KPA-1500 Fan Noise
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I would ask someone from Elecraft to respond to the VGA extension cable
question. It seems everywhere I read within Elecraft Documentation is that standard VGA cables should NOT be used. In regards to extensions, I do not know if they all work pin to pin, or that they are meant to just extend standard VGA cables. It certainly would be a way to extend the distance between the K3/K3S and the KPA1500, but still retain the functionality between the two. When the new firmware comes out, and the amp can be controlled by the function buttons on the K3 (PF1-operate/stby and PF2-antenna switch), it would be a sure winner. '73 de JIM N2ZZ [Since the cable pin out is straight thru I would imagine a DB15 VGA M-F extension cable would suffice?] -----Original Message----- From: [hidden email] [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Les Peters Sent: Saturday, June 02, 2018 12:08 PM To: [hidden email]; [hidden email] Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KPA-1500 Fan Noise Jim I agree with your personal observations. I run some high duty cycle modes so I notice the fans kicking into speed 3 a lot when the PA temp gets to 68-70 degrees. That setting does a good job of reducing the temp and keeping it from climbing past 73 degrees. I've changed my min fan speed threshold from 0 to 1 to also help. As you have pointed out 1 is barely perceptible and this helps to reduce the amount of time that fan speeds are on 2+. I'd like to have more separation between the K3S and the KPA1500 RF deck to further distance any noise but the KPAK3AUX cable is only about five feet long, it would be great if that were more like ten feet. Since the cable pin out is straight thru I would imagine a DB15 VGA M-F extension cable would suffice? That would put the potential fan noise even further away but have the RF deck still plenty close enough to view. Les, N1SV #113 > Date: Fri, 1 Jun 2018 23:07:20 -0400 > From: "James F. Boehner MD" > To: "'Elecraft Reflector'" > Subject: [Elecraft] KPA-1500 Fan Noise > Message-ID: <002901d3fa1e$d39e0db0$7ada2910$@yahoo.com mailto:002901d3fa1e$d39e0db0$7ada2910$@yahoo.com > > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" > > Just thought I would add a few thoughts as far as the fan noise. > > I'm not certain a YouTube piece would help, but perhaps personal observations might. > > First, via the menu, you can select the minimum fan speed, 0-5. Of course, the fan speed will go up with the Amp temperature. > > These are my personal observations: > > 0-Nothing > 1-Barely perceptible > 2-Acceptable fan noise, even for SSB operating. Low pitched whine > 3-The noise and the pitch of the whine is past the acceptable point. Even a very directional mic will probably pick up the noise. This is where Noise Cancelling headphones would start to help. > 4-Louder and higher pitched whine > 5-Very loud and higher pitched whine > > So, the fan noise becomes particularly bothersome on level 3 and above. If you are doing CW and/or Digital, the noise will only be a factor with the operator. On SSB, the noise will probably be noticeable on the air. However, the SSB duty cycle may not require higher fan speeds. Those who have been active in contests will probably know that answer. > > Rich, if fan noise is going to be that strong a factor, perhaps you should be looking at tube amps instead. Personally, if I found the KPA-1500 fan noise excessive in the future, I would plan on moving it off my desk or remoting it rather than replacing it. It's integration with the K3 would be very hard to give up. > > > ?73 de JIM N2ZZ > #106 > ************************** > ______________________________________________________________ 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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Les,
Good advice to check with Elecraft. I believe there are 4 parallel wires for 12V+ and 4 parallel wires for 12V- in the cable. I think most if not all of the 15 pins are used. I believe there is a 12V, 3A supply in the PS box for the RF deck. 73, N2TK, Tony -----Original Message----- From: [hidden email] [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of James F. Boehner MD via Elecraft Sent: Saturday, June 02, 2018 1:43 PM To: [hidden email] Subject: [Elecraft] KPA-1500 Fan Noise I would ask someone from Elecraft to respond to the VGA extension cable question. It seems everywhere I read within Elecraft Documentation is that standard VGA cables should NOT be used. In regards to extensions, I do not know if they all work pin to pin, or that they are meant to just extend standard VGA cables. It certainly would be a way to extend the distance between the K3/K3S and the KPA1500, but still retain the functionality between the two. When the new firmware comes out, and the amp can be controlled by the function buttons on the K3 (PF1-operate/stby and PF2-antenna switch), it would be a sure winner. '73 de JIM N2ZZ [Since the cable pin out is straight thru I would imagine a DB15 VGA M-F extension cable would suffice?] -----Original Message----- From: [hidden email] [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Les Peters Sent: Saturday, June 02, 2018 12:08 PM To: [hidden email]; [hidden email] Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KPA-1500 Fan Noise Jim I agree with your personal observations. I run some high duty cycle modes so I notice the fans kicking into speed 3 a lot when the PA temp gets to 68-70 degrees. That setting does a good job of reducing the temp and keeping it from climbing past 73 degrees. I've changed my min fan speed threshold from 0 to 1 to also help. As you have pointed out 1 is barely perceptible and this helps to reduce the amount of time that fan speeds are on 2+. I'd like to have more separation between the K3S and the KPA1500 RF deck to further distance any noise but the KPAK3AUX cable is only about five feet long, it would be great if that were more like ten feet. Since the cable pin out is straight thru I would imagine a DB15 VGA M-F extension cable would suffice? That would put the potential fan noise even further away but have the RF deck still plenty close enough to view. Les, N1SV #113 > Date: Fri, 1 Jun 2018 23:07:20 -0400 > From: "James F. Boehner MD" > To: "'Elecraft Reflector'" > Subject: [Elecraft] KPA-1500 Fan Noise > Message-ID: <002901d3fa1e$d39e0db0$7ada2910$@yahoo.com mailto:002901d3fa1e$d39e0db0$7ada2910$@yahoo.com > > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" > > Just thought I would add a few thoughts as far as the fan noise. > > I'm not certain a YouTube piece would help, but perhaps personal observations might. > > First, via the menu, you can select the minimum fan speed, 0-5. Of course, the fan speed will go up with the Amp temperature. > > These are my personal observations: > > 0-Nothing > 1-Barely perceptible > 2-Acceptable fan noise, even for SSB operating. Low pitched whine > 3-The noise and the pitch of the whine is past the acceptable point. Even a very directional mic will probably pick up the noise. This is where Noise Cancelling headphones would start to help. > 4-Louder and higher pitched whine > 5-Very loud and higher pitched whine > > So, the fan noise becomes particularly bothersome on level 3 and above. If you are doing CW and/or Digital, the noise will only be a factor with the operator. On SSB, the noise will probably be noticeable on the air. However, the SSB duty cycle may not require higher fan speeds. Those who have been active in contests will probably know that answer. > > Rich, if fan noise is going to be that strong a factor, perhaps > you should be looking at tube amps instead. Personally, if I found the KPA-1500 fan noise excessive in the future, I would plan on moving it off my desk or remoting it rather than replacing it. It's integration with the K3 would be very hard to give up. > > > ?73 de JIM N2ZZ > #106 > ************************** > ______________________________________________________________ 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 Elecraft mailing list
After I ordered my kpa1500 back in August I asked that same question to Elecraft. My intent was to make my own AUX cable to put the amp where I wanted.The response was that the AUX BUS can only be so long and it was hinted that about 7 or 8 ft might be the most you should have. Since one AUX cable wouldn'tbe nearly enough I ordered two of them and have the amp where I originally planned to put it. The AUX BUS line is the critical one.
BillK3WJV On Saturday, June 2, 2018, 1:46:06 PM EDT, James F. Boehner MD via Elecraft <[hidden email]> wrote: I would ask someone from Elecraft to respond to the VGA extension cable question. It seems everywhere I read within Elecraft Documentation is that standard VGA cables should NOT be used. In regards to extensions, I do not know if they all work pin to pin, or that they are meant to just extend standard VGA cables. It certainly would be a way to extend the distance between the K3/K3S and the KPA1500, but still retain the functionality between the two. When the new firmware comes out, and the amp can be controlled by the function buttons on the K3 (PF1-operate/stby and PF2-antenna switch), it would be a sure winner. '73 de JIM N2ZZ [Since the cable pin out is straight thru I would imagine a DB15 VGA M-F extension cable would suffice?] -----Original Message----- From: [hidden email] [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Les Peters Sent: Saturday, June 02, 2018 12:08 PM To: [hidden email]; [hidden email] Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KPA-1500 Fan Noise Jim I agree with your personal observations. I run some high duty cycle modes so I notice the fans kicking into speed 3 a lot when the PA temp gets to 68-70 degrees. That setting does a good job of reducing the temp and keeping it from climbing past 73 degrees. I've changed my min fan speed threshold from 0 to 1 to also help. As you have pointed out 1 is barely perceptible and this helps to reduce the amount of time that fan speeds are on 2+. I'd like to have more separation between the K3S and the KPA1500 RF deck to further distance any noise but the KPAK3AUX cable is only about five feet long, it would be great if that were more like ten feet. Since the cable pin out is straight thru I would imagine a DB15 VGA M-F extension cable would suffice? That would put the potential fan noise even further away but have the RF deck still plenty close enough to view. Les, N1SV #113 > Date: Fri, 1 Jun 2018 23:07:20 -0400 > From: "James F. Boehner MD" > To: "'Elecraft Reflector'" > Subject: [Elecraft] KPA-1500 Fan Noise > Message-ID: <002901d3fa1e$d39e0db0$7ada2910$@yahoo.com mailto:002901d3fa1e$d39e0db0$7ada2910$@yahoo.com > > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" > > Just thought I would add a few thoughts as far as the fan noise. > > I'm not certain a YouTube piece would help, but perhaps personal observations might. > > First, via the menu, you can select the minimum fan speed, 0-5. Of course, the fan speed will go up with the Amp temperature. > > These are my personal observations: > > 0-Nothing > 1-Barely perceptible > 2-Acceptable fan noise, even for SSB operating. Low pitched whine > 3-The noise and the pitch of the whine is past the acceptable point. Even a very directional mic will probably pick up the noise. This is where Noise Cancelling headphones would start to help. > 4-Louder and higher pitched whine > 5-Very loud and higher pitched whine > > So, the fan noise becomes particularly bothersome on level 3 and above. If you are doing CW and/or Digital, the noise will only be a factor with the operator. On SSB, the noise will probably be noticeable on the air. However, the SSB duty cycle may not require higher fan speeds. Those who have been active in contests will probably know that answer. > > Rich, if fan noise is going to be that strong a factor, perhaps you should be looking at tube amps instead. Personally, if I found the KPA-1500 fan noise excessive in the future, I would plan on moving it off my desk or remoting it rather than replacing it. It's integration with the K3 would be very hard to give up. > > > ?73 de JIM N2ZZ > #106 > ************************** > ______________________________________________________________ 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 Elecraft mailing list
Not from Elecraft but...
Yes the caution is warranted for "VGA" cables. They are not always pin for pin and can do two things wrong. One is that not all pins are wired and the other is worse as they sometimes tie the shields together shorting out needed pins. There are multiple versions of VGA cables. My source for the correct cables is L-Com here: http://www.l-com.com/d-sub-high-density-d-sub-cable-assemblies I've had good luck with products from them being reasonably priced and good quality. I'd just get the length I'd need rather than an extension. An extension adds another failure point as with all cabling jobs. 73, Bob K2TK ex KN2TKR (1956) & K2TKR On 6/2/2018 1:42 PM, James F. Boehner MD via Elecraft wrote: > I would ask someone from Elecraft to respond to the VGA extension cable > question. It seems everywhere I read within Elecraft Documentation is that > standard VGA cables should NOT be used. In regards to extensions, I do not > know if they all work pin to pin, or that they are meant to just extend > standard VGA cables. > > It certainly would be a way to extend the distance between the K3/K3S and > the KPA1500, but still retain the functionality between the two. When the > new firmware comes out, and the amp can be controlled by the function > buttons on the K3 (PF1-operate/stby and PF2-antenna switch), it would be a > sure winner. > > '73 de JIM N2ZZ > 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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