[Elecraft] KPA500 Problem

[Bob McGraw K4TAX]

On PL-259 connectors, make sure they are more than finger tight. I use a 
pair of 4" Channel Lock pliers to snug mine after they are finger 
tight.    Today's PL-259's may look good but indeed with many of them 
today,  the plating is crap!.  Same for coax cable and the way it gets 
terminated inside the PL-259.   The cable frequently works loose and 
causes intermittent connections which may not show up at 100 watts or less.

In my practice, if I find a bad cable, I immediately chop the suspect 
PL-259 off of one end.  That way the cable can not be accidentally used 
until it is properly repaired and checked with a dummy load and my 
impedance bridge or antenna bridge.

73

Bob, K4TAX