[Elecraft] KPA500 mobile?

[Phil Hystad]

Years ago I looked into the idea of running 500 watts mobile and my amp of interest
was the SGC SG-500 SmartPowerCube amplifier.  Since the SGC company was just
a 20 minute drive from my home I decided to go there and see if I could find someone
technical to talk to.  I did talk with one of the technicians.

What I learned was, most people who use this Amp mobile usually use a second battery to run the amps
current demand of 40 amps with peaks up close to 90 amps for key down full power.
The assumption is that the duty cycle is low enough to allow the Alternator to maintain
charge on the battery simultaneously with providing raw power itself.

The implementation though required heavy duty wiring from the main vehicle battery/alternator
source with diodes in line that are obviously high-current and thus pricey.  Also, some vehicles
may have need to upgrade their Alternator although on my 3/4 ton pickup truck, I already had
an oversized alternator in place.

I had my truck wired to handle the current draw and this was done at one of those “car” 
electronics shops who do this regularly for guys (usually guys) who want big hunking audio
amps in their cars that also demand high current power.  So, this kind of installation was 
a regular day at work for that store (called Car Toys, Washington State and maybe other locations).

However, I never did buy the amp — kept putting it off and stayed with 100 watts of power
and eventually (two years ago) opted out of mobile operation in favor of portable operation and
instead of 500 watts, primarily 5 watts or whatever I would put out with my KX1, KX3, and now
KX2 (but have not had the KX2 long enough to work in the field portable).

But, the idea of running the KPA500 because it runs off of 120 VAC is not something I would
ever try just because of the hassle.  I would get another suitable 500 watt class amp if I were
still into that and leave my KPA500 fixed in the shack.  Not sure if the SGC SG-500 is still
available though, I heard a while back that SGC had stopped production but it still appears on
their web site http://www.sgcworld.com/ampProductPage.html.

73, phil, K7PEH


> On Apr 14, 2017, at 9:00 AM, Mike Smith VE9AA <ve9aa at nbnet.nb.ca> wrote:
> 
> Big fan of mobile ham radio here...Have always run 100w.
> 
> Would like to do more. (500w-1000w)
> 
> 
> 
> Has anyone here ever run a KPA500 mobile? (if so, how? Big inverters to
> generate 15a @ 115ac?)
> 
> 
> 
> Related question...if you haven't run a KPA500 mobile, what amp HAVE you run
> mobile?
> 
> 
> 
> Thanks
> 
> 
> 
> Mike VE9AA...VE9AA/m
> 
> 
> 
> Mike, Coreen & Corey
> 
> Keswick Ridge, NB
> 
> 
> 
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