KPA #455 not very well

[Nicolas Drin]

Hi

I just finished to build KPA500 #455. Unfortunately I found several problems.

1/ fan is not working (I already checked that the 2 wires are a the right place on the plug - no inversion like someone reported earlier)

2/ I coupled the KPA500 to the K3 with the KPAK3aux from Elecraft. For some bands (14,21,10,5.3) when I push the button on the front of KPA500 the band is changed on K3 but NOT on KPA500 (example 14 gives 1,8 - 21 gives 7) ! For this 4 bands, in TX mode, the KPA500 automatic band switching selects the proper band.

I thought to a software problem and i tried to reload the firmware (after a parameter reset to default value) and I run to my third problem...

3/No communication available with the KPA500. I tried two configurations Mac and PC. The serial / USB cable is the KUSB from Elecraft and both systems are perfectly working with K3 and P3 so I am pretty sure that it is a KPA500 problem.

I don't have the schematics of the KPA500 (and in the other hand I'm not a brilliant technician...) so any help will be appreciated. I should mention that I already build Norcal 40, SIERRA, K1, KX1, K2, K3, P3 so I have a little experience and I already checked that I didn't make any mistake  (wire ribbon cable inversion or badly plugged, no thermal insulator).  I performed all test with success with my DMM during the building.

Last point the HF module seems to wok without problem.

So again thank in advance for any help

Nicolas, F5HFZ

[Rick Tavan N6XI]

This sounds like a problem I had when building my KPA - improperly inserted
ribbon cables. It is very easy to insert some of the connectors offset by
one pin or even an entire row of pins. Check all ribbon cable connections
very carefully.

/Rick N6XI

On Sat, Oct 29, 2011 at 10:21 AM, Nicolas Drin <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Hi
>
> I just finished to build KPA500 #455. Unfortunately I found several
> problems.
>
> 1/ fan is not working (I already checked that the 2 wires are a the right
> place on the plug - no inversion like someone reported earlier)
>
> 2/ I coupled the KPA500 to the K3 with the KPAK3aux from Elecraft. For some
> bands (14,21,10,5.3) when I push the button on the front of KPA500 the band
> is changed on K3 but NOT on KPA500 (example 14 gives 1,8 - 21 gives 7) !
> For
> this 4 bands, in TX mode, the KPA500 automatic band switching selects the
> proper band.
>
> I thought to a software problem and i tried to reload the firmware (after a
> parameter reset to default value) and I run to my third problem...
>
> 3/No communication available with the KPA500. I tried two configurations
> Mac
> and PC. The serial / USB cable is the KUSB from Elecraft and both systems
> are perfectly working with K3 and P3 so I am pretty sure that it is a
> KPA500
> problem.
>
> I don't have the schematics of the KPA500 (and in the other hand I'm not a
> brilliant technician...) so any help will be appreciated. I should mention
> that I already build Norcal 40, SIERRA, K1, KX1, K2, K3, P3 so I have a
> little experience and I already checked that I didn't make any mistake
> (wire ribbon cable inversion or badly plugged, no thermal insulator).  I
> performed all test with success with my DMM during the building.
>
> Last point the HF module seems to wok without problem.
>
> So again thank in advance for any help
>
> Nicolas, F5HFZ
>
> --
> View this message in context:
> http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/KPA-455-not-very-well-tp6943877p6943877.html
> Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
> ______________________________________________________________
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> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
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> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
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--
Rick Tavan N6XI
Truckee, CA
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[Nicolas Drin]

Thanks for the good advices and for the schematics.

I found the problem... a beginner mistake (shift of a ribbon cable) and everything's fine now .

Best 73

Nicolas

[w0mu]

Check the ribbon cable.  A few people have missed a set of pins.

Mike W0MU

J6M CQ WW DX CW Contest 2011
J6/W0MU November 21 - December 1 2011
W0MU-1 CC Cluster w0mu.net

On 10/29/2011 11:21 AM, Nicolas Drin wrote:

> Hi
>
> I just finished to build KPA500 #455. Unfortunately I found several
> problems.
>
> 1/ fan is not working (I already checked that the 2 wires are a the right
> place on the plug - no inversion like someone reported earlier)
>
> 2/ I coupled the KPA500 to the K3 with the KPAK3aux from Elecraft. For some
> bands (14,21,10,5.3) when I push the button on the front of KPA500 the band
> is changed on K3 but NOT on KPA500 (example 14 gives 1,8 - 21 gives 7) ! For
> this 4 bands, in TX mode, the KPA500 automatic band switching selects the
> proper band.
>
> I thought to a software problem and i tried to reload the firmware (after a
> parameter reset to default value) and I run to my third problem...
>
> 3/No communication available with the KPA500. I tried two configurations Mac
> and PC. The serial / USB cable is the KUSB from Elecraft and both systems
> are perfectly working with K3 and P3 so I am pretty sure that it is a KPA500
> problem.
>
> I don't have the schematics of the KPA500 (and in the other hand I'm not a
> brilliant technician...) so any help will be appreciated. I should mention
> that I already build Norcal 40, SIERRA, K1, KX1, K2, K3, P3 so I have a
> little experience and I already checked that I didn't make any mistake
> (wire ribbon cable inversion or badly plugged, no thermal insulator).  I
> performed all test with success with my DMM during the building.
>
> Last point the HF module seems to wok without problem.
>
> So again thank in advance for any help
>
> Nicolas, F5HFZ
>
> --
> View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/KPA-455-not-very-well-tp6943877p6943877.html
> Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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

______________________________________________________________
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[tomb18]

I ran into issues too.  I unassembled the kit partially, and could not see any misplaced cables.  When I put it back together, it worked fine.  And, I have plenty of electronics experience.  Easy to do, shift the cable.  Good thing it doesn't blow it up!