KPA100/HiCurr

[k6dgw]

OK, I am sure the answer to this question is in the manuals.  That said,
I haven't found it yet.  I get a HiCurr warning on various bands at
powers between 75 and 100W.  Rig performs perfectly otherwise, and the
HiCurr warnings don't seem to affect it's performance (worked 6N0F this
AM oon 40) with a bunch of them.  Am I missing something here?  Lowering
power on solid state amps doesn't always lower the drain due to
efficiency curves, but I still don't know what my K2 really does.

I have this sneaking feeling that there's a setting in the menus to fix
this .. just can't find it.  Or maybe I don't need to fix it.

Fred K6DGW
Auburn CA CM98lw
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[Don Wilhelm-3]

Fred,

Since you have the KPA100, you should have set the menu item CAL CUR to 3.5
amps.  If you did not, that could be adequate explaination.

The High Current warnings are indicating that the base K2 is drawing a
current greater than the CAL CUR setting - it says nothing about the current
that is being drawn by the KPA100.

Other things to look at:
What is your power supply voltage?  If it is on the order of 13 to 14 volts,
the current draw should be within bounds. Be certain you have an adequate
size wire to the power supply and be certain that all connections to the
power cable are tight.  Can you find any heating on the power cable
including the fuse and the end connectors?  Heating is a sign that the
connections have a higher than desirable resistance.  Check the voltage
during transmit by tapping the display button - does it drop significanly?
If so, you may want to check the power supply.
Note that the K2 will attempt to deliver full power if the supply voltage is
reduced, but the only way that can happen is for it to draw more current
(P=IV, and if the voltage drops, the current must increase if the power is
to be maintained).

If the power supply is OK and delivering adequate voltage during transmit,
then you should look at the low pass filters in both the base K2 and the
KPA100.  A low pass filter problem will most likely result in high current.

Lastly, look at your antenna - if it is operating with an SWR less than 2,
you should be able to develop full power without high current warnings, but
if it is greater than 2:1, that alone may be your problem.  Check while
transmitting into a dummy load (with no ATU in-line) to check the full power
output current.

73,
Don W3FPR

> -----Original Message-----
>
> OK, I am sure the answer to this question is in the manuals.  That said,
> I haven't found it yet.  I get a HiCurr warning on various bands at
> powers between 75 and 100W.  Rig performs perfectly otherwise, and the
> HiCurr warnings don't seem to affect it's performance (worked 6N0F this
> AM oon 40) with a bunch of them.  Am I missing something here?  Lowering
> power on solid state amps doesn't always lower the drain due to
> efficiency curves, but I still don't know what my K2 really does.
>
> I have this sneaking feeling that there's a setting in the menus to fix
> this .. just can't find it.  Or maybe I don't need to fix it.
>
> Fred K6DGW
> Auburn CA CM98lw
> _______________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Post to: [hidden email]
> You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
> Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.):
>  http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm
> Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
>
>
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>

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