[Elecraft] KXPA-100 to ICOM PW-1 amplifier

Don Wilhelm w3fpr at embarqmail.com
Tue Jul 29 22:28:43 EDT 2014


Josh,

If one insists on using ALC for amplifier protection, set the level well 
above that which will cause ALC to reduce the driving transceiver's 
power during normal operation.

Most well designed amplifiers provide adequate self protection and 
should not rely on ALC to reduce the drive in the case of a fault. If 
the amplifier design relies soly on the use of ALC to provide fault 
protections, I would call that 'risky design'.  If it is the primary 
means of protection, that is an example of poor design IMHO.  To rely on 
an external device for such protection is to rely on a device that also 
is subject to failure - in other words, poor design IMHO.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 7/29/2014 9:54 PM, Josh Fiden wrote:
> Just to clarify... use of ALC with the PW-1 is not to adjust drive 
> power. That's a bad practice. You MUST use the ALC line because the 
> amp uses this as a primary means of protection. Without ALC, a fault 
> condition can damage the amp.
>



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