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KPA500 installtion with ICOM 7300

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Brian Phelan

KPA500 installtion with ICOM 7300

I need help in hooking up my ICOM 7300 to a KPA500 linear amp.
The owners manual is of no help.

Brian Phelan
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Joe Subich, W4TV-4

Re: KPA500 installtion with ICOM 7300

> The owners manual is of no help.

Have you actually read the KPA-500 Owner's Manual?

Use the "K3 Enhanced cabling" diagram on page 22 but substitute a
cable made according to the instructions in "Icom Cable Connections"
(page 18) instead of the DB15HD/DB15HD cable used with the K3.

As an alternative, you can allow the KPA-500 to band switch based
on detected RF and use the "Basic Cabling" diagram on page 20. In
that case you will want to use two RCA connections - one between
the "SEND" jack on the IC-7300 and PA Key on the KPA-500, the other
between ALC Out on the KPA-500 and ALC jack on the IC-7300.

Regardless of which (basic or enhanced) cabling you use, be sure to
connect ALC and set the KPA-500 ALC output level as documented on page
10 to prevent the Icom transceiver from over driving the KPA-500 if
the Icom "Power" level is set too high.

Everything you need is in the KPA-500 Owner's Manual if you simply
study it.

73,

... Joe, W4TV

On 2018-05-09 2:06 PM, Brian Phelan wrote:

>
> I need help in hooking up my ICOM 7300 to a KPA500 linear amp.
> The owners manual is of no help.
>
>
> Brian Phelan
> [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
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>

Cady, Fred-2

Re: KPA500 installtion with ICOM 7300

Maybe he means the IC7300 manual is of no help!

Cheers,

Fred KE7X

For all KE7X Elecraft books see www.ke7x.com

________________________________
From: [hidden email] <[hidden email]> on behalf of Joe Subich, W4TV <[hidden email]>
Sent: Wednesday, May 9, 2018 12:31 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KPA500 installtion with ICOM 7300

> The owners manual is of no help.

Have you actually read the KPA-500 Owner's Manual?

Use the "K3 Enhanced cabling" diagram on page 22 but substitute a
cable made according to the instructions in "Icom Cable Connections"
(page 18) instead of the DB15HD/DB15HD cable used with the K3.

As an alternative, you can allow the KPA-500 to band switch based
on detected RF and use the "Basic Cabling" diagram on page 20. In
that case you will want to use two RCA connections - one between
the "SEND" jack on the IC-7300 and PA Key on the KPA-500, the other
between ALC Out on the KPA-500 and ALC jack on the IC-7300.

Regardless of which (basic or enhanced) cabling you use, be sure to
connect ALC and set the KPA-500 ALC output level as documented on page
10 to prevent the Icom transceiver from over driving the KPA-500 if
the Icom "Power" level is set too high.

Everything you need is in the KPA-500 Owner's Manual if you simply
study it.

73,

... Joe, W4TV

On 2018-05-09 2:06 PM, Brian Phelan wrote:

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Jim Brown-10

Re: KPA500 installtion with ICOM 7300

In reply to this post by Joe Subich, W4TV-4

On 5/9/2018 11:31 AM, Joe Subich, W4TV wrote:

> As an alternative, you can allow the KPA-500 to band switch based
> on detected RF and use the "Basic Cabling" diagram on page 20. In
> that case you will want to use two RCA connections - one between
> the "SEND" jack on the IC-7300 and PA Key on the KPA-500, the other
> between ALC Out on the KPA-500 and ALC jack on the IC-7300.
>
> Regardless of which (basic or enhanced) cabling you use, be sure to
> connect ALC and set the KPA-500 ALC output level as documented on page
> 10 to prevent the Icom transceiver from over driving the KPA-500 if
> the Icom "Power" level is set too high.

It's certainly OK to HOOK UP the ALC cable, but it's VERY BAD PRACTICE
to DEPEND on ALC to set power out. Doing so is a recipe for terrible
clicks and splatter. ALWAYS set power using the output power knob on the
transceiver. The ONLY virtue of ALC is to protect the power amp from an
operator screw-up, or from something going wrong in the antenna system.

It takes about 25-30W to drive a KPA500 to full power. I'd start with
the rig at 20W and increase the power slowly until you get the power you
need. And, of course, much less for our permitted 200W on 30M.

FWIW, I've never used band data with my KPA500, only the AMP KEY cable.
The KPA500 (and KAT500) are VERY good (and fast) at detecting RF and
changing bands. All it takes is a dit or a tap on the mic.

73, Jim K9YC
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Joe Subich, W4TV-4

Re: KPA500 installtion with ICOM 7300

On 2018-05-09 6:48 PM, Jim Brown wrote:
>
> It's certainly OK to HOOK UP the ALC cable, but it's VERY BAD
> PRACTICE to DEPEND on ALC to set power out. Doing so is a recipe for
> terrible clicks and splatter. ALWAYS set power using the output power
> knob on the transceiver. The ONLY virtue of ALC is to protect the
> power amp from an operator screw-up, or from something going wrong in
> the antenna system.

That's the point. The ALC cable protects the KPA-500 when the operator
"spaces" and leaves the exciter power control at full power (100+ Watt)
level.

> It takes about 25-30W to drive a KPA500 to full power.

Therein lies the case for a 4-6 dB attenuator inside the amplifier.
The attenuator can be left in-line and the exciter can be operated
at its normal (100 W) output level without concern for overdrive
and/or damage.

73,

... Joe, W4TV

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