David and All,
What all are you planning on hooking up to the ALS-600? Are you going to
use any kind of tuner with it???
I had an ALS-600, with the standard power supply, for a short while, driving
it with my K3. The connections are pretty minimal--just interconnect the RF
out on the K3 to the ALS-600, and run a keying line between both. The
ALS-600 also has provision for an ALC line, but I didn't try to use it.
As I recall, it took something over 30 watts out from the K3 to drive the
ALS-600 to "full output." Full output seemed to be closer to 500 watts than
600 watts. I didn't try to push it too hard. I was running it on 120
Volts, by the way. The amp was pretty sensitive to SWR, and would trip off
easily. My antennas were a decent match, but still, I had to "sneak" up on
full output.
Overall, I'd say the amp worked O.K., but it sure is a noisy devil!!! That
relay really makes a lot of noise, particularly if you are a CW op. It's
not a QSK amp, but I converted mine to one by installing Phil Salas' (AD5X)
QSK kit. I was a bunch happier with the amp after doing that!!! Even if
you are not a CW op, I highly recommend the kit because it makes it so much
quieter.
Anyway, shortly thereafter, I went to a KPA500, and am thrilled with that
decision. I won't try to "sell" you on that other than to say it is a
"night and day" comparison. I might also add, however, that the ALS-600,
for whatever reason, seems to draw more current than the KPA500 does. The
ALS-600 would trip the circuit breaker on my 120 volt circuit every so
often, but not so with the KPA500. I was never really able to get 600 watts
out of the ALS-600, but that may have been due to using 120 volts. With the
KPA500, though, I can get 600 watts easily--I just don't run it that hard.
450 to 500 watts is plenty in my book, and if anyone can really tell the
difference between that and 600 watts, he is a better man than I am!
Hope this helps, but others may have much better info.
73,
Dave W7AQK
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