[Elecraft] K3 Break in with an amp question

[WILLIS COOKE]

I still maintain that someone who is trying to learn CW and still needs a computer to send and possibly to receive should stay with a basic transceiver for a while until he learns to operate CW without a computer.  He should not purchase a pin diode assembly that is 6" X 4" x 9 1/2" to work with his "base station" amplifier which is 11" x 12" x 6" and needs an 90 amp 12 volt power supply for CW until he learns to operate CW.  The K3, which I presume he has the 100 watt model since the low power conversion will not furnish the 50 to 90 watts specified for input to the SG-500.  100 watts is enough power for a lot of nice CW contacts, even 10 watts will do the trick with a reasonably good antenna.  Most manufacturers find it unwise to try to run 500 watts PEP with transistorized amplifiers supplied with 12 or 14 volts and design for 40 or more volts.  The web site for SGC does not show any particular expertise or make any claims for purity of signal.
  Maybe they are great, but I am not convinced.

That being said, I fully support CW operation and love it myself.  I think everyone who is the least bit inclined to do so learn to operate CW.  I like to operate QSK very much with my K3 and do often operate with 500 watts QSK, but most of the time I don't need that much power.  I do indeed wish Don the very best experience in learning CW, but I think that trying to tame the SG-500 at the same time will make it more difficult than it needs to be.
 
Willis 'Cookie' Cooke 
K5EWJ & Trustee N5BPS, USS Cavalla, USS Stewart


________________________________
 From: Bob Nielsen <n7xy at clearwire.net>
To: Elecraft List <elecraft at mailman.qth.net> 
Sent: Saturday, March 17, 2012 12:41 PM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Break in with an amp question
 
Ameritron sells a PIN diode switch assembly (http://www.ameritron.com/Product.php?productid=QSK-5) which can be used for this purpose.

Bob N7XY

On Mar 17, 2012, at 9:18 AM, Donehrlich at q.com wrote:

> The powercube is definitely a ham amplifier.  I know of at least one 
> owner who is very happy with the one he has but, then, he only operates SSB.
> 
> Most amps that use relay T/R switching (and that is *most* amps) do the 
> clickety-clack thing.  I know of failed relays that could not take the 
> abuse.  Your solution of using semi-breakin with an appropriate delay is 
> the only way to avoid this problem.  With my new KPA500 I no longer have 
> that problem but, with my previous Tokyo HyPower amp, I used a homebrew 
> PIN Diode switching system to do all of my T/R antenna switching with 
> all solid state circuitry but that is not a trivial exercise.
> 
> Don K7FJ
> 
> 
> 
> 
> On 3/17/2012 4:49 AM, goldtr8 at charter.net wrote:
>> I am attempting to slowly learn to work with CW but at first it is with
>> a computer program but I am not sure if that is relevant.
>> 
>> I understand the reason for break in as it allows for RX listening
>> between your TX in case someone it trying to contact your.
>> 
>> The issue is that when using VOX and with semi or full breakin when
>> using my amp the relays in the amp are clicking and clacking like crazy
>> which to me seems very abusive to the amp.    My solution has been to go
>> to semi break in and then set a long delay time so the amp and K3 stay
>> keyed.
>> 
>> The amp is an SGC powercube and I do have it wired to the K3 so it gets
>> a PTT signal.
>> 
>> Am I doing the right thing with the delay or are there other ways to
>> stop the amp from going nuts or is this just the nature of the beast.
>> 
>> 
>> ~73
>> Don
>> KD8NNU
>> 
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_____
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