[Elecraft] KPA500 Build

[Ron D'Eau Claire]

Hi David:

Have you noticed that most Elecraft gear has very little excess room inside?
For those who try to find things to pack into the empty area of the P3 I
suggest they wait a bit. It'll fill up :-)

Many skip the inventory but doing it is always an excellent idea. It doesn't
take all that much time and often saves time finding parts.

I agree with sorting the fasteners by size while doing the inventory. The
parts list follows how the factory packages the parts, but I don't know why
the factory packages them like that. 

The screw you were missing is the 5th item in page A5 in the parts list (P/N
E700200). Apparently you found a replacement. The only reason for the length
is to make sure it's obvious should you accidentally try to remove it to
free the top cover. If you loosen it by accident, the longer screw will let
the actuator spin rather than come loose and drop into the amp. 

You should NOT have seen MCU Load upon power up. The KPA500 should arrive
with firmware installed and ready to go.  How did you cure it, by doing a
firmware load per the Owner's Manual? 

Ron AC7AC


----Original Message-----


Just finished my KPA500 build--number 156.  It went together pretty 
smoothly, but I have a suggestion for subsequent builders.  Probably most of

you would have done this anyway, but I didn't!  What I now think is a good 
practice, and what I didn't do, is to take all of the screws as you 
inventory them and put them in clearly marked and separate trays by size and

type.  They come in various bags, and many of them are confusing to 
distinguish from each other since many are very similar in size.  There are 
a lot of them!!!!  I didn't remember having that much difficulty 
distinguishing screw sizes/types on other Elecraft kits.

I had counted the screws, and marked them on the inventory, going bag by 
bag.  I assumed it might be easier to keep them in each bag after inventory,

and that they would then be easier to locate as you build each section. 
Problem is, you actually move back and forth a bit, between some of the 
sections, and there is a bag of "miscellaneous parts" you have to dip into 
now and then.

Anyway, I just think separating them all at the outset is better and faster 
ultimately.

The interlock actuator calls for a 4-40 1/2" black flat head screw (P. 39). 
I didn't find one, nor do I see one on the inventory.  That's the only parts

list item I couldn't locate.

When I did the "power up" test, to check my mains voltage setting, the 
display simply said "MCU LOAD".  That threw me for a minute, and wasn't 
mentioned in the instructions as something to expect (hope it is normal!), 
but eventually I got a proper display and was able to confirm my line 
voltage as being adequate for the way I have the amp configured.

Everything packs in there appropriately, but little room to spare.  I 
probably spent 5 or 6 hours putting it together.  I wasn't in a big hurry. 
It's a beautiful piece of gear!

Dave W7AQK