KPA500 alarm

[Elecraft mailing list]

I'm a blind owner of a KPA500/KAT500 for several years, married to a
TS-590SG.

The alarm that sounds when the amp faults (rarely) is impossible to hear
when wearing headphones.

I've stuck a microphone  element near the radio and connected it to the
mixer I use to put radio audio and computer speech into the  headphones.

On CW, and with the mic level set low enough, I could hear the alarm
without  getting other shack noise, but not practical for SSB operation.

2 questions:
1.  Where does the sound actually come from on the amp?   If I knew
where it comes out of the case, I would concentrate there.

2.  Is it possible to trigger the alarm with a software command or
something?   I don't want to put the amp into intentional fault just for
purposes of experimentation.

My amp faults infrequently, mostly 80/160 if ever, but  would still like
to know if the alarm sounds.

Tnx for any thoughts, I get this on digest, so am on a slight delay.
Steve KW3A





______________________________________________________________
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

[ANDY DURBIN]

The alarm  signal is available on  AUX1 connector pin 7 and is pulled low when an alarm is active.  I have it permanently connected to my data logger and have used it as a trigger for my storage 'scope.  It could be used to drive an external alarm of any sort that you chose.

73,
Andy k3wyc
______________________________________________________________
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

[ANDY DURBIN]

I should have added that the alarm is also available on the PC serial interface.  Interrogating the KPA500 with ^FL; will return the current fault value in the form ^FLnn; where nn is a 2 digit number indicating the current fault (00 for no fault).

It would be possible to use this fault report to vocalize the actual fault condition and play that fault message through your headphones.

73,
Andy, k3wyc

________________________________
From: Andy Durbin
Sent: Monday, April 8, 2019 10:40 AM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: KPA500 alarm

The alarm  signal is available on  AUX1 connector pin 7 and is pulled low when an alarm is active.  I have it permanently connected to my data logger and have used it as a trigger for my storage 'scope.  It could be used to drive an external alarm of any sort that you chose.

73,
Andy k3wyc
______________________________________________________________
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