[Elecraft] FW: FW: K3: KPA500 on a generator?

[David Cutter]

Thanks Brendan.  The screenshot is interesting as it shows the sinewave 
still pretty much intact, was that on the 15kVA genny?

Smaller generators I've measured into resistive loads have a triangular 
waveform.  I've not measured one on psu loads recently, but I did measure 
what happened inside the psu and it did not give me a warm feeling.

Does anyone sell or even advise a power factor corrector for small 
generators?  Of course it's not just the PF, I suspect the main problem is 
the pulse loading.

David
G3UNA

> David
>
> There is no such implication, I think that's just the generator he had
> to hand! I can test my FT KPA500 on a generator but my generator too is
> an inverting one, a 2KW honda.
>
> One thing though when those generators are in 'econo' mode there will be
> serious voltage sags whilst the generator throttles up with large
> variable loads (such as CW ) and the KPA500 coped fine with that
> (although that type of intermittent load is not good for the honda..)
>
> The PSU in the KPA500 is a linear one (not a switcher) and I would
> expect it to do fine on any generator that makes at least some attempt
> to regulate the output voltage.
> I am not going to rent a conventional generator to test on but the
> KPA500 copes just fine with my mains variations which go from 225
> (night) to 246 (Day)
>
> Switchers can actually be more problematic on generator type loads, we
> have a 15KVA generator with AVR at work that was brought to it's knees
> by 5Kw of Computing equipment loads.
> IT loads in common with most devices powered by switchers have a really
> rotten power factor. Inverting generators can do better with those
> loads
> See here for what a modest computer load looks like
> http://www.flickr.com/photos/bminish/4698934177/
>
> 73
> Brendan EI6IZ
>
> On Fri, 2011-02-18 at 09:05 +0000, David Cutter wrote:
>> This is of interest to me, but is there an implication that the K3 + 
>> KPA500
>> MUST have an "advanced inverter technology" generator - providing "stable
>> power for computers and more" variety of modern generator?  Can I not use 
>> a
>> 2kVA "legacy generator" without the inverter technology at a third of the
>> price?
>>
>> David
>> G3UNA
>>
>>
>>
>> > Yes, feel free to forward to the list:  I ran my K3 and KPA500 and a
>> > desktop
>> > computer on a single Honda EU-2000i at 125V, and it worked fine.  The 
>> > amp
>> > draws about 1225 VA max and the generator is rated for 1600 VA 
>> > continuous.
>> >
>> > The generator didn't like the highly varying load while running in 
>> > Econo
>> > mode (it shuttered enough that it walked off the sidewalk and ended up 
>> > on
>> > its side), but in normal "full out" mode it had no problems and neither
>> > did
>> > the amp.  It's an ideal 600W amp. for DXpeditions.
>> >
>> > 73,
>> > Bob, N6TV
>> >
>> > VE7XF asked: During my summertime 6m grid-hopping activities, it would 
>> > be
>> > nice to power a portable station (K3 and KPA500) from my Honda 2000i
>> > generator. (AC power is
>> > seldom available on a mountaintop.)
>> >
>> >