[Elecraft] Regarding the K3, PW-1 and ALC

[Doug Faunt N6TQS +1-510-655-8604]

Hi Jay,
All I am doing is presenting what Icom has to say, in one document.

And some people do want to run a PW-1 with the K3, and some people
were moaning about the incompatibility of the ALC levels between Icom
amps and the K3.

73, doug

   From: "Jay Bromley" <jayw5jay at gmail.com>
   Date: Wed, 5 Dec 2007 20:21:25 -0600

   HI Doug and all,
   That is indeed interesting.  I have seen that document many times and never
   noticed that.  In the PW1's owners manual almost every page comments how
   important ALC is to prevent damage to the PW1 using both Icom and non Icom
   rigs.  Having owned a PW1 and setting up about a half a dozen or so around
   the area here, I well tell you it only takes 28 watts to run 1KW out on the
   PW1.  All of them I have setup run ALC and no problems so far.  One of them
   runs a TS850 along with a Pro 3,  but both are using ALC.  The 7800 is at
   the limit of the PW1's ALC range, but works great.  Since the PW1 will run
   over 1KW with as little of 30 watts of drive I wouldn't think most guys
   spending nearly $5k would take a chance damaging it.  I did see one PW1 run
   near 1.5KW when a guy didn't have ALC hooked up.  I am not sure how long it
   would run like that before it went up in smoke, luckily he said it in time.
   If you look at the specs for the PW1 FET modules they are rating each at 300
   watts (I've seen some sheets spec them out at 150 watts a pair).  To get
   away with this they are using a huge heat sink and three fans for the PA
   section alone.

   In the end to each his own, but after having a lot of experience with this
   amp I wouldn't think of not running ALC.  In the heat of chasing DX and even
   more so in contesting, I can not imagine any one not screwing up at least
   once.  That is all it takes, trust me I know first hand!

   I know this doesn't have much to do with a K3, unless your are going to 
   interface the two together.

   Many thanks and 73 de w5jay/jay..

   > This came across the Icom list a few minutes ago, and I took a look.
   > Look for yourself at page 35 of the referenced document, but I'll
   > quote it, too.
   >
   > "Non-Icom radios may or may not use the ALC feature. It is recommended
   > to not use ALC with a non-Icom radio and to control the power manually
   > on the radio."
   >
   > So, if you want to follow Icom's recommendation for the PW-1, the
   > question of the K3's ALC level is moot.
   >
   > I'm amused, frankly.  Thanks Dick.
   >
   > I suspect it'd be easy to use a PIC (as in PICAXE, even) to translate
   > the K3's frequency messages to Icom's CIV equivalents.
   > If someone will give me a PW-1 (to keep), I'll do it!!! 8-)
   >
   > I'm just waiting for it to start raining to do the K3 to IC2KL band
   > select hack.
   >
   > 73, doug
   >
   >
   >   From: "Dick Dievendorff" <dieven at comcast.net>
   >   Date: Wed, 5 Dec 2007 11:23:12 -0800
   >
   >   Try this:
   >
   > http://icomamerica.com/en/support/kb/Article.aspx?ArticleNumber=615A26584A
   >
   >   There's a place where you want to turn off the transceiver that isn't
   >   immediately obvious from the PW-1 instruction manual.
   >
   >   Dick, K6KR