KPA1500 vs SPE Amps
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Has anyone had experience with both the KPA1500 and any of the current (1.3K, 1.5K or 2K) Expert Linears from SPE? I was initially leaning towards the 1.3K-FA without the ATU. The more I thought about it, the more I wanted to go with an ATU. The price difference to get less than 1db in going from 1300 watts to 1500 was also a bit of a concern. However, I’ve never pushed my 3x8874s to more than 1200 and only on the low bands. I have a KPA500 with the KAT500 and it’s great. However, in a 160 pileup a bit more power would help. Changing bands quickly is awesome. That has me leaning towards the KPA1500. If anyone would like to share their thoughts, it would be greatly appreciated.
Also, I’m wondering if anyone has run their KPA500 and a KPA1500 off of the same K3? If so, how did you set it up? Tnx es 73, Dave N8AG Sent from Mail for Windows 10 ______________________________________________________________ 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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At the same time? [:-) Actually, I suppose one could drive 2 KPA500's
from one K3 and sum the output for a virtual KPA1000. 73, Fred ["Skip"] K6DGW Sparks NV DM09dn Washoe County On 2/12/2019 1:44 PM, Dave wrote: > Also, I’m wondering if anyone has run their KPA500 and a KPA1500 off of the same K3? If so, how did you set it up? > > Tnx es 73, > Dave N8AG > ______________________________________________________________ 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 Dave-8
Based on my experience with the KPA1500, you shouldn't expect to run a
solid state amplifier too close to it's rated output unless the SWR is pretty low, like better than 1.2:1. An ATU may or may not be able to keep the SWR that low. Otherwise, at a higher SWR, the amplifier output will sometimes drop to perhaps 2/3 the rated output, or the amplifier will fault due to high current or drive power. I expect the Expert 2K would have enough margin to put out 1.5 kW at higher SWR, but that extra margin comes at a cost. 73, Scott K9MA On 2/12/2019 15:44, Dave wrote: > Has anyone had experience with both the KPA1500 and any of the current (1.3K, 1.5K or 2K) Expert Linears from SPE? I was initially leaning towards the 1.3K-FA without the ATU. The more I thought about it, the more I wanted to go with an ATU. The price difference to get less than 1db in going from 1300 watts to 1500 was also a bit of a concern. However, I’ve never pushed my 3x8874s to more than 1200 and only on the low bands. I have a KPA500 with the KAT500 and it’s great. However, in a 160 pileup a bit more power would help. Changing bands quickly is awesome. That has me leaning towards the KPA1500. If anyone would like to share their thoughts, it would be greatly appreciated. > > Also, I’m wondering if anyone has run their KPA500 and a KPA1500 off of the same K3? If so, how did you set it up? > > Tnx es 73, > Dave N8AG > > Sent from Mail for Windows 10 > > ______________________________________________________________ > 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] -- Scott K9MA [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] |
Re: KPA1500 vs SPE Amps
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In reply to this post by k6dgw
Actually, Elecraft should do that as an experiment. They could either make or specify appropriate combiners/splitters to use on front and back and solve other problems that might crop up. Surely they have lots of KPA500s sitting around. Lots and lots. :-)
73, phil, K7PEH P.S. My off-hand comment can be blamed on the fact that I am sitting here snowed in until maybe March with nothing else to do. I live in Kirkland Washington and there is 16 inches of snow on the ground (all time record) -- we normally have rain with merely wet streets so this is a new thing. > On Feb 12, 2019, at 2:45 PM, Fred Jensen <[hidden email]> wrote: > > At the same time? [:-) Actually, I suppose one could drive 2 KPA500's from one K3 and sum the output for a virtual KPA1000. > > 73, > Fred ["Skip"] K6DGW > Sparks NV DM09dn > Washoe County > ______________________________________________________________ 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 Dave-8
I have had the SPE 1.3k and now have the KPA1500. I drive them with a Flex 6600 and Anan 7000dle.
The issue I had with the SPE 1.3k was once you start pushing it past 1 KW out the TX IMD starts to really get bad. This is due to the single LDMOS RF device being pushed towards its limit. The other issue I had with the SPE is heat dissipation on long SSB transmissions and digital transmissions. The fans would ramp up very quickly and were more noise than I wanted in the shack. As it heated up the power would drop off high to mid power. The KPA1500 fans will still spin up faster with long transmissions or during digital operation but the power supply unit can be located under the desk, reducing some of the noise. Also the fan profile is such that they can be set to have the PA deck turn off or be set to one of five levels. If the temp increases past a certain point the fans will increase. The other thing is the tuner on the KPA1500 is MUCH better than the SPE 1.3k. The SPE amp would not tune my G5RV on 80. The KPA1500 tunes it, although on one end of the band at reduced power (1200 watts). So the tuning range on the KPA1500 is superior. I'm happy I spent the additional money on the KPA1500. Dave wo2x -----Original Message----- From: [hidden email] <[hidden email]> On Behalf Of Dave Sent: Tuesday, February 12, 2019 1:45 PM To: [hidden email] Subject: [Elecraft] KPA1500 vs SPE Amps Has anyone had experience with both the KPA1500 and any of the current (1.3K, 1.5K or 2K) Expert Linears from SPE? I was initially leaning towards the 1.3K-FA without the ATU. The more I thought about it, the more I wanted to go with an ATU. The price difference to get less than 1db in going from 1300 watts to 1500 was also a bit of a concern. However, I’ve never pushed my 3x8874s to more than 1200 and only on the low bands. I have a KPA500 with the KAT500 and it’s great. However, in a 160 pileup a bit more power would help. Changing bands quickly is awesome. That has me leaning towards the KPA1500. If anyone would like to share their thoughts, it would be greatly appreciated. Also, I’m wondering if anyone has run their KPA500 and a KPA1500 off of the same K3? If so, how did you set it up? Tnx es 73, Dave N8AG Sent from Mail for Windows 10 ______________________________________________________________ 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 Dave-8
About:
"Has anyone had experience with both the KPA1500 and any of the current (1.3K, 1.5K or 2K) Expert Linears from SPE?" If you cherish silent, perfect CW QSK, then you need the KPA1500. SPE uses clacking relays. 73, Roy K6XK ______________________________________________________________ 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 k6dgw
Or one of these:
http://www.acom-bg.com/products/amplifier/acom-3x2000a 73, Gary K9GS -------- Original message --------From: Fred Jensen <[hidden email]> Date: 2/12/19 4:45 PM (GMT-06:00) To: [hidden email] Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 vs SPE Amps At the same time? [:-) Actually, I suppose one could drive 2 KPA500's from one K3 and sum the output for a virtual KPA1000. 73, Fred ["Skip"] K6DGW Sparks NV DM09dn Washoe County On 2/12/2019 1:44 PM, Dave wrote: > Also, I’m wondering if anyone has run their KPA500 and a KPA1500 off of the same K3? If so, how did you set it up? > > Tnx es 73, > Dave N8AG > ______________________________________________________________ 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 k6dgw
“Actually, I suppose one could drive 2 KPA500's
from one K3 and sum the output for a virtual KPA1000.” Yes you can. I have been doing this for the last 3 years. Ken K6MR ________________________________ From: [hidden email] <[hidden email]> on behalf of Fred Jensen <[hidden email]> Sent: Tuesday, February 12, 2019 2:45:49 PM To: [hidden email] Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 vs SPE Amps At the same time? [:-) Actually, I suppose one could drive 2 KPA500's from one K3 and sum the output for a virtual KPA1000. 73, Fred ["Skip"] K6DGW Sparks NV DM09dn Washoe County On 2/12/2019 1:44 PM, Dave wrote: > Also, I’m wondering if anyone has run their KPA500 and a KPA1500 off of the same K3? If so, how did you set it up? > > Tnx es 73, > Dave N8AG > ______________________________________________________________ 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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SHOW HOW/EXPLAIN ETC. I AM VERY INTERESTED.
RALPH,AFA9RT I AM NOT SHOUTING KEY BOARD STUCK > On February 12, 2019 at 7:06 PM Ken K6MR <[hidden email]> wrote: > > > “Actually, I suppose one could drive 2 KPA500's > from one K3 and sum the output for a virtual KPA1000.” > > > > Yes you can. I have been doing this for the last 3 years. > > > Ken K6MR > > > > ________________________________ > From: [hidden email] <[hidden email]> on behalf of Fred Jensen <[hidden email]> > Sent: Tuesday, February 12, 2019 2:45:49 PM > To: [hidden email] > Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 vs SPE Amps > > At the same time? [:-) Actually, I suppose one could drive 2 KPA500's > from one K3 and sum the output for a virtual KPA1000. > > 73, > Fred ["Skip"] K6DGW > Sparks NV DM09dn > Washoe County > > On 2/12/2019 1:44 PM, Dave wrote: > > Also, I’m wondering if anyone has run their KPA500 and a KPA1500 off of the same K3? If so, how did you set it up? > > > > Tnx es 73, > > Dave N8AG > > > > ______________________________________________________________ > 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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I'd be interested in the IMD figures with this configuration.
Are the amps being driven hard wire / parallel at the inputs or from a power divider? And how are the outputs summed? Power divider? How much loss is in the output summing network? And is it broadband 160M - 6M? Another thought is to use a broadband balun and drive the amps in push-pull. Both input and output likewise. Hummmm...... I'll have to think about that. All interesting questions. 73 Bob, K4TAX > Yes you can. I have been doing this for the last 3 years. > > > Ken K6MR > > > ______________________________________________________________ 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 Ralph S
Obtain input splitter and output combiner units from W6PQL. Install these into boxes with connectors.
Connect the AUX ports on each amplifier in parallel using a HD15 Y cable. If you want a full 1000 watts out on the higher bands, modify the KPA500s to remove the input attenuator. This allows a single K3 to drive both amps to full output even on 10 meters. Connect inputs to the splitter, outputs to the combiner using (obviously) equal length coax to main phase relationship. Some assembly required but not rocket science. Ken K6MR ________________________________ From: RALPH TURK <[hidden email]> Sent: Tuesday, February 12, 2019 6:23:12 PM To: Ken K6MR; Fred Jensen; [hidden email] Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 vs SPE Amps SHOW HOW/EXPLAIN ETC. I AM VERY INTERESTED. RALPH,AFA9RT I AM NOT SHOUTING KEY BOARD STUCK > On February 12, 2019 at 7:06 PM Ken K6MR <[hidden email]> wrote: > > > “Actually, I suppose one could drive 2 KPA500's > from one K3 and sum the output for a virtual KPA1000.” > > > > Yes you can. I have been doing this for the last 3 years. > > > Ken K6MR > > > > ________________________________ > From: [hidden email] <[hidden email]> on behalf of Fred Jensen <[hidden email]> > Sent: Tuesday, February 12, 2019 2:45:49 PM > To: [hidden email] > Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 vs SPE Amps > > At the same time? [:-) Actually, I suppose one could drive 2 KPA500's > from one K3 and sum the output for a virtual KPA1000. > > 73, > Fred ["Skip"] K6DGW > Sparks NV DM09dn > Washoe County > > On 2/12/2019 1:44 PM, Dave wrote: > > Also, I’m wondering if anyone has run their KPA500 and a KPA1500 off of the same K3? If so, how did you set it up? > > > > Tnx es 73, > > Dave N8AG > > > > ______________________________________________________________ > 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 Bob McGraw - K4TAX
I don’t have the facilities to measure IMD, but in 3 years I’ve never had an on-air complaint. I also don’t have lab grade power measurement available, but there appears to be little loss in the combiner based on basic external wattmeter measurements. I don’t operate 6 meters, but 160 – 10 is no problem.
The W6PQL splitter/combiner are the units he makes for his two pallet amplifier kit. So they are being used well below the designed power level. Ken K6MR ________________________________ From: [hidden email] <[hidden email]> on behalf of Bob McGraw K4TAX <[hidden email]> Sent: Tuesday, February 12, 2019 6:33:54 PM To: [hidden email] Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 vs SPE Amps I'd be interested in the IMD figures with this configuration. Are the amps being driven hard wire / parallel at the inputs or from a power divider? And how are the outputs summed? Power divider? How much loss is in the output summing network? And is it broadband 160M - 6M? Another thought is to use a broadband balun and drive the amps in push-pull. Both input and output likewise. Hummmm...... I'll have to think about that. All interesting questions. 73 Bob, K4TAX > Yes you can. I have been doing this for the last 3 years. > > > Ken K6MR > > > ______________________________________________________________ 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 Dave-8
Of course two KPA500's plus the Acom 3X2000A would be about much more
expensive and more hassle than just buying a single KPA1500. John KK9A From: Gary K9GS Date: Tue Feb 12 Or one of these: http://www.acom-bg.com/products/amplifier/acom-3x2000a 73, Gary K9GS -------- Original message --------From: Fred Jensen <k6dgw at foothill.net> Date: 2/12/19 4:45 PM (GMT-06:00) To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 vs SPE Amps At the same time? [:-) Actually, I suppose one could drive 2 KPA500's from one K3 and sum the output for a virtual KPA1000. 73, Fred ["Skip"] K6DGW Sparks NV DM09dn Washoe County ______________________________________________________________ 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 Dave-8
Do you mean driving both a KPA1500 AND a KPA500 at the same time?! I don't
know where that would be legal, practical, or desirable. But there's lots of stuff I don't know... If you mean driving one's choice of KPA1500 OR KPA500, read on: Before KPA1500 became available, I had an Alpha 87A on K3 Rig 1 and a KPA500 on K3 Rig 2 for local SO2R operation. When I left that house and went to my valley QTH, I took Rig 2 with me and used it as a remote control head for Rig 1. The remote control app for the Alpha was ancient, unsupported, and had a pixel-level user interface which made it tiny and hard to read on a modern computer monitor. I also felt queasy about operating the Alpha remotely without the ability to hear its gears groaning and see its real front panel. So I rigged up the two amps to be selectable remotely and used the KPA500 most of the time via KPA500 Remote and KAT500 Remote. If I needed to bust a big pileup, I would occasionally "wave my magic wand" and use the Alpha. Once I replaced the Alpha with the KPA1500, this was no longer necessary but I still have the capability. To provide remote amplifier selection, I connected the Alpha (now KPA1500) to ANT1 on the Rig 1 K3 and the KPA500 to ANT2. I connected both band decoders and amplifiers in parallel to the K3 DB15 ACC connector. I would selectively power on one and only one band decoder using a remote controlled relay board from Velleman. Thus, the active decoder would drive a Six Pak antenna switch to connect the correct antenna to the desired amplifier and the ANT switch on the K3 would complete the correct RF path. PTT and band selection for the amps came through the DB15. The jungle of 15-pin Y connectors was pretty ugly - now I have an N6TV Y-Box which is cleaner. This setup worked most of the time, although I did occasionally encounter balky decoder operation, I think due to marginal fanout or lack of pull-ups on the ACC band data signals from one of the K3 radios. (I didn't always have the same K3 set up as Rig 1 or Rig 2/Control Head.) Since I installed the KPA1500, I haven't used this complex setup. KPA1500 and KPA500 are nearly identical through their respective KPAxxx Remote control applications and, in fact, KPA1500 Remote is more convenient because it bundles the ATU controls instead of requiring a separate KAT500 Remote application. So I just use the KPA1500. It was a fun exercise in system integration, though! ;-) 73, Rick N6XI -- Rick Tavan Truckee, CA On Tue, Feb 12, 2019 at 1:46 PM Dave <[hidden email]> wrote: > > Also, I’m wondering if anyone has run their KPA500 and a KPA1500 off of > the same K3? If so, how did you set it up? > > Tnx es 73, > Dave N8AG > > ______________________________________________________________ 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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