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KPA 500 vs New 1500 watt amp

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Michael Cozzi

Re: KPA 500 vs New 1500 watt amp

Hi all,

I have such a hard time following this conversation because... to me
none of the debate matters.

What matters is that Elecraft, a company that is greatly respected, has
introduced a fabulous product.

They are such a good company. And while I'll not be upgrading my
KPA500/KAT500, I've got to give them credit for taking the worry and
frustration out of buying equipment because the quality is so high.

Maybe when I was building my station I would have gone for the KPA1500.
Maybe.

Really- any 1500w amp is beyond what I need for my purposes.

But you've got to hand it to Elecraft. Go ahead and hit the ball out of
the park: Every. Single. Time.

And my praise includes the little bit of support I needed.

So even if you do not want this amp... just celebrate it anyway.
There's not many companies like Elecraft in or out of ham radio.

Michael- KD8TUT
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Rick WA6NHC-2

Re: KPA 500 vs New 1500 watt amp

In reply to this post by wayne burdick

Is it here yet? Is it here yet?

On 4/21/2017 2:24 PM, Wayne Burdick wrote:

> Waaaay sooner than that, but don't quote me ;).
>
> Wayne
>
> ----
> http://www.elecraft.com
>
>> On Apr 21, 2017, at 1:12 PM, Nr4c <[hidden email]> wrote:
>>
>> "Christmas in "April" think not.
>> Note they aren't taking orders yet! Just a list of interested potential buyers.
>>
>> My timeline:
>> Orders-late Dec ( New Years Eve)
>> Ship--April 2018
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone
>> ...nr4c. bill
>>
>>
>>> On Apr 21, 2017, at 11:13 AM, w7aqk <[hidden email]> wrote:
>>>
>>> Terry and All,
>>>
>>> Your view is shared by a lot of us, but not everyone. The hard core QRO folks are having a euphoric experience right now. Christmas in April ! Well, I think it is great that their wishes seem to have been granted. I suppose if all the stars lined up just right I could be one of them! However, like you, I have some difficulty justifying the cost/benefit. Also, I'd be hard pressed to make something like that work at this location. So, I don't need to spend a lot of time lamenting not having a bigger amp, and it really wouldn't help me "hear" any better. It is not insignificant that it will cost almost 3 times as much to gain only slightly more than 1 S unit. Then, when you factor in the question of "how often do I really need that?", the justification becomes even more obscure to me. One thing is for sure, a lot of electricians just got more work! I strongly suspect not everyone is 220 V ready!
>>>
>>> I think it is rather interesting how Elecraft has come to this point. Many years ago, I saw first hand (at Pacificon) the two amps they had as prototypes, one of which was "legal limit". Then they went silent for a good while before coming out with just the 500 watt model. I thought that was a very astute decision, but probably because it suited me perfectly. I can only guess at how this strategy evolved. I actually expected this bigger amp to come out earlier, but I do not second guess Elecraft on their decision making. They seem to be pretty capable of making very good decisions without my advice!!! The groundswell of interest in a bigger amp has been hard to ignore, and obviously they didn't ignore it! Then Eric tickles everyone's chain recently by asking "what would you want to see in a big amp?"! That doesn't even meet the definition of "foreshadowing"! It was more like "check your bank accounts folks!"
>>>
>>> Elecraft has nearly mastered the art of stimulating expectations. Have you noticed that, when something clearly doesn't fit their plans, they will quash the conversation, but when it isn't so far fetched the silence is deafening? I think they have as much fun doing this as they do designing the stuff! I can almost hear them giggling as they put together that cropped photo of the new amp! Anyway, put on your crash helmets and protective gear at their booths in Visalia and Dayton. It's going to be crowded!
>>>
>>> O.K. Now what do we talk about???
>>>
>>> Dave W7AQK
>>>
>>>
>>> -----------------------------------------
>>> From: Terry Brown <[hidden email]>
>>>
>>>
>>> If the new Elecraft amp is indeed 1500 watts it might be worth considering that going from 500 to 1500 watts is only about 4.5 Db or less than 1 S-unit in signal strength. If I owned the KPA 500 it would be a hard sell to get me to move to ANY 1500 watt amp.
>>>
>>> Respectfully,
>>>
>>> Terry, N7TB
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Don Wilhelm

Re: KPA 500 vs New 1500 watt amp

Children in the back seat! "Are we there yet?" while still 3 hours away
from the destination. Play with your video games during "the trip"

73,
Don W3FPR

On 4/21/2017 7:35 PM, Rick WA6NHC wrote:
> Is it here yet? Is it here yet?
>
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Nr4c

Re: KPA 500 vs New 1500 watt amp

In reply to this post by Clay Autery

It's for carrying and the little feet keep the case from getting scratched.

There's no space or - in Elecraft products.

Sent from my iPhone
...nr4c. bill

> On Apr 21, 2017, at 6:35 PM, Clay Autery <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> Cannot wait to get a look inside....
>
> There IS a handle on the left side (as you look at it). I don't know if
> the small feet on the right side are for vertical orientation or to
> prevent the total blockage of the vents if shoved up next to another
> K-line product OR the power supply box...
>
> ______________________
> Clay Autery, KY5G
>
>> On 4/21/2017 5:19 PM, Bill Johnson wrote:
>> Ed,
>>
>> You only missed the fact that the heaviest part is is < 22#'s. Wow, that is one of the biggest reasons I sold my THP 2.5kfx, I could barely lift it, not to mention THP is no longer in business. I haven't seen Elecraft's circuitry but with the two output devices, would seem earily similar. The design of the THP output is what sold me on buying it. Nice and compact but terrible to carry. I note there are feet on the side which implies handles. This I haven't seen mentioned.
>>
>> 73,
>> Bill
>> K9YEQ
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Nr4c

Re: KPA 500 vs New 1500 watt amp

In reply to this post by k6dgw

A long time ago. The KPA500 is over $4 per watt.

Sent from my iPhone
...nr4c. bill

> On Apr 21, 2017, at 6:42 PM, Fred Jensen <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> So I guess the former rule of thumb, "One Dollar per Watt" has met some unspecified death.
>
> 73,
>
> Fred ("Skip") K6DGW
> Sparks NV USA
> Washoe County DM09dn
>
>
>
>> On 4/21/2017 12:30 PM, Edward R Cole wrote:
>> Congrats to all who have wanted a KPA1500 (I'm not currently a prospect):
>>
>> Interesting misconceptions already "flying"
>> "1500w cost three times 500w"
>>
>> KPA1500 with internal tuner = $5995
>> KPA500+KAT500 = $2684.95*
>> 5995/2684.95 = 2.23
>> *April special price
>>
>> Power requirement 240vac @ 20A = 4800w
>> But likely the amp will draw 1500w/0.7 = 2143w (or so) plus maybe 200-300w for solid-state control ckts
>> call it 2400w in round numbers or 240v @ 10A (just my guess)
>>
>> My 6m 1000w PA draws 50A @ 50v = 2500w (40% eff. with 16 transistors)
>> My 2m-8877 1400w PA draws 750ma @ 3700v = 2775w (50% eff. but with tired old tube)
>>
>> 20A is a convenient 240v value since breakers for that are readily available; I ran about 45-feet of No. 8 wiring to bring 240vac to my shack where I use a 60A breaker box with a 20A breaker (only tripped a couple times in several years useage - HV flashover & HV transformer failure).
>>
>> I ran my own 240v run as I tired of waiting five months for the $700 Electrician to show up. I think the 4 cond. No. 8 cable ran about $1.50/foot plus costs for 30A 240v twist lock connectors/outlets & 60A utility box with three breakers. I see 2v drop on 240vac under load of the 8877.
>>
>> KPA1500 nice design using separate 50v switching PS. Many new ham radio PA's coming out that use 50v so this could be multi-use PS. I would like a 2m 1500w sspa using LDMOS to replace the 8877 & HVPS. Not looking for that from Elecraft (I will probably buy a kit from W6PQL).
>>
>> PS: if I were in market for HF QRO the KPA1500 would be my choice! I finally upgraded to the KXPA100+KXAT100 for my HF/6m needs (driven by either KX3 or K3/10).
>>
>> 73, Ed - KL7UW
>> http://www.kl7uw.com
>> Dubus-NA Business mail:
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>
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RobertG

Re: KPA 500 vs New 1500 watt amp

In reply to this post by wayne burdick

Wayne...

Yes! The "big" switch, thereby demonstrating flexibility in matters of
output power. "A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of small minds" as
Emerson would say. (I assume at least an upright knife-switch, bolted to
the floor and connected to bank of van de graaff generators...)

Have a good day.

...robert ke2wy

On 04/21/2017 16:31, Wayne Burdick wrote:

> Our philosophy at Elecraft is to cover both ends of the spectrum.
> Figuratively speaking.
>
> When the bands are open, the birds are singing, and the sun is
> shining, you’ll find us outdoors using a hand-held KX2 at 10 watts
> with a whip. But late at night, when propagation is in the tank and
> that rare DX station peeks over the horizon for a once-in-a-lifetime
> fleeting moment, seconds count and size really does matter. At these
> times, we flip the big switch.
>
> Wayne N6KR
>
>
>
>> On Apr 21, 2017, at 9:02 AM, Roy Koeppe <[hidden email]> wrote:
>>
>>
>> Aboot:
>>
>> "And the reason you "need" the extra 1000 W is that the others in
>> the pileup are all running max power. A typical arms race, with
>> tempers to match."
>>
>>
>> Apparently none of you here ragchews on 80M CW roundtables at
>> sunrise times during spring/summer thunderstorms seasons across the
>> country! That's the reason QRO was born...
>>
>> 73, Roy K6XK Iowa
>>
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--
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