Posted by
stan levandowski on
May 11, 2011; 6:51pm
URL: http://elecraft.85.s1.nabble.com/KPA-500-Output-for-Input-schedule-tp6352735p6353106.html
Thank you, Don. I have no experience with any kind of outboard
amplifier since I've been QRP for nearly my entire ham life, but I do
seem to recall that in 'the old days' of tube amps, there was always a
minimum drive requirement and sometimes distortion problems occured at
the lower drive levels. At least, this is what I've gathered from
reading about it. No first hand experience.
I am asking this question because I've been thinking about which of my
rigs -the K2 or the K3 - I want to equip with the 100 W PA option. The
KPA-500 might give me another option, albeit much more expensive but
perhaps a wiser economic choice in the longer term (and keep me on the
path toward a "K-line" station).
I would much prefer to leave both the K2 and K3 as 'virgin' QRP rigs as
that is my true love. If the KPA-500 can give me about 75 to 100 watts
output as a state-of-the-art outboard amplifier that both K2 and K3
could share, then it would be a very interesting prospect for me to
consider.
Especially since there will be no need to modify either K2 or K3.
And ---not to push it --- could my K1 conceivably drive a KPA-500 with
its 5 or 6 watts also??
What a great concept -- one all-purpose state-of-the-art amp sitting in
the shack ready to shake hands with any and all of my Elecraft
transceivers when called upon to do so.
I am on technically solid ground here?
73, Stan WB2LQF
KX1 #2411 K1#2994 K2# 6980 K3#5244 K9 #1 (Cocoa the
Chihuahua)
Everything is QRP, even the dog.
May 11, 2011 at 1:16 PM, Don Wilhelm wrote:
> Stan,
>
> Of course it can be driven by lower power. The KPA500 is a linear
> amplifier. If 40 watts in produces 500 out, then 20 in will give 250
> out and 10 in will produce 125 watts. If the relationship is
> otherwise, then it is not acting as a linear amplifier. The same
> thing should be true for any linear amplifier - that is the definition
> of linear operation.
>
> 73,
> Don W3FPR
>
> On 5/11/2011 1:06 PM, stan levandowski wrote:
>> The documentation on the Elecraft site says the KPA-500 requires 40
>> watts drive for full output.
>>
>> Nowhere (at least not that I could find) is the minimum drive
>> requirement specified nor is there any schedule of "output for input"
>> such as 40 watts = 500 watts; xx watts = 250 watts, etc.
>>
>> More to the point -- can a K3/10 or a K2/10 be connected to the
>> KPA-500
>> and deliver something between 75 and 100 watts output?
>>
>>
______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home:
http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraftHelp:
http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htmPost: mailto:
[hidden email]
This list hosted by:
http://www.qsl.netPlease help support this email list:
http://www.qsl.net/donate.html