[Elecraft] KAT500 to K3 and KPA500 Cabling

[Richard Ferch]

According to the description of the AUX Connector Interface in the 
KPA500 manual, pulsing pin 8 low momentarily will turn the KPA500 on or 
off. It's not supposed to be held low (FWIW, there's an exclamation 
point in the manual beside the note that explains this). The KPAK3AUX 
cable does not have pin 8 connected, but the Y cable does, so perhaps 
connecting pin 8 together between the K3 and the KPA500 is responsible.

Pins 1, 6, and 7 are also used for different purposes by the K3 vs. the 
KPA500. In particular, the KPA500 manual says that pin 7 "must not be 
connected to K3". Pins 1, 6, 7 and 8 are all not connected in the 
KPAK3AUX cable, and this is presumably why.

I'm not sure I'd want to risk using the Y cable in place of the KPAK3AUX 
cable, or at least not without removing a few pins first.

73,
Rich VE3KI


> And if you end up having the KPA500 powering up when you turn on the K3
> it's one of those undocumented features.....:-)
>
> I have checked my settings and I cannot see what has changed, but the
> behavior is not unwelcome, just mystifying.
>
> Gary
>
> On 12 December 2012 04:34, AE4CW <ae... at att.net> wrote:
>
>> Yes, it does appear that the "Y" cable that comes with the
>> "KPAK3AUX Optional KPA500 to K3 AUX Cable" kit can be used
>> to connected the KAT500 to the KPA500.  I am doing so and
>> all seems to work correctly.  And, of course, the KPAK3AUX
>> cable should be used between the K3 and the KAT500.
>> You end up with an unused branch of the "Y" cable, but it's
>> a lot more compact than another three foot KPAK3AUX cable!