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KPA500 new owner questions.......

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Jim Lageson

KPA500 new owner questions.......

I have never owned an amp before and recently put together a KPA500. All
seems to be working well, but I have a few questions. I am using with a
IC-7300.

How important is the ALC cable? I notice it is not included in the Basic
Cabling Diagram in the manual but is discussed later in the manual.

If I were accidently to run 100 watts into the KPA500 will the PWRIN HI
Hard Fault/STBY protect itself before any damage is done. Would ALC protect
me from that?

Is it standard procedure to keep the KPA500 in line when turned off and not
in use? I see you may run up to 200 through the KPA500 in STBY.

Is there any concerns or settings on radio when running full break in on CW?

Thanks
Jim-N0UR
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Rick WA6NHC-2

Re: KPA500 new owner questions.......

The fault ability of the KPA500 is fast, BUT I would not test that with
100 watts. The tuned input can only take so much abuse.

ALC should be used as a secondary (emergency) limiter, not for everyday
use. It will cause distortion (in part from overdriving the amp).
Proper management of the input (power out, proper compression levels
etc) is THE best way to manage the combination.

Rick NHC

On 2/28/2019 10:07 AM, Jim Lageson wrote:

> I have never owned an amp before and recently put together a KPA500. All
> seems to be working well, but I have a few questions. I am using with a
> IC-7300.
>
> How important is the ALC cable? I notice it is not included in the Basic
> Cabling Diagram in the manual but is discussed later in the manual.
>
> If I were accidently to run 100 watts into the KPA500 will the PWRIN HI
> Hard Fault/STBY protect itself before any damage is done. Would ALC protect
> me from that?
>
> Is it standard procedure to keep the KPA500 in line when turned off and not
> in use? I see you may run up to 200 through the KPA500 in STBY.
>
> Is there any concerns or settings on radio when running full break in on CW?
>
> Thanks
> Jim-N0UR
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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

______________________________________________________________
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Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

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BRUCE WW8II

Re: KPA500 new owner questions.......

In reply to this post by Jim Lageson

I agree with Rick just keep the drive power to the minimum needed to get
the 500 watts out. Over driving will do nothing but distort the signal and
most likely eventually damage the amp. I use 18 to 20 watts to get 500 out
on 160 mtrs and a bit more to get same results on the higher bands.
Bruce
WW8II

On Thu, Feb 28, 2019 at 1:08 PM Jim Lageson <[hidden email]> wrote:

> I have never owned an amp before and recently put together a KPA500. All
> seems to be working well, but I have a few questions. I am using with a
> IC-7300.
>
> How important is the ALC cable? I notice it is not included in the Basic
> Cabling Diagram in the manual but is discussed later in the manual.
>
> If I were accidently to run 100 watts into the KPA500 will the PWRIN HI
> Hard Fault/STBY protect itself before any damage is done. Would ALC protect
> me from that?
>
> Is it standard procedure to keep the KPA500 in line when turned off and not
> in use? I see you may run up to 200 through the KPA500 in STBY.
>
> Is there any concerns or settings on radio when running full break in on
> CW?
>
> Thanks
> Jim-N0UR
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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
>

Bob McGraw - K4TAX

Re: KPA500 new owner questions.......

In reply to this post by Jim Lageson

When I read in the manual where it says "never exceed 40 watts" that
leads me to believe one should not do that.   While the protection
circuit is fast and there is a 3 dB attenuator that switches in
automatically, from 100 watts down 3 dB is still over 40 watts. I think
I read here where someone hit the amp with 100 to 200 watts and now it
needs repair. In other words, "they let the smoke out of the box".

As to ALC, that is in my opinion and option and does not require the
company to supply a cable or diagram. After all, what connector type
for "other radio" is required? And in many cases, mine for one of my
radios, there is NO ALC input.   Thus I must BE VERY CAREFUL   when I
use that radio with my KPA500.   As to using ALC, since your IC-7300
does have provision for external ALC, my suggestion is USE IT!. Page 17
in the manual "Using ALC" is quite clear about this.   And for what it's
worth, with my K3S, I do have the ALC interfaced from the amp to the
radio. Just in case something goes amiss.   With my radio that does not
have ALC input, I must be careful to set the power correctly and then
CHECK and RECHECK to see all is done correctly before transmitting.

My KPA500 is in line in all station configurations and operation. Two
transceivers, 160M - 6M. I find no need to physically or externally
switch it out of line.

73

Bob, K4TAX

On 2/28/2019 12:07 PM, Jim Lageson wrote: