up in remembrance of my SK father. Help me spend some money while the wallet is open. > > My antennas are a Butternut HV 9v vertical, and 3 alpha delta 1/2 wave wire dipoles 80, 40, and 20 meters. > > Thanks! > John > WB3EYB > > Sent from my iPad > > > Sent from my iPad 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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