[Elecraft] KPA500 Power On

[Jim Bennett]

Other than this occasional hiccup, yes. If you've got Fred's KX3 book, check out pages 146-147, especially figure 9.17 - this is exactly how I've got mine cabled up. 

Last night was a good example of why I wanted to have this flexibility. I was listening on 160 meter CW with the KX3 and heard W1AW/0 in Nebraska calling CQ. I cranked up the KX3 power to a whopping 12 watts and called him several times. Not so much as a QRZ did I get. I just got a CQ in my face! So, rather than turn on the K3, switch things over and tune in the station with the K3, I simply powered up the KPA500, set the KX3 to 9 watts (170 watts out on the KPA500), called him again and this time got him on the first call. I could have been there a very long time running 12 watts! Of course if I had a great 160 antenna, 12 watts probably would have been OK. But I live in a CC&R/HOA neighborhood and have a "stealthy" Inverted L semi-hidden in the redwood trees that only has about 25-30 feet of vertical run.

Jim
On   Saturday, Jan 18, 2014, at  Saturday, 9:57 AM, Phil Hystad wrote:

> 
> Is the KPA500 really designed to work with multiple inputs even if they are switched?  I would be interested in knowing since I also have a KX3.
> 
> 73, phil, K7PEH
> 
> 
> On Jan 18, 2014, at 9:25 AM, Jim Bennett <w6jhb at mac.com> wrote:
> 
>> I recently got a KX3 and have set up my station such that the KX3 can share the KPA500, KAT500, and several antennas by using a pretty beefy Daiwa 2-position coax switch. The station is set up just like the diagram on page 147 of KE7X's KX3 book. This configuration seems to work very well. However, I've recently noticed a very occasional anomaly with the KPA500. Every once in a while, I go to power it on and nothing happens. I have to reach around to the back panel rocker switch, turn it "Off" and then back on. Then, the front panel power on button brings the amp to life. So far I've not been able to track it down to a particular sequence of operating events that precedes it. In the past 3-4 days, this has happened maybe three times.
>> 
>> Anyone else have this happen, and if so (1) what causes it, and (2) how to resolve it? Not a big deal, but I'd like to know what's going on.
>> 
>> Jim / W6JHB