[Elecraft] KPA500 questions

[W0MU Mike Fatchett]

See answers below

Mike W0MU

J6M CQ WW DX CW Contest 2011
J6/W0MU November 21 - December 1 2011
W0MU-1 CC Cluster w0mu.net


On 11/14/2011 2:15 PM, Sebastian, W4AS wrote:
> As a potential future buyer of the KPA500, I have a few questions, for those who actually own it:
>
> What have you found to be the actual output power, on a dummy load using a good power meter other than the internal one.
Easily over the quoted 500 watts.  Do you know that the internal meter 
is inaccurate?  Seems pretty good to me.

>
> Is the maximum output the same on all modes (CW/AM/FM etc.)?
Yes on CW and SSB.  I don't use AM or FM

>
> Is the maximum output the same on all bands (what happens on 30 meters)?
Like every other amp it has maximum output on 30m.  Not all countries 
have to run 200 watts like the USA.  It is up to the operator to make 
sure the output is within the regulations of their license.

>
> In the event of a high SWR, does the output begin to drop progressively, and/or does it just stop at some point?  What is the typical SWR that will keep it happy at full output (without getting into a discussion of resonance and actual power out the antenna)?
The amp runs full out until it trips.  I can run 2:1 most places and the 
amp chugs along.  Much over that at full output and the amp will fault 
or trip off.

> Finally, I read about the duty cycle of 10 minutes on and 5 minutes off, and I still wonder how it would keep it up with modes such as WSJT, where there is typically 30 seconds on and 30 seconds off?
10mins on and 5 off is greater duty than 30 seconds on and off.  I have 
used the amp with RTTY and no problems with some heavy Xmit times.  The 
fan kicks on a bit faster.

It is a great small footprint amp.  Auto band switching without other 
cabling.  It senses the freq off the coax.  No bandswitching and no 
tuning is great!  If they would build a 1.5k version I would be on the 
list for one.

>
> 73 de Sebastian, W4AS
>
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