[Elecraft] Re: ELPAC Power Supply

Mon Oct 28 10:26:03 2002

Wayne's response reminds me of the wonders of today's engineering.......

Picture, if you will, a scene from the mid 1800's.   The era of the great 
railroad expansion.  You are standing at a track construction site 
somewhere in the west for what promises to be a momentous occasion.  As 
your eyes strain eastward, the newly laid track glistens in the early 
morning sun, stretching straight as an arrow as it vanishes into the 
distance.  Behind you the track continues straight west for miles, finally 
disappearing into the hills beyond.  The scene in front is one of 
confusion as the last few rail sections are laid.  The tracks are not yet 
linked - east meeting west.  And, in fact, the foremen of each of the 
construction crews are vigorously discussing the problem.  There is much 
shouting, hand waving, and finger pointing.... You fix your gaze east - 
the problem is obvious:  the southern most rail from the west track is in 
line with the northern most rail of the east track!  One of the railroad 
beds was shifted by the width of the track!

Today we have an option not enjoyed then.....

        "fix it in software"

I just wonder how may recent projects have been saved by this option?

73,
Steve
aa8af

Wayne Burdick <[email protected]>
Sent by: [email protected]
10/27/2002 02:52 AM

        To:     Lyle Johnson <[email protected]>
        cc:     [email protected]
        Subject:        [Elecraft] Re: ELPAC Power Supply

Lyle,

We're going to study the power-supply turn-on issue more carefully. As of 
right now your
particular ELPAC supply is the only we we know of that exhibits such a dip 
in voltage when
the load is applied. But if there are others like it, we'll try to find a 
solution in
firmware rather than make such supplies obsolete. 

I should point out that this came up during KAT100 field testing, which is 
exactly why we
do it!

73,
Wayne
N6KR