[Elecraft] KPA-1500 failed!

[Wes]

Unfortunately, you're wrong.  My K3S has failed multiple times.  Fortunately, my 
KPA500 has not.  I'm not in the market for a KPA1500.

Wes  N7WS


On 2/16/2019 9:01 AM, Mark Goldberg wrote:
> It's been said there are no coincidences. Have you checked your coaxes /
> connectors? I agree that protection built in should not allow radios to
> blow finals, but this sounds like too much of a coincidence with two
> different radios blowing to not be an external intermittent connection. Try
> wiggling all the cables with low power. Unfortunately, sometimes a problem
> will only show up as arcing at high power. Is there another HAM near you
> with a powerful amp and antenna close to yours?
>
> Best of luck,
>
> Mark
> W7MLG
>
>
> On Sat, Feb 16, 2019 at 8:50 AM <lists at w2irt.net> wrote:
>
>> Exact same thing happened to my K3s in October, now my KPA-1500. Yeah, So
>> done here. Once repaired and confirmed working it will be up for sale.
>> Going
>> back to a tube amp after this.
>>
>>   - pjd
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net <elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net>
>> On
>> Behalf Of Paul Baldock
>> Sent: Saturday, February 16, 2019 10:28 AM
>> To: rocketnj at gmail.com; elecraft at mailman.qth.net
>> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KPA-1500 failed!
>>
>> It sounds like one of the output devices have failed. Half power out is
>> usually the indicator. A number here have reported this happening.
>> It would be nice to know why this problem is occurring and if Elecraft are
>> working on a fix.
>>
>> - Paul
>>
>> At 07:10 AM 2/16/2019, rocketnj at gmail.com wrote:
>>> I talked to Peter on the phone. He has no bias current when amp is
>>> transmitting with no power applied (key on SSB without talking. He is
>>> reading 54 volts and has tried power cycling amp from power supply
>>> switch and reseated all cables. Definitely BAD distortion on SSB (we
>>> are close enough to hear each other). Looks like one RF device let
>>> loose and it is dragging down the bias voltage. That is my guess.
>>>
>>> Dave wo2x
>>>
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net
>>> <elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net> On Behalf Of Wes
>>> Sent: Saturday, February 16, 2019 9:49 AM
>>> To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
>>> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KPA-1500 failed!
>>>
>>> I think a two-tone test is the best evaluation tool..  The generator is
>>> built into the K3 if you have another receiver that you can use to
>>> listen to the amp output.  I use an SDR-IQ which is a very nice tool
>>> for this but any other SDR would do.
>>>
>>> Sorry for your pain.
>>>
>>> Wes  N7WS
>>>
>>> On 2/16/2019 7:28 AM, lists at w2irt.net wrote:
>>>> I was operating in the ARRL-CW contest this morning and on 20m, with
>>>> a
>>>> 1.2:1 SWR on the Yagi, all of a sudden I saw my power drop to about
>>>> 450-500W with about 40W in. Worked a few stations but not as easily
>>>> as when I turned everything on this morning. Switched over to phone
>>> and made a few contacts.
>>>> Audio is fine barefoot with 100W out of the K3s-which suffered blown
>>>> finals itself during CQWW SSB last fall, but with the amp in I got
>>>> reports that my audio was badly distorted.
>>>>
>>>> Before I send it in, is there anything I should look at or any
>>>> diagnostics I can easily perform? For the cost of this, I'd have
>>>> thought protection would have kicked in to prevent anything untoward
>>>> from happening. I'm in complete disbelief, to be honest.
>>>>
>>>> ---------------------------------------------
>>>> 73 and Good DX
>>>> Peter, W2IRT
>>>>