Elecraft

KPA1500

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Ed Gilliland

KPA1500

Hello Everyone,

I'm getting the following error codes on 80 meters, 160 and 40 are working.

I suspected the 80m antenna so I tried using a dummy load and I get the
same error codes. Reducing the input power does not help.

I've reloaded firmware 2.38.

Anyone run into this problem?

Ed W5TM

918 20-02-19T23:00:11 OVR 61 - LOW GAIN freq 3544 inp 10W 36A 21C adc
222 power ratio 0
917 20-02-19T22:59:55 OVR 61 - LOW GAIN freq 3544 inp 14W 43A 21C adc
275 power ratio 0
916 20-02-19T22:59:31 FLT B0 - PWR DISS freq 3544 inp 14W 44A 20C pwr
dissipated 2313W
915 20-02-19T22:59:31 OVR 61 - LOW GAIN freq 3536 inp 14W 43A 20C adc
274 power ratio 0
914 20-02-19T22:58:40 FLT B0 - PWR DISS freq 3536 inp 19W 51A 20C pwr
dissipated 2676W
913 20-02-19T22:58:40 OVR 61 - LOW GAIN freq 3536 inp 19W 51A 20C adc
330 power ratio 0
912 20-02-19T22:55:01 ON 00 - ON 3 times firmware version 02.38
911 20-02-19T22:39:38 FLT 61 - LOW GAIN freq 3536 inp 10W 36A 23C adc
223 power ratio 0
910 20-02-19T22:39:38 OVR 61 - LOW GAIN freq 3544 inp 10W 36A 23C adc 222
918 20-02-19T23:00:11 OVR 61 - LOW GAIN freq 3544 inp 10W 36A 21C adc
222 power ratio 0
917 20-02-19T22:59:55 OVR 61 - LOW GAIN freq 3544 inp 14W 43A 21C adc
275 power ratio 0
916 20-02-19T22:59:31 FLT B0 - PWR DISS freq 3544 inp 14W 44A 20C pwr
dissipated 2313W
915 20-02-19T22:59:31 OVR 61 - LOW GAIN freq 3536 inp 14W 43A 20C adc
274 power ratio 0
914 20-02-19T22:58:40 FLT B0 - PWR DISS freq 3536 inp 19W 51A 20C pwr
dissipated 2676W
913 20-02-19T22:58:40 OVR 61 - LOW GAIN freq 3536 inp 19W 51A 20C adc
330 power ratio 0
912 20-02-19T22:55:01 ON 00 - ON 3 times firmware version 02.38
911 20-02-19T22:39:38 FLT 61 - LOW GAIN freq 3536 inp 10W 36A 23C adc
223 power ratio 0
910 20-02-19T22:39:38 OVR 61 - LOW GAIN freq 3544 inp 10W 36A 23C adc 222

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Rick Bates, NK7I

Re: KPA1500

Presuming that is a known 'good' dummy load for that power level, have
you run the output calibration of the driver radio (K3/S also presumed)
as a starting point?

If that has been done (successfully, multiple times), check to make SURE
that the radio (driver) antenna tuner is BYPASSED (not presenting an odd
load into the amp).

Watch CAREFULLY that the driver output is constant (no dirty control, no
spike etc.).

Then it's time to be concerned about the 80M tuned input circuit failing
on the KPA1500 and call Elecraft for specific tests. When the amp sees
>=19 watts input, it wigs out, badly. (But the extreme outputs ARE
impressive; it's nice to have overhead at legal limit).

GL, please let us know how it was resolved,
Rick NK7I

On 2/19/2020 9:10 PM, Ed gilliland wrote:

> Hello Everyone,
>
> I'm getting the following error codes on 80 meters, 160 and 40 are
> working.
>
> I suspected the 80m antenna so I tried using a dummy load and I get
> the same error codes. Reducing the input power does not help.
>
> I've reloaded firmware 2.38.
>
> Anyone run into this problem?
>
> Ed W5TM
>
>
> 918 20-02-19T23:00:11 OVR 61 - LOW GAIN freq 3544 inp 10W 36A 21C adc
> 222 power ratio 0
> 917 20-02-19T22:59:55 OVR 61 - LOW GAIN freq 3544 inp 14W 43A 21C adc
> 275 power ratio 0
> 916 20-02-19T22:59:31 FLT B0 - PWR DISS freq 3544 inp 14W 44A 20C pwr
> dissipated 2313W
> 915 20-02-19T22:59:31 OVR 61 - LOW GAIN freq 3536 inp 14W 43A 20C adc
> 274 power ratio 0
> 914 20-02-19T22:58:40 FLT B0 - PWR DISS freq 3536 inp 19W 51A 20C pwr
> dissipated 2676W
> 913 20-02-19T22:58:40 OVR 61 - LOW GAIN freq 3536 inp 19W 51A 20C adc
> 330 power ratio 0
> 912 20-02-19T22:55:01 ON 00 - ON 3 times firmware version 02.38
> 911 20-02-19T22:39:38 FLT 61 - LOW GAIN freq 3536 inp 10W 36A 23C adc
> 223 power ratio 0
> 910 20-02-19T22:39:38 OVR 61 - LOW GAIN freq 3544 inp 10W 36A 23C adc
> 222
> 918 20-02-19T23:00:11 OVR 61 - LOW GAIN freq 3544 inp 10W 36A 21C adc
> 222 power ratio 0
> 917 20-02-19T22:59:55 OVR 61 - LOW GAIN freq 3544 inp 14W 43A 21C adc
> 275 power ratio 0
> 916 20-02-19T22:59:31 FLT B0 - PWR DISS freq 3544 inp 14W 44A 20C pwr
> dissipated 2313W
> 915 20-02-19T22:59:31 OVR 61 - LOW GAIN freq 3536 inp 14W 43A 20C adc
> 274 power ratio 0
> 914 20-02-19T22:58:40 FLT B0 - PWR DISS freq 3536 inp 19W 51A 20C pwr
> dissipated 2676W
> 913 20-02-19T22:58:40 OVR 61 - LOW GAIN freq 3536 inp 19W 51A 20C adc
> 330 power ratio 0
> 912 20-02-19T22:55:01 ON 00 - ON 3 times firmware version 02.38
> 911 20-02-19T22:39:38 FLT 61 - LOW GAIN freq 3536 inp 10W 36A 23C adc
> 223 power ratio 0
> 910 20-02-19T22:39:38 OVR 61 - LOW GAIN freq 3544 inp 10W 36A 23C adc
> 222
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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]

Dave wo2x

Re: KPA1500

Sounds like an issue with the power detection circuit on the filter board. I had the 3 watt resistor unsolder itself from the board (it is mounted upside down so gravity helped). I had all kinds of weird power reading issues that were impossible for the input power and current draw.

I suggest calling Elecraft before doing anything else as you can cause more damage continuing the transmit. Elecraft was excellent in diagnosing my problem and sent me the necessary parts to repair it in the field (I did work in electronics, so familiar with surface mount work)

Dave wo2x

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email] <[hidden email]> On Behalf Of Rick Bates, NK7I
Sent: Thursday, February 20, 2020 2:23 AM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500

Presuming that is a known 'good' dummy load for that power level, have you run the output calibration of the driver radio (K3/S also presumed) as a starting point?

If that has been done (successfully, multiple times), check to make SURE that the radio (driver) antenna tuner is BYPASSED (not presenting an odd load into the amp).

Watch CAREFULLY that the driver output is constant (no dirty control, no spike etc.).

Then it's time to be concerned about the 80M tuned input circuit failing on the KPA1500 and call Elecraft for specific tests. When the amp sees
>=19 watts input, it wigs out, badly. (But the extreme outputs ARE impressive; it's nice to have overhead at legal limit).

GL, please let us know how it was resolved, Rick NK7I

On 2/19/2020 9:10 PM, Ed gilliland wrote:

> Hello Everyone,
>
> I'm getting the following error codes on 80 meters, 160 and 40 are
> working.
>
> I suspected the 80m antenna so I tried using a dummy load and I get
> the same error codes. Reducing the input power does not help.
>
> I've reloaded firmware 2.38.
>
> Anyone run into this problem?
>
> Ed W5TM
>
>
> 918 20-02-19T23:00:11 OVR 61 - LOW GAIN freq 3544 inp 10W 36A 21C adc
> 222 power ratio 0
> 917 20-02-19T22:59:55 OVR 61 - LOW GAIN freq 3544 inp 14W 43A 21C adc
> 275 power ratio 0
> 916 20-02-19T22:59:31 FLT B0 - PWR DISS freq 3544 inp 14W 44A 20C pwr
> dissipated 2313W
> 915 20-02-19T22:59:31 OVR 61 - LOW GAIN freq 3536 inp 14W 43A 20C adc
> 274 power ratio 0
> 914 20-02-19T22:58:40 FLT B0 - PWR DISS freq 3536 inp 19W 51A 20C pwr
> dissipated 2676W
> 913 20-02-19T22:58:40 OVR 61 - LOW GAIN freq 3536 inp 19W 51A 20C adc
> 330 power ratio 0
> 912 20-02-19T22:55:01 ON 00 - ON 3 times firmware version 02.38
> 911 20-02-19T22:39:38 FLT 61 - LOW GAIN freq 3536 inp 10W 36A 23C adc
> 223 power ratio 0
> 910 20-02-19T22:39:38 OVR 61 - LOW GAIN freq 3544 inp 10W 36A 23C adc
> 222
> 918 20-02-19T23:00:11 OVR 61 - LOW GAIN freq 3544 inp 10W 36A 21C adc
> 222 power ratio 0
> 917 20-02-19T22:59:55 OVR 61 - LOW GAIN freq 3544 inp 14W 43A 21C adc
> 275 power ratio 0
> 916 20-02-19T22:59:31 FLT B0 - PWR DISS freq 3544 inp 14W 44A 20C pwr
> dissipated 2313W
> 915 20-02-19T22:59:31 OVR 61 - LOW GAIN freq 3536 inp 14W 43A 20C adc
> 274 power ratio 0
> 914 20-02-19T22:58:40 FLT B0 - PWR DISS freq 3536 inp 19W 51A 20C pwr
> dissipated 2676W
> 913 20-02-19T22:58:40 OVR 61 - LOW GAIN freq 3536 inp 19W 51A 20C adc
> 330 power ratio 0
> 912 20-02-19T22:55:01 ON 00 - ON 3 times firmware version 02.38
> 911 20-02-19T22:39:38 FLT 61 - LOW GAIN freq 3536 inp 10W 36A 23C adc
> 223 power ratio 0
> 910 20-02-19T22:39:38 OVR 61 - LOW GAIN freq 3544 inp 10W 36A 23C adc
> 222
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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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Post: mailto:[hidden email]

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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]